WHAT ISSUES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AT SILVER LAKE?
As their new lots were being developed, interest in the condition of the prairie pothole region lake was piqued among the 31 new property owners. Studies show that Silver Lake originally had an average 10-foot depth, with maximum depths up to 14 or 15 feet. “Right now, the average depth of that lake is 4 feet, with a maximum depth of 6 feet,” Parks said. “It’s all due to sediment that’s been washed into the lake over years of a lot of early-farming practices that weren’t near as conscious about the environment and water quality as they are today.” The introduction of carp, a rough fish that grows and multiplies quickly, often ruining vegetation and other fish habitat in a lake, has also impacted Silver Lake’s beauty. WHY SHOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN THIS? These issues are not isolated to the Palo Alto County natural lake created when the Wisconsin glacier retreated. Water quality and watershed management practices also affect other bodies of water throughout the state. Individuals inter
