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.
Lake activities are more difficult to participate in as weeds protrude multiple feet above the lakebed.
Another Lake Contrary resident of nearly 30 years also remembers a livelier lake.
"We used to come boating down here a lot," Dave Polley said. "I remember a lot of boats coming down here, but you don't see that much anymore. And people used to go swimming down here a lot, but not that much anymore."
Less water and more plants have taken away from the lake life. Cattails and other vegetation continue to grow quickly in the area.
"It's almost desolate out here," Ball said. "You don't see nothing going on. It's a tragedy."
The contractor completed their survey of the lake, the land and the plants at Lake Contrary earlier this year. They believe all the plants that are alive will be easier to target and ready to spray by the end of May.
"We're going to put out to all the public that live around this area the day that (the spraying is) going to be done when when we get it so they can do whatever they want to feel that they are safe," Hook said.
Buchanan County would like to stay in the $6 million range to dredge the lake. Ball believes the project will boost the local economy and inject life into the community.
"It's going to be a task, of course, but it's going to put people to work too," he said. "It's going to create jobs to do this."
Hook said the dredging project is important to him because he believes an area the size of Buchanan County needs to have a recreational lake.
One of the final hurdles to overcome before dredging is gaining the final permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. The decision on whether or not to provide a permit is expected any day.
"The county set aside some money to get it done, and we're ready to move on it," Hook said. "So just continued prayers."
