Spirit Lake, Iowa — Since this is January, you might 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.
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.
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.
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.
(Courtesy fellow Community First Broadcasting station KUOO in Spirit Lake)
