The Milford City Council met Monday, February 14th and reviewed a proposed agreement with Dickinson County pertaining to the Lower Gar Outlet, saying they want changes made to it. Supervisor Tim Fairchild informed fellow supervisors of the matter at the Tuesday, February 15th supervisor’s meeting. “They want to go to a 25-year maintenance agreement. They … Read more
Asian Carp continue to be a concern for the Iowa Great Lakes Association. As we look ahead to Spring 2021 and the potential for flooding, the electric fish barrier at Lower Gar works to keep these nuisance fish out of our Okoboji chain of lakes.
Community Development Manager, Jen Johnson-Ross, spent an entire day working with Spirit Lake 4th grade students discussing invasive species. This great group of kids learned about zebra mussels, curly leaf pondweed and Asian carp.
Iowa Great Lakes Association Environmental Update Spring 2017 Zebra Mussels Zebra mussel populations continue to expand in the Iowa Great Lakes. The populations is expected to continue to increase in the coming years before reaching a limit and moderating. The biggest impact to lakeshore residents continues to be colonization on hoists, docks and swim ladders. … Read more
The electric fish barrier located at Lower Gar near Milford has prevented Asian Carp from entering our chain of lakes. This invasive species have spread through flooding and other means throughout the years, and pose a definite threat to not only our ecosystem, yet to water recreation due to their ability to jump out of the water.
Iowa Great lakes Association’s Bill Van Orsdel & Phil Petersen present an example of the Big Head Carp to Mike Hawkins – DNR Spirit Lake Biologist – commemorating the successful installation of the Lower Gar $1,000,000 Electric Fish Barrier which has prevented any further infestation of the Asian Carp including the Jumping Carp. There have … Read more
Three years after two Asian carp were netted in East Lake Okoboji, officials believe they stopped the voracious aquatic invaders.
The invasive species swam into the lakes during flooding in 2011. One species, silver carp, poses a safety hazard due to its propensity for leaping from the water when startled.
Officials believe a $1 million electronic fish barrier should be enough to keep more Asian carp from entering the lake system and threatening the $300 million tourism industry. Officials believe the fish can’t reproduce in still lake waters, so keeping more carp from swimming in will protect the lakes from being overrun.
IOWA FISHERIES BIOLOGIST RECOGNIZED BY PEERS FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE FIELD Iowa fisheries biologist Mike Hawkins has been awarded the Fisheries Biologist of the Year by the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for his work in lake restoration, watershed management and his leadership in getting the electric fish barrier placed at the outlet … Read more
Introductory Notes: Many people have asked the question why wasn’t the electric fish barrier turned on? The reason is there is only a few inches of water on the deck right now and with the electricity turned on the fish are immobilized and can’t get off the wide deck and they die there. Then we have … Read more
EXPLORE OKOBOJI – APRIL 11,2013 The discovery of zebra mussels in some of the Iowa Great Lakes is changing how the Iowa Department of Natural Resources conducts its annual gillnetting operations. Kim Bogenschutz coordinates the aquatic invasive species program for the DNR…(click here for comment.) “We still don’t know how many are in the chain of … Read more