REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY OF NORTH SIOUX CITY, UNION COUNTY, THE MCCOOK LAKE ASSOCIATION, AND THE MCCOOK LAKE IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE HAVE RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND FUTURE OF MCCOOK LAKE.
THIS INCLUDES ONGOING RECOVERY EFFORTS FOLLOWING THE 2024 FLOOD.
TO DATE, MORE THAN 64 TONS OF DEBRIS, OVER 128,000 POUNDS AND APPROXIMATELY 20,000 CUBIC YARDS OF SEDIMENT HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM MCCOOK LAKE THROUGH COORDINATED EFFORTS BETWEEN SOUTH DAKOTA GAME, FISH AND PARKS AND THREE OAKS, INC.
ADDITIONAL VISIBLE DEBRIS WAS RECENTLY REMOVED BY THE MCCOOK LAKE ASSOCIATION WITH ASSISTANCE FROM STOCKTON TOWING.
KNOWN AND IDENTIFIED DEBRIS WILL CONTINUE TO BE MARKED WITH BUOYS AND REMOVED AS WATER LEVELS INCREASE AND ALLOW FOR BETTER ACCESS.
WATER QUALITY TESTING HAS BEEN COMPLETED, AND RESULTS INDICATE CONDITIONS FALL WITHIN ACCEPTABLE RANGES FOR RECREATIONAL USE.
FISH SAMPLING TEST RESULTS SHOW CONTAMINANT LEVELS ARE WITHIN SAFE CONSUMPTION THRESHOLDS AND CONSISTENT WITH PRE-FLOOD FINDINGS.
ONGOING TESTING WILL CONTINUE, AND RESULTS WILL BE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC.
PUMPING OPERATIONS HAVE RESUMED FOR THE SEASON, WITH APPROXIMATELY SEVEN FEET OF WATER EXPECTED TO BE ADDED TO MCCOOK LAKE FROM THE MISSOURI RIVER BY MEMORIAL DAY.
RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ASSIST BY CLEANING UP PRIVATE SHORELINES AND ENSURING DOCKS ARE IN SAFE CONDITION.
THOSE CHOOSING TO USE THE LAKE THIS SEASON ARE ENCOURAGED TO REMAIN AWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS AND PRACTICE STANDARD WATER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.
KSCJ 2025 FILE PHOTO
