Conservationists from Warren County met with the United States Department of Agriculture in February, discussing how to protect Lake Colchester. Lake Colchester is located north of Norwalk, and is a private water basin built in 1965 as part of a rural housing development, and is used for fishing, swimming, kayaking, and no-wake boating.

The meeting discusses how the lake has been dredged three times due to excess sediment loading attributed to upland cropland farming practices and urban development, further history of the lake, and to provide information about local voluntary programs and planning opportunities that can help preserve the lake.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service offers free conservation planning assistance and invites farmers in the watershed to develop a conservation plan on their farm to help protect areas such as Lake Colchester.

For more information about conservation practices and programs to help protect Lake Colchester, call the NRCS office in Indianola at 515-961-5264 or visit the office at 909 East 2nd Avenue.