Removal of trees along the southern shoreline was to be done before rip rap can be applied.

Changes, changes, changes. Many changes have taken place at Union Grove State Park over the past several years.

Dreams of cabins and a renovation of the campground had already begun, when an early morning storm on July 11, 2011, resulted in the removal of upwards of approximately three hundred trees from the area; not to mention the damage done to area properties. It took the park crew, as well as workers from other parks, and outside help, to recover from that storm.

Since then, Union Grove has seen a major renovation to the campground, consisting of 30 amp up to 50 amp electric service, water and sewer hookups, and a family friendly shower building. A grill was donated by the Veterans Home in Marshalltown, and installed by the shelter house at the west boat landing.

Union Grove has been fortunate to have some dedicated volunteers, willing to donate their time to raise money; as well as people who have had a heart for the park, who were more than willing to donate. Due to their diligent work, two cabins now grace the hill on the north side of the campground, in the area where the Legion shelter was previously located. The cabins are family friendly and pet friendly, as well as handicap accessible. Don’t forget to bring your bedding and toiletries! Those that have frequented the cabins are delighted at the opportunity to watch the deer and the turkeys walk by.

Due to the acquisition of 115 acres of land on the north side of the watershed, plans were developed to renovate the lake for quality improvement. The plans consist of draining the lake, reworking the shoreline, dredging, installing a fish barrier at the spillway (which is designed to prevent rough fish from being able to come back up into the lake), etc.

Applying rip rap on top of a weed barrier where, previously, no rip rap had been.

The newly purchased land, which controls forty percent of the watershed, is designated as a public hunting area. Much of the area will be planted with prairie grasses and forested. Mike Nagle, with Nagle Land Tiling, has enhanced approximately four acres of the lowland marsh area with duck ponds for wildlife, while also making more room for water retention, with hopes for less soil erosion. He will also be putting in rip rap and seeding. This area is set up to be a home for waterfowl in the future. It is the writer’s hope that the sand hill cranes will return and make this area their home. Included in this area is a three acre, privately owned, plot with a private residence. Please take care to respect their property.

Weather can wreak havoc on our plans. Plans were for shoreline work to be done on a frozen lake bed. However, with a warmer than normal winter, work has begun on a less than ideal, mushy lake bed. Following the rains in February, there was once again a small lake in what was supposed to be dry. The construction crew have built a road, using timbers, to enable them to continue their work on the south side of the lake.

Much work has been done in the last several months. Upon taking a drive around the lake, you can see that prep work for the dredging, shoreline work, work on the spillway, as well as miscellaneous projects have been started.

Future plans are to replace the gate valve. Once the gate valve has been replaced and the rip rap is completed, the valve will be closed. The lake will, then, be allowed to repool. Once the lake has repooled, the dredging equipment will be brought in. Plans are for the lake to be dredged to an average depth of eleven feet for the main lake, while north of the causeway will be at an average depth of eight feet. Dredge material will be pumped up to the old quarry area northeast of the lake, which is owned by Lake Park and Holding.

Future plans also consist of a trail on the southwest side of the lake, which would hook up with an existing trail; and playground areas to be located at the beach and at the campground.

Rock being dumped on the north side.

Soon, weather permitting, folks will be enjoying time spent at the lake… camping, fishing, boating, swimming, and more!

Fish fingers.