Tune in to KUOO Radio for Clean Water Connection series in Iowa
A group of clean water experts have come together to share their knowledge on KUOO (103.9 FM) radio in Spirit Lake, Iowa, on a weekly program entitled the OPA’s Clean Water Connection.
Young anglers shine during Iowa state championships
The third annual Bass Federation’s (TBF) Student Angler Federation (SAF) Iowa State Championship held May 20 for the first time ever on the Okoboji Chain of Lakes turned out to be quite a shootout in the High School Division (grades 9-12). High skies, sunshine and a light variable wind welcomed the contestants as they left the Emerson Bay Boat Ramp area at 7 a.m.
Iowa’s Protect Our Lakes initiative takes shape to halt spread of invasives
On Aug. 3, 2022 Eurasian watermilfoil was found on East Okoboji and the lower chain of lakes. Mike Hawkins, Iowa DNR fisheries biologist, spearheaded a group of concerned residents and nonprofit organizations to decide how to address the situation.
A new educational and preventative initiative called “Protect Our Lakes” is being spearheaded by Exploreokoboji.com and its five radio stations to help to get the word out to local residents, seasonal residents and tourists that these lakes are being threatened by invasive species and what we can all do to protect the Iowa Great Lakes.
Iowa plays its part in nationwide Pheasants Forever success
To pheasant hunters and wildlife enthusiasts, there is nothing more beautiful than native grassland habitat, alive with a myriad of different wildlife populations.
That was the vision of a small group of outdoor enthusiasts, who in 1982, created an organization named Pheasants Forever (PF). It gained the reputation as the “habitat organization” and for good reason. Iowa is certainly a strong state when it comes to PF. There are 100 local PF chapters, two Quail Forever chapters and two student PF chapters within Iowa’s 99 counties.
Restoring Iowa’s shallow-water lakes
Since 2006, the Iowa DNR has gone about restoring shallow lakes across the state through the Lake Restoration Program.
Since its inception, this aggressive lake restoration plan has brought 30 lakes back to life, while an additional 21 lakes are in the process of completion and another 14 new water bodies are set for future restoration.
Iowa’s 41st Walleye Weekend a big hit as angler Dennis Weerheim cashes in on tagged fish
Nearly 2,000 anglers entered the contest to give themselves a chance at catching one of the 10 tagged walleyes worth $41,000.
None of the 10 tagged walleyes were caught when the weekend’s contest ended with the noon Sunday banquet and awards ceremony. That quickly changed when Dennis Weerheim caught one of the tagged walleyes off his dock on Big Spirit Lake on Sunday night around 10 p.m.
Plans released for 2023 Okoboji Blue Water Festival, Iowa’s foremost clean-water event
Don’t miss this date: Saturday, August 12. That’s the day for the eighth annual Okoboji Blue Water Festival (OBWF), the foremost clean water event in the state of Iowa. Held at the Preservation Plaza green space in Arnolds Park on the shores of West Lake Okoboji, the day is one huge (free) all-day clean water celebration with entertainment and educational opportunities.
Electric barrier, ongoing research fight off Asian carp in Iowa’s Okoboji chain
In August of 2011, while fisheries biologists were collecting data on the fish in Iowa’s Okoboji chain, they discovered two bighead carp that were between 14 and 16 inches in length.
The next spring a commercial fishing crew netted 82 bighead carp and 55 silver carp in that same area. These fish were able to fight their way up the Little Sioux River during high water events. The fear of Asian carp had become a reality, and people now knew they could breach the Little Sioux River and make it into the Okoboji chain of lakes.
Collaborative effort turns railway into long trail system for Iowa’s outdoor users
A major project is about to complete Phase IV that will connect the city of Lake Park with the entire Iowa Great Lake Trails system. The connection will comprise nearly 12 miles of new trail construction between the two communities.
When the entire development of the “rail-trail” is complete, it will span from just west of Superior to Orleans, to Spirit Lake, to Montgomery and finally to Lake Park in Dickinson County for a length of 23 miles. Osceola County will complete their portion of the trail that goes through Harris, Allendorf, Ocheyedan and then to the Ed Winkel Trail near Sibley for a total length of 43 miles.
