What's the problem with Lake Darling?
Approximately 150,000 visitors enjoy all that Lake Darling has to offer annually, but in the past decade, a decrease in water quality at Lake Darling has driven people to visit other lakes. One of the major problems affecting Lake Darling is sediment washing in from the watershed and filling in the lake. This sediment has caused a ripple effect felt throughout the watershed.

Routine beach monitoring at Lake Darling, conducted since 2000, documented that fecal contamination (indicated by high E. Coli bacteria levels) has been a problem in the lake. In 2003, the Iowa DNR began an innovative study to determine where the bacteria were coming from in the watershed. The DNR pinpointed three main sources of bacteria in the watershed - namely livestock, wildlife and humans.

Lake Darling is also affected by excess nutrients, pesticides and bacteria washing in with the sediment, resulting in cloudy water. The cloudy water cannot support the microorganisms that small fish feed on, and the larger fish cannot see to feed. The sediment has clogged stream channels, destroyed aquatic habitat and covered fish spawning and feedings areas.

Lately, Lake Darling has also had problems with Canada Geese that invade the area around the beach and leave fecal waste in the lake.
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What's being done to help Lake Darling?
Although conservation practices have been part of the Lake Darling watershed for years, the watershed has seen a boom of water quality improvement projects recently. Since 2001, 124 construction projects, involving 55 of 71 landowners in the watershed, have been completed. Many of these projects were group projects between the watershed project, multiple landowners, and other agencies and organizations.

Before these conservation practices were set in place, more than 16,000 tons of sediment were reaching Lake Darling each year, but since the conservation practices have been installed, the amount of sediment has been reduced to 6,978 tons per year.

A new technology called LiDAR - or Light Detection and Ranging - is being used at Lake Darling. LiDAR is an interactive topographic map with elevation data accurate within inches of actual elevations. LiDAR is a process of scanning the earth with lasers from an aircraft to obtain accurate elevations. LiDAR has been used to map the Lake Darling watershed, and has many potential uses for landowners, including: reduction of planning costs for soil conservation structures like terraces and sediment ponds; erosion potential measurements and modeling; floodplain and flood insurance mapping; permitting for animal feeding operations (floodplains and slope); and evaluating the performance of conservation practices.

Lake Darling hopes to create additional sediment erosion ponds to trap an estimated 95 percent of sediment from their drainage area. They also add recreational, wildlife and aesthetic benefits to the private landowners.

A grant from the Iowa Pork Producers Association is helping the watershed project do grid and pit sampling to help landowners determine the right amount of manure to put on their field.

Landowners and other community members are also beginning to look into making designated areas away from the lake for the geese to congregate away from the beach. Back to top

What can I do to help?
Landowners can consider installing conservation practices to control the amount of sediment, nutrients and other pollutants reaching Lake Darling.

Financial assistance is available, and the benefits extend beyond cleaner water - often conservation practices can produce financial benefits, create recreational opportunities and provide habitat for wildlife.

Citizens looking to get involved at Lake Darling may also join Friends of Lake Darling, which works on park projects and raises awareness of water quality and other issues affecting Lake Darling State Park. Friends of Lake Darling have raised approximately $1 million in the past year to build a four-season lodge. They hope to have the center finished sometime in 2008.
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What is the future of Lake Darling?
When Stan Simmons became watershed coordinator for Lake Darling in 2000, he sensed a negative attitude from the citizens directed toward the lake.

"The attitude was Lake Darling is going downhill fast and there is nothing we can do about it," said Simmons.

That perception can be put to rest, as the future of Lake Darling looks very promising with many projects underway and vibrant support from citizens and visitors. Friends of Lake Darling continues to be a strong presence and with the hopeful addition of a four-season lodge, visitors can enjoy what Lake Darling facilities have to offer, Simmons added.
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Meet the project coordinator
Stan Simmons attended Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Simmons retired in 1990, but jumped at the opportunity to become district coordinator at Lake Darling in 2000.

Throughout his career at Lake Darling, Simmons has enjoyed the feeling of satisfaction when a project or job is completed. Simmons likes being outdoors and also benefiting from working with others who also enjoy making an environmental difference.

For other ways you can get involved with the Lake Darling Watershed Project, contact Stan Simmons, watershed coordinator, at (319)653-6654.
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Project partners

• Iowa DNR
• Iowa Department of Agriculture - Division of Soil Conservation
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District
• Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District
• Keokuk County Soil and Water Conservation District
• Washington County Engineer
• Jefferson County Engineer
• Keokuk County Engineer
• Lake Darling watershed landowners

For More Information
Local:
Stan Simmons
Lake Darling Watershed Project Coordinator
(319) 653-6654
Washington County NRCS Office

Statewide:
Steve Hopkins
DNR Nonpoint Source Program Coordinator
(515) 281-6402
Stephen.Hopkins@dnr.iowa.gov