Lake Restoration at Casey Lake

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The Casey Lake restoration project is underway at Hickory Hills Park and on schedule. The lake is a top attraction at the park, offering many recreational activities, including camping, hiking and fishing.

Over time, erosion caused sediment to accumulate on the lakebed, which reduced the water depth and altered habitats essential to promoting healthy aquatic life. High phosphorus levels landed the nearly 37.5-acre lake on the impaired waters list. Excessive algae and aquatic vegetation growth hindered recreational use.

Black Hawk County Conservation sought funding from the State Lake Restoration program to address these issues, partnering with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on an in-depth investigation and subsequent construction.

Shive-Hattery was hired to develop a restoration plan for the lake and 772-acre watershed. Preliminary plans recommended several actions to restore and preserve water quality and ensure it remains a vibrant resource for the community, including:

• Renovation and construction of multiple siltation basins (a type of Best Management Practice, or BMP)
• Sediment removal from the lake basin
• Shoreline improvements
• Construction and placement of fish habitat structures

Mechanical dredging has removed approximately 139,000 cubic yards of material – over 4,600 dump truck loads. This process will result in an average water depth of 9.8 feet. During the drawdown, additional work will be done to enhance fish habitats.

The project is on track to be largely finished by this fall, with plans to refill the lake starting soon after. Targeted alum dosing in portions of Casey Lake will help reduce invasive vegetative growth and improve water quality and clarity.

The completed project will also feature new amenities, including a stone terrace and fishing nodes, enhancing the visitor experience. Upon completion, the lake and its facilities will provide long-term benefits for public use for decades.