Iowa DNR and Fish & Wildlife describe Hodge wetland restoration; board grants permission to proceed in two drainage districts

Chris Lu, wildlife management biologist with the Great Lakes unit, described a cooperative Hodge wetland restoration project involving four basins in the Diamond Lake watershed and explained how two basins intersect county drainage districts.

The project would place water-control structures, tie into existing branch tile (identified in meeting discussion as branch 63 in drainage district 29 and branch 83-7-31-B in drainage district 26), and restore hydrology for a roughly 10‑acre main basin with three smaller basins nearby. Lu said the design allows managed drainage to reduce downstream flood impacts and includes measures to avoid sending additional surface water onto neighboring properties.

“It's a great water quality project and migratory waterfowl habitat project for the area,” Lu told supervisors while describing tile searches, intake structures and contingencies for sandy soils and gravel spots. He said the project is funded by the North American Wetland Conservation Act and that, if additional funds were needed, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would assist.

Supervisors moved and seconded a motion to grant the department permission to proceed with work in the two drainage districts; county staff clarified there is no immediate cost to the drainage districts and that construction is planned to begin after harvest to minimize conflicts with tenants. Lu estimated smaller contractor jobs of this scope could be completed in one to two weeks once contracted, while larger projects—he cited a recent $350,000 Spring Run project as an example—take longer.

What happens next: staff will proceed with tile searches, contractor bidding and coordination with affected landowners and state DOT as needed. The board noted the department will keep county staff and engineers informed as the projects reach the contracting stage.