Celebrate Big Creek Lake on June 2
Posted: 05/29/2012

POLK CITY — A June 2 celebration to mark the 40th anniversary of Big Creek Lake near Polk City will include events focusing on fishing, wildlife, prairie, a boat tour, fishing clinic and more. The public watershed appreciation event begins at 10 a.m. near the beach and will also offer a complimentary lunch and the Conservation Station.

Stations at the event will include: a DNR fisheries biologist who will talk about the status of the fishery at the lake and how the fish survive, or die, in poor water conditions; a DNR wildlife representative to discuss grassland and prairie management in the watershed; a DNR parks representative to answer questions. Tentative events include a boat tour of the lake and a fishing clinic. Iowa Learning Farms and the Iowa Pork Producers Association will provide lunch.

The Big Creek Lake Watershed Project is underway with the goal of improving water quality going into the lake and surrounding areas. The lake has experiences high bacteria levels, algae blooms and high sedimentation. The long-term project includes 20 years of improvement within the watershed. Big Creek Lake is an Iowa attraction, bringing an average of over 740,000 visitors each year to the lake.

For more information about the event or the Big Creek Lake Watershed, contact project coordinators Sean McCoy, 515-432-2316 ext. 114, or Zach DeYoung, 515-964-1883 ext 3, or visit www.bigcreeklake.org.