(Spirit Lake)– With all the cold weather we’ve had lately you would think area lakes would be completely locked up in a thick coating of ice. However, that has NOT been the case. Mike Hawkins, a fisheries biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources tells KUOO news they’ve documented areas of open water on a number of area lakes…
“Especially of note is a fairly large open area up on Big Spirit Lake that extends from Red Nose Point on the east side of Big Spirit all the way around to Big Stoney and to the Hales Slough boat ramp. That still remains fairly open even with these cold temperatures. Some areas on East Okoboji and West Okoboji though have started to close up just the last day or so, so the cold weather is finally catching up with some of that open water. Definitely places that we need to be cautious about, that new ice that forms, especially if it gets covered with a skiff of snow that’s in the forecast, can be pretty treacherous until it gains some thickness and is able to support some weight, so places that maybe look like good ice or look like they’ve been frozen for a while may have only been frozen for a few days as of this weekend.”
In fact, Hawkins says on Monday DNR crews were measuring water temperatures still around 40 degrees in a few locations just below the ice. He says it’s a product of the warm fall and bare ground so far this winter…
“With no snow cover on the ground, those feeding areas for waterfowl are still available and until that gets covered up with substantial snow we typically see a lot of waterfowl stay in the area. Those waterfowl can keep those small areas open which then become much larger areas when the wind blows, and the weather warms up.”
In areas where the conditions are good, Hawkins says there is up to a foot and-a-half of ice. He says that can change though over very short distances from where the ice only recently has formed…
“This is particularly the winter where you want to test that ice thickness often. Have your safety equipment with you in case you were to go in so that you can get back in the direction that you came from; ice picks; some type of flotation clothing is very important and making sure if you are travelling out onto the ice that you do so in single file and try not to go alone or at the very least make sure someone knows where you’re at so you’re at a place where you can call for help.”
Hawkins adds as of now they have not yet started up any aeration systems. He says dissolved oxygen levels are very good for this time of the year. Hawkins adds they’ll continue to closely monitor that as the season goes on.
(This story is courtesy of fellow Community First Broadcasting station KUOO in Spirit Lake)
