Clear Lake Dredge Project is Up and Running

07/22/2008 @ 01:04 PM

PHOTO: SLOW DOWN ----- Iowa DNR District Fisheries Biologist, Scott Grummer displays a reduced speed sign at Clear Lake. The Clear Lake dredge, shown in background, begins work this week. The $9 million project is scheduled to remove 2.3 million cubic yards of sediment from the lake’s west end. Photo by: Lowell Washburn

By Lowell Washburn
Iowa Department of Natural Resources

CLEAR LAKE----The long awaited, much anticipated, $9 million Clear Lake dredging project has begun. “Weather-wise, it’s been a tough spring and summer for dredge assembly workers. People have been anxious, but the project is now up and running,” says DNR District Fisheries Biologist, Scott Grummer.

During the next week, dredge operators plan to test equipment and piping by dredging near the mobilization site at the Ventura Grade. Following that, dredging operations will move further into the lake and proceed in full force.

“Although the Lynn Lorenzen Access will remain closed during the dredge project, all other boat ramps including those at McIntosh Woods State Park will remain open,” says Grummer. “This could result in some congestion at McIntosh Woods, but we hope that people will exercise patience.


“Another change is that, beginning this week, the DNR will begin enforcing a 10 mph speed restriction on the Little Lake, which is everything west of the McIntosh Woods sand bar,” said Grummer. “The new speed restriction is for public safety. With piping and dredge equipment in the water, people just need to slow down. This way, all of Clear Lake can remain open to boating, fishing, and swimming. No part of the lake will be closed.”

The Clear Lake dredge project is scheduled to remove 2.3 million cubic yards of sediment from the Little Lake and will increase water depth from its current 5 1/2 to 6 feet to more than 20 feet. The sediment will be pumped through a 2 ½ mile pipeline to a containment site located two miles south of the Ventura Marsh. Dredge water will then be piped to Ventura Marsh and will eventually flow back into Clear Lake. The project is scheduled for completion during the 2009 open water season.


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