Lake preservation group celebrates walleye rebound, seeks more donations

Storm Lake’s walleye comeback was not treated as a finish line at Lake Creek Country Club. The Lake Preservation for Storm Lake Association used its meeting to showcase signs of recovery on the water while also pushing a new round of fundraising for the work still ahead.

About 32 people attended the June 11 gathering, including board members, after an informal cocktail hour with a cash bar and free hors d’oeuvres. Ben Wallace, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources local fisheries biologist, headlined the meeting and told the group the state was confident the 2022 walleye regulation change helped protect the population. State Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, also spoke with the group.

Wallace said the DNR collected 318.1 quarts of walleye eggs in 2026 and that the average female walleye measured 23.2 inches. With each quart holding about 135,000 eggs, the collection underscored how heavily the lake still figures into Iowa’s hatchery pipeline. The DNR’s 2026 walleye netting season began April 7, with collection efforts also underway at Storm Lake, East Okoboji Lake and Spirit Lake as the agency works toward a goal of 104 million walleye fry.

The agency’s current Storm Lake fishing report says the lake is home to a strong year class of 21- to 23-inch walleyes, fish that remain protected under the slot regulation until they reach 22.1 inches. The DNR also says the walleyes are in great body condition. For a lake that covers 3,097 acres and reaches 20.3 feet at its deepest point, that kind of report carries weight far beyond the sport itself. It speaks to whether the restoration spending is producing measurable returns for anglers, tourists and taxpayers.

The preservation group is still trying to keep the momentum funded. It has applied for grants from the Buena Vista County Foundation and Taylor Family Farms but did not secure them. Its next target is the DNR fuel tax grant, a 75 percent state and 25 percent local cost-share program with applications due at the end of September 2026. The DNR is also prepared to apply herbicide for aquatic vegetation management at a cost of $8,388.26.

The Lake Improvement Commission, which handles water quality and aquatic vegetation management, remains the other key local player in the lake strategy. Its members include representatives from Buena Vista County, the Lake Preservation Association, the City of Lakeside and the City of Storm Lake. Meanwhile, Sunrise Boat Ramp restroom facilities and the water bottle filling station are in the final stages of completion, even as Storm Lake is dealing with a cyanobacteria bloom.

To raise more money, the association is raffling a Map Cuts Custom Wood 3-D Map of Storm Lake. Tickets cost $10 each, three for $20 or 20 for $100, and the drawing is set for Tuesday, June 30, with winners not required to be present.