By Becky Batcheller
Turtle Lake Fundraising Committee

Turtle Lake, a waterway connecting Millers Bay, Emerson Bay, and Spencer Beach, is in urgent need of preservation. The newly formed Save Turtle Lake Committee has launched a campaign to raise $750,000 for a dredging project to restore the lake and its canals, protecting this essential ecosystem and recreational space.

The Committee has already secured $350,000 in pledges and seeks community support to raise the remaining funds by December 20, 2024. With sediment buildup beginning to restrict water flow into West Lake Okoboji, the lake’s health and the habitat of local marine life are at risk, and navigation has become difficult, affecting popular activities like kayaking, paddle boarding and fishing. “Preserving Turtle Lake is about more than maintaining a waterway – it’s about safeguarding a natural resource for future generations,” said Tim Ireland, member of the Save Turtle Lake Committee. “We’re asking the community to unite and help us reach our goal to ensure this project moves forward.”

If the fundraising goal is reached by the end of December, the Committee can secure dredging equipment with the plan to begin work in the fall of 2025. All contributions are tax-deductible, and pledges will only be collected if the total financial commitment is met.

How to help

Community members can send pledges via email to Save.Turtle.Lake@gmail.com by December 20, 2024. Please include your full name, address, phone number, and pledge amount. Donations will be collected in late December or early January, depending on the donor’s preferred tax year for the contribution.

For more information or to get involved, contact Tim Ireland at 712-229-1450 or Save.Turtle.Lake@gmail.com.

(photos by Blue View Imagery)

Aerial view of Turtle Lake located on the backside (north) of Emerson Bay.

Dredge map shows the acres of Turtle Lake to be dredged.