Habitat

Members: Kent Risbeck, Chris Hochstein, Blaine Buenger, Jeff Livingston, Matt Van Dyke

The Habitat Committee is in charge of anything relating to Lake Colchester, its shoreline and watershed. They are playing an active role in Norwalks rapid growth by working with Growing Green Communities to establish guidelines for future developments. Fish Stocking is another responsibility of the Habitat Committee. The habitat committee also hosts fishing tournaments throughout the spring and summer. Please check out the new fishing map compiled by the Habitat Committee earlier in 2006. Weve gotten a few fishermen to give up some of their hot spots on the lake. This map will be continually updated as structure, jetties, and fish are added to Lake Colchester.

Lake Colchester is Awarded WIRB Grant

There have been major changes to the lake during the past couple of years. The WIRB Grant that was awarded in 2007 has provided a great resource for a number of improvements. The project is staged to be completed in June, 2010. All the objectives set forth in the original plan are currently in progress. Three lake circulators are working continuously on maintaining water clarity through provision of oxygenation to the water, thus lowering blue-green algae growth and it's harmful effects. The digging of the silt traps at the West Inlet will hopefully be completed by contractors by the late spring of 2010. The Habitat Committee applied for and received a grant from the Iowa Watershed Improvement Review Board for $247,500.00. This grant coupled with matching funds from the Lakewood Benefited Recreational Lake District (LBRLD) will fund a variety of projects in and around the lake. Some of the other projects accomplished thus far include:

• Introduction of native aquatic plant species for habitat enhancements.
• Use of solar powered pumps to augment circulation of lake water.
• Systems to trap and net problem fish populations without removing all fish.
• Partitioning shallow inlet water from the main lake to be managed as silt traps and for nutrient uptake by wetland vegetation.
• Digging in-lake silt traps at the inlets.
• Placement of habitat such as brush piles, rock reefs, and jetties.
• Selective withdrawal of water from the lake bottom to lower the water level for renovation purposes with a constructed wetland below the dam to treat water before discharging to the Middle Creek.
• Annual stocking of predatory fish populations as needed.

As a result from this project, we hope to triple our water quality from a one foot average to three feet average. Lakewood is currently working with Iowa DNR biologists and ISU limnologists for this project. Contact a habitat committee member for more details on the project.

WIRB Grant Construction Update:

Construction has begun on the Mechanical Dredging of the West Bay of Lake Colchester.  Approximately 6500 CY of sediment is being removed as a part of the WIRB Grant project.  Corell Contractor's started work on April 17th, 2010.  The excavation is limited to the North Shore of the West Bay.  A long reach excavator is being used to remove sediment up to 50 feet from the shoreline.  Construction is expected to be complete by the middle of May.  Here are some videos of the Mechanical Dredging Project, currently underway:

Long Reach Excavator

Long Reach Excavator 2

Spoil Site

Spoil Site 2

Fish Stocking

In September of 2009, 200 Northern Pike (~6"), 680 Walleye (~5"), and 500 Bass (~6-7") were released into Lake Colchester. Look for these to chase your lures next spring!

Effective 1-02-10, CATCH & RELEASE EXCEPT: ONE (1) each per day of Bass (15" minimum); Walleye (15" minimum); NorthernPike (30" minimum); Crappie @ 15 per day per person; UNLIMITED catfish and other species (not catch and release). This ruling is effective for a one-year period (through 12/31/10).

Fishing Tournaments

Fishing Report

Click Here for Norwalk's Fishing Report