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June 30, 2023Greenfield, Iowa |  By: Jeremy Werner

Iowa DNR lowers water levels at Meadow Lake

lake

GREENFIELD, Iowa - In an effort to enhance the size of bluegills in one area lake, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has lowered water levels by three feet this week.

This strategic move aims to improve the quality of panfish in Meadow Lake, near Greenfield, in Adair County. By reducing the water level gradually over the next two weeks, any downstream impacts will be mitigated.

Fisheries management experts commonly employ water level draw-downs to optimize fish populations. Meadow Lake currently has an abundance of seven-inch bluegills that fall short of anglers' expectations in terms of size and quality.

Officials say that crowding the fish into a smaller area increases their vulnerability to predation by largemouth bass and reduces the number of smaller bluegills.

The reduction in population will foster better growth in the upcoming year, as observed in similar draw-downs conducted in 2016 and 2019. Refilling of Meadow Lake will commence in September.