A new look is present in the Iowa Great Lakes area, almost two years after historic flooding impacted lakes, native wildlife and more.
The Isthmus Park area in Spirit Lake has been greatly cleared of longstanding trees, after June 2024 flooding left them in danger of collapsing along the far north edge of East Lake Okoboji.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources fisheries Biologist Andrew Carlson told Siouxland Public Media News the removal of many trees began in March and finished in April.
“They were hollow and would easily fall over…It helps replace native ecosystems and helps public safety,” Carlson said.
The final step is to support habitat restoration, by soon replanting native trees such as oaks.
That area had been highly shaded, and was a busy place for fishing from the banks. It is very close to the Dickinson County Trail System, the IDNR fish hatchery and the spillway that releases water from Big Spirit Lake into East Lake Okoboji.
In June 2024 massive rains in that area started flooding rivers, and then lakes greatly rose. In the first two weeks after the flooding struck, there were 70 shoreline collapses along Big Spirit Lake, East Lake Okoboji, and West Lake Okoboji.
*In other Okoboji area recreation news, the Lake Park City Council last week awarded a bid for the first phase of improvements at Silver Lake Park, for a biking trail. A trail head is also a future piece of that trail, according to Explore Okoboji News.
Additionally, the town of Milford is beginning improvements in Florence and Buchanan parks.
