Fall Big Muddy September 21 , 2024
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access and great hunting opportunities for decades , yet flooding of the temperamental creek persisted above the WMA . In the early 1980s a control structure was installed at the lake ’ s outlet in an effort to help control water flow and provide better fish and wildlife management . But flooding still continued -- enough to warrant the McLean County Water Resource Board ’ s attention in 2010 .
Fast-forward 14 years : Collaboration and coordination with a litany of local , state , and federal agencies , non-governmental and conservation organizations and landowners will bring to fruition a vision for Painted Woods WMA
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Page 70 , Dakota Country , September 2024 that extends well into the future : The 2024 acquisition of about 170 acres of adjacent land solidified the Water Board vision and determination to resolve flooding and erosion .
The original WMA covers about 800 acres , described Game and Fish Department Director Jeb Williams . The Water Board approached the Game and Fish Department in 2010 to explore ways to solve persistent flooding problems , he said .
One step in the process was the 2016 acquisition of about 250 acres adjacent to the WMA known as the Landgren Tract . However , the Water Board still needed to find a way to get water out of
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Fall Big Muddy September 21 , 2024
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Painted Woods Creek in high flow , flooding situations into the lake itself so it could get downstream to the Missouri River , Oberg explained .
The biggest water management problems involved break-out points where water flooded private landowners , he continued . In the process of identifying problems and possible solutions , the Water Board , McLean County Commissioners , and local residents recognized the potential for a wide array of public opportunities -- things like additional hunting opportunities , better fishing , improved access for canoes and kayaks , outdoor photography , birding , and just a nice place to enjoy North Dakota ’ s outdoors .
It took more than 14 years of effort and collaboration , but by the end of 2024 the litany of issues surrounding Painted Woods Creek will be addressed . The needed work will be underway and the Game and Fish Department will assume management of a land tract covering about 170 acres -- the Hecht Family Tract .
The additional land enables the Water Board ’ s vision of flood and erosion control to come together . The project involves parking lot renovations , construction of an overflow channel taking flood water away from private land , creation of a canoe and kayak launch and access with additional parking to the creek and lake , and improved safety for people as well as hunters and their dogs , improvements to the original weir dam below the Painted Woods Lake , and cattail removal on the lake so it can hold more water while providing improved fish habitat and fishing opportunities .
Agencies and organizations needed to answer the question of “ What do we need to do to get this done ?”,” Williams suggested , to resolve flooding concerns .
Just a partial list of agencies involved with the McLean County Water Resource Board Game and Fish Department included the Fish and Wildlife Service , U . S . Bureau of Reclamation , U . S . Department of Transportation , U . S . Army Corps of Engineers , N . D . Department of Water Resources ,
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