CLEAR Project.

CLEAR LAKE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

    Download Clear Lake Water Quality Project presentation (PDF: 1.10 MB).

Clear Lake Background Information:

  • Iowa's 3rd largest natural lake
  • Listed on Iowa's 2004 303(d) Impaired Waters List
  • Suffers from intense summer algae blooms which reduce water clarity to < 1ft.
  • Impaired water quality does not allow lake to reach full ecological, recreational, and economic potential

Previous Efforts to Improve Water Quality:

  • $600,000 State funded ISU study conducted in 1998-2000 to develop restoration plan
  • 1,400 acres of agricultural land in Clear Lake watershed enrolled in Nutrient and Pesticide Management program.
  • 500 acres of wetlands restored in agricultural areas of the Clear Lake watershed
  • 11 storm water improvement projects installed in developed areas
  • 800 ft of shoreline stabilization

Local Commitment to Improving Water Quality

  • $1 million spent on storm water improvements
  • $ 800,000 spent on land acquisitions to retain natural areas near lake
  • $4 million commitment to dredging project

Future Needed Restoration Activities:

  • Dredging of Clear Lake via State/Local partnership ($13 million)
  • Restoration of Ventura Marsh via Corps of Engineers funding ($2 million)
  • Continued watershed improvements via State/Local/Federal partnership ($3-5 million)

Dredging Project Funding Request:

    State of Iowa: $9,000,000
    Local Government Cost Share: $3,000,000
    Private Cost Share: $1,000,000
    Total Project Cost: $13,000,000

Dredging Project Details:

  • Proposed project based on ISU/IDNR Clear Lake Diagnostic and Feasibility Study recommendation
  • Remove 2.3 million cubic yards of accumulated sediment from "Little Lake" portion of Clear Lake (Figure 1)
  • Increase depth of "Little Lake" area from 6 feet to 28 feet
  • Sediment removed would fill a 200 acre site 10 feet deep

Dredging Project Timeline:

    2006: Perform Engineering and Design
    2007: Secure and Construct Dredge Spoil Containment Site
    2008: Commence Dredging
    2009: Finalize Dredging

Cost Effectiveness of Dredging Project:

  • Clear Lake currently provides an estimated $60 million annually to the State and local economies (ISU, 2001)
  • Clear Lake would provide an additional $30 million annually to the State and local economies if water quality is improved (ISU, 2001)
  • Total Investment in the dredging project by State is one time cost of $9 million

Longevity of Dredging Project:

  • Significant watershed improvements have been made leading to a 2,400 tons/year reduction in soil loss to Clear Lake
  • Clear Lake watershed is very small (8,500 acres) which leads to low potential for erosion into Clear Lake
  • Clear Lake watershed is relatively flat which leads to low potential for erosion into Clear Lake
  • These factors combine to ensure dredging will be a long term solution at Clear Lake

Benefits of Dredging Project:

  • 64% of the phosphorus in water entering dredge portion of lake removed (ISU, 2001)
  • Increased water clarity, aquatic vegetation and fish habitat
  • Increased recreational opportunities and quality of life for Iowan's
  • Increased revenue for the State and local economies

Clear Lake
Figure 1

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