These fish habitat structures will be set soon in West Lake to aid both the fish and fishermen as the lake restoration continues.
West Lake, just off the Interstate 280 west of Davenport, is one of the most popular recreational areas in the greater Quad-Cities. Historically, the site receives over a half million visits each year.
However, a short while ago the area began a restoration project to renew the nearly 50-year-old lake to make it more useful for Quad-Cities residents.
“We started the overall lake project a couple of years ago and the first thing involved was watershed management,” said Marc Miller, deputy director of the Scott County Conservation Board. “Part of that watershed management involved building or renovating nine ponds in the watershed. Five of them are already done and we have stocked some small fish in them. The remaining ponds will be done really soon if the weather will cooperate.”
In concert with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the conservation board began this extensive project. However, no project like this is successful without the help of multiple volunteer groups and individuals.
“In the main lake we have put in over 200 trees that were killed by the emerald ash borer, so it was natural to use them for fish habitat,” he said. “Part of the I-74 project, we got several loads of coverts that have already been put in the lake, and Scott County Secondary Roads is also providing old coverts for habitat. We do plan more coverts and concrete blocks that several other entities are donating to us.”
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