Projects

Iron Horse Trail Lake Restoration Project

Project Client: Nemaha NRD
Project Location: DuBois, Nebraska
Project Categories: Lakes

Iron Horse Trail Lake lies in Section 17, Township 1 North, Range 12 East, in Pawnee County, Nebraska. The lake lies between the towns of Pawnee City and DuBois, Nebraska. The watershed includes approximately 4,732 acres of primarily agricultural land. The watershed is rural in nature and runs from just south of Highway 50 one mile east of Pawnee City to just west of the town of DuBois, Nebraska. The lake is an 85-acreflood control structure located on the Lores Branch, in Pawnee County, Nebraska. The dam was constructed in 1983 as part of a P.L. 566 project that included 14 grade stabilization structures and 2 floodwater-retarding structures within the South Fork watershed. The lake and associated recreation area is operated by the Nemaha Natural Resources District (NNRD). Iron Horse Trail Lake is part of an overall park that includes recreational facilities such as camping pads, tent camping, picnic shelters and tables, charcoal grills, drinking water, primitive restrooms, a boat ramp and dock, nature trails, etc. Noted lake and lake water quality concerns include low (and declining) dissolved oxygen concentrations in the hypolimnion, elevated nutrient concentrations in the hypolimnion (hypereutrophic waters) due to external loadings and indications of occasional elevated fecal coliform bacteria concentrations.

In November 2007, TFG completed an engineering feasibility study which evaluated a sediment basin within the upper reaches of Iron Horse Trail Lake. The recommendations from the study concluded that a comprehensive lake restoration project including a sediment basin was warranted. TFG worked with project partners from NNRD, NDEQ, and NGPC to evaluate and design a comprehensive lake restoration project at Iron Horse Trail Lake. The design efforts of the motorboat access development portion of the project include an island complex and associated lake deepening; a boat mooring island and associated lake deepening; and improvements to the existing boat ramp facility and selected lake deepening in the vicinity of the existing boat ramp. Additional components included shoreline stabilization measures, angler access points, underwater shoals, recreational amenities improvements, etc.

The project is in its final phases of construction. Construction will be completed in spring 2011.

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