04-27-2005, 09:44 PM
[font "Arial"][size 3]Crown Butte Dam in Morton County is in the process of being drawn down for summer work nearly two months ahead of schedule, according to Scott Elstad, North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s aquatic habitat supervisor.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 3]“The original plan was to have it lowered 10-12 feet by July 1, but a contractor started work early and should have it down by May 5,” Elstad said.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 3]The department’s Save Our Lakes program, in conjunction with the Morton County Parks Department, will begin work on the dam July 1, with a completion date scheduled for the end of September.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 3]The SOL project includes removing sediment, resloping 50 percent of the shoreline, building up to 17 earthen fishing piers and installing a walking path along the northeast corner and west side of the lake.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 3]“Access to the lake is going to be difficult as far as fishing is concerned,” Elstad said, “but if a person doesn’t mind getting muddy, fish will be confined to a smaller area.”[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 3]Crown Butte is about eight miles west of Mandan along Interstate 94. The 30-acre lake is part of an 84-acre state wildlife management area.[/size][/font]
[signature]
[font "Arial"][size 3]“The original plan was to have it lowered 10-12 feet by July 1, but a contractor started work early and should have it down by May 5,” Elstad said.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 3]The department’s Save Our Lakes program, in conjunction with the Morton County Parks Department, will begin work on the dam July 1, with a completion date scheduled for the end of September.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 3]The SOL project includes removing sediment, resloping 50 percent of the shoreline, building up to 17 earthen fishing piers and installing a walking path along the northeast corner and west side of the lake.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 3]“Access to the lake is going to be difficult as far as fishing is concerned,” Elstad said, “but if a person doesn’t mind getting muddy, fish will be confined to a smaller area.”[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 3]Crown Butte is about eight miles west of Mandan along Interstate 94. The 30-acre lake is part of an 84-acre state wildlife management area.[/size][/font]
[signature]