What's the problem with Viking Lake? Viking Lake is one of the most popular state parks in southwest Iowa due to its accessibility and variety of recreational opportunities it offers to visitors. An average of more than 300,000 visitors come to the lake each year. Even though the 137-acre lake has many activities, water quality issues are a main concern for those looking to preserve it since it was constructed in 1957. The major problem Viking Lake, located in Montgomery County, is dealing with is sediment. When rain falls on the land, it erodes valuable topsoil and washes it into streams, and in this case, Viking Lake. Gully erosion is one of the main concerns at Viking Lake as it happens after heavy rains or snowmelts and the concentrated runoff creates channels or ditches in the soil. Excess sediment can reduce water clarity, damage the habitat of aquatic life, fill in streambeds and the lake, clog drainageways and deliver phosphorus to the lake.

Another major problem is the bacteria levels in the lake that affect humans and various types of wildlife. Parallel to the heavy rainfalls that create erosion, bacteria levels also spike during this time. Much of the high bacteria level comes from fecal contamination.
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What's being done to help Viking Lake?
Approximately 30 ponds, wetlands and grade control stabilizations are now situated around Viking Lake. These practices prevent gully erosion, trap sediment and reduce water flow. These completed projects help tremendously with the fishing at Viking Lake, as clean water improves aquatic life, including fish. With these completed projects, Viking Lake hopes to be able to allow people to cross the top of the dam in the near future.
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What can I do to help?
The Viking Lake Watershed Project has a number of conservation practices for farms and country living.

Landowners in the Viking Lake watershed can improve the lake by partnering with the Viking Lake Watershed Project.

Dan Case, watershed project coordinator, can work with you to evaluate your property and identify practices that can help both the lake and your property. Case can also help you locate financial assistance to install those practices. Landowners participating in the watershed project can generally get improved financial assistance opportunities.

"We hope that people will get out and use the resources available to them," said Dan Case, Viking Lake watershed project coordinator. "The money going towards this project is being well-used and there's a great trail system and a number of people use it."

Case encourages visitors to keep the environment clean around Viking Lake so future generations can continue to use the facilities.
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What is the future of Viking Lake?
"There has been a dramatic increase in water quality," said Case. "It is a pleasant environment to swim and fish in; not for only humans, but many species are also benefiting from the project. An expert person in the field won't only notice the difference, but the public will too."
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Meet the project coordinator
Dan Case grew up in Villisca, Iowa and attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri. Case graduated in 2003 with a major in business management. He has been Viking Lake project coordinator since 2006.

Case enjoys working with farmers to continue to improve the land with conservation practices.

For other ways you can get involved with the Viking Lake Watershed Project, contact Dan Case, watershed coordinator, at (712) 621-0872 or Daniel.Case@ia.nacdnet.net
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Project partners

• Iowa DNR
• Iowa Department of Agriculture - Division of Soil Conservation
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

For More Information
Local:
Dan Case
Viking Lake Watershed Project Coordinator
(712) 621-0872
Daniel.Case@ia.nacdnet.net
Montgomery County NRCS Office

Statewide:
Steve Hopkins
DNR Watershed Improvement Program Grants Coordinator
(515) 281-6402
Stephen.Hopkins@dnr.iowa.gov