Stanton – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a public meeting at 7 p.m., April 2, at the Viking Lake concession building, to discuss plans to lower the water level at Viking Lake, in Montgomery County to improve the fish population in the lake.
The DNR will lower the water level eight feet at Viking Lake starting July 5th. Viking Lake is a 136 acre lake in the middle of the 1,000 acre state park. It has a maximum depth of 40 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. The water level will be lowered in stages over two weeks to avoid any downstream impacts.
A water level draw-down is a common fisheries management technique used to improve the size of panfish. “Viking Lake has an abundance of seven inch bluegills that lack the quality anglers are looking for,” said Bryan Hayes, Iowa DNR fisheries biologist. The reduced lake surface area crowds panfish into a smaller area making them more susceptible to predation by largemouth bass and reduces the number of small bluegills in the lake to improve growth in the coming year.
The draw-down will limit access to the lake. The DNR will extend the boat ramp(s) to make them usable. Viking Lake will be open to the public during the draw-down. The beach will be closed, but all other park facilities will be open. Viking Lake will be allowed to refill starting in September.
Any person attending the public meeting and has special requirements such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments should contact the DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov, and advise of specific needs.