The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently highlighted one of the lesser known gems of the Midwest, the Black Hawk Marsh Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near Lake View. Not many people think of a marsh as a beautiful sight, but Clint Maddix, wildlife biologist for the DNR, says this area has something for everyone, with bird watching, boating and fishing, horse trails and recreational trails throughout the 1,260 plus acre public area. A drought in 2012 brought the inlet bay on the marsh to the DNR’s attention as the drying out of the marsh resulted in lowering the water level in Black Hawk Lake. A study was conducted identifying the benefits of dredging the marsh, which got underway in 2017. To date, the report says the dredging is about 40 percent complete, which is restoring wildlife and indigenous, beneficial vegetation back to the area. A link to the full DNR report can be found below.
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