Posted on December 5, 2024
MITCHELL — The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department wants to partner with the city to improve Lake Mitchell as a major renovation of the lake is set to begin next year.
Additional docks and more fishing locations, along with an improved jetty, and a better lake ecosystem were all discussion points during Monday’s Mitchell City Council regular meeting at City Hall.
Council did not take action on Lake Mitchell because the topic was only a discussion item and Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) was not in attendance at the meeting. But it was a clear indication that because the city’s residents voted to back the dredging project in June, GFP wanted to double down on fixing the algae-ridden lake, according to Mitchell resident Joe Kippes.
“In my experience, GFP always had a keen interest in how this lake would come back. They’re the ones that have talked about if you have an opportunity to resculpt that lake, it could be a lot better fishery,” said Kippes, who was in attendance at the council meeting. “That discussion started even well before we talked about draining the lake.”
Now, Kippes said, this is a nod from GFP that it is time to bring the lake to its full potential. Kippes is president of Friends of Firesteel, the Mitchell-based nonprofit organization whose vision is “to reinstate a vibrant lake and watershed,” according to its website. It is also the organization that publicly supported the dredge and improvement project ahead of the $25 million ballot measure that was narrowly supported by Mitchell voters in June.
He heard city officials talk about the GFP potentially cost sharing new docks and easier fishing access points following the dredge project that’s set to go to bid in the spring and begin construction in the fall of 2025.
The hurdle to fish Lake Mitchell in many locations is that red rock that surrounds the lake’s shore is difficult to maneuver down to cast a line. That can limit access for the public to utilize the water.
A jetty, a riprap structure to block wind for fishing and easing boat docking, was suggested to receive three large step locations at a cost of $9,950 each, paid for by the city. The jetty is already being built on the southwest side of the lake. The potential steps, which stay about four feet about the water, would be for anglers to have safer and easier access for fishing.
Construction of a new boat jetty dock on Lake Mitchell is pictured on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Mitchell.Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
“These types of steps will help a lot,” Kippes said. “In the past, I’ve said they should have a grandpa standard trying to take their grandkids down to fish. Do you have access for them? Of course with those big rocks, I won’t go down them. But with those steps I would. It’s really a nice improvement.”
Councilwoman Susan Tjarks expressed concern with the public crawling on the lake’s rocks and jetty, but she was ultimately supportive of the steps. The public is already climbing on the lake edge’s red rocks. On Sept. 9, at least two kids and an adult were seen on the newly installed rocks the day the jetty’s first load was dumped into the lake when the council took a tour of the city’s sidewalks.
Councilman Jeff Smith was supportive of adding the large rock steps on the jetty and acknowledged people will be fishing from it due to fish such as walleye spawning on the rocks.
City Administrator Stephanie Ellwein said the installation of the steps to the jetty would need to be done during its construction next year. City Engineer Joe Schroeder said a change order to the project would be required.
If the city moves forward with the steps on the jetty, GFP was interested in installing a U-shaped aluminum permanent fishing pier, estimated to cost $75,000, and two improved shore fishing access locations, one near Windy Point and another near 23rd Avenue, with an estimated cost of $40,000 each. It was unclear how much cost sharing GFP was willing to take on to aid the funding of the potential projects.
The city’s willingness to install the steps on the jetty would be seen as a proactive approach to doing improvements on the lake, Schroeder said.
“I think they’re looking for direction from us saying we’re interested, we’re not interested so we could start doing those further negotiations,” Schroeder said. He explained city staff toured the lake with GFP officials to get ideas on areas potentially to be improved.
Shown here is the design of the jetty and boat dock along the west side of Lake Mitchell. (Photo courtesy of city of Mitchell)
Councilman Tim Goldammer asked whether GFP is planning to restock the lake with fish after the dredge project.
“They are on board to help stock,” Schroeder said. “After the lake is filled back up, there is potential that fishing could be even better for a few years since the new ecosystem in the lake will help fish thrive.”
