Viking Lake Renovation to Begin Sept. 11

RED OAK - The water level at Viking Lake will be lowered beginning Sept. 11 to allow the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to renovate the fish population that has been overtaken by small yellow bass. The work initially called for 85 percent of the lake water to be removed, but the DNR will lower the 137-acre lake completely to address some problems with the outlet gate.

"The gates had been leaking for a while so we decided to fix the problem, replace any worn parts and to give the gates a good cleaning while the other work was underway," said Chris Larson, fisheries biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "But in order for us to work on the gates, the remaining 15 percent of the lake water volume had to be released."

The fish population will be chemically renovated in late September. After the lake is emptied, any remaining pools will receive a chemical treatment to make sure all yellow bass are eliminated. The gates will be closed in early October and the lake will be allowed to refill.

"This additional work should not impact the schedule for the lake to refill much at all," Larson said.

Viking Lake will be re-stocked with advanced growth fingerling bluegills, largemouth bass and channel catfish this fall or next spring.

For more information, contact DNR fisheries biologist Chris Larson, at 712-769-2587.