Lake Contrary area to see beginning of revival efforts
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- As warmer weather arrives, so do efforts to revive a recreational lake on the south side of St. Joseph.
A Buchanan County project to dredge Lake Contrary is gaining traction, with weed spraying estimated to begin at the end of the month. The county contracted an Oklahoma company for the job.
"They'll allow the chemical that goes on there to work its magic, and it's going to kill the root ball," Buchanan County Commissioner Ron Hook said. "Everything all the way down. It's aquatic safe."
Clearing the weeds is a crucial step toward dredging to prevent weeds from clogging dredging equipment. At a public meeting last August hosted by the county, officials discussed a plan to use an aquatic herbicide called Clearcast.
It’s just the beginning of an effort to restore what was once a community asset. St. Joseph resident Steven Ball remembers visiting the lake with his family to swim, ride jet skis and go swimming.
He said the water was not very deep back then, but still, he can’t believe how much the lake has changed since then.
"I can't bring my kids down here now to go swimming or to have a picnic or to build sandcastles or do whatever, you know, there's nothing here anymore," he said.
Tune in at 5 p.m. on Thursday to watch this News-Press NOW Special Report.
