Restocking the Future of Shabbona Lake State Park

Back in the early 1990’s, a small five-acre pond on the far north end of the lake was constructed. This rearing pond became home to hundreds of fingerlings (small baby fish). The rearing pond allows baby fish to reach juvenile adult size before they are released into the main lake. With a large number of predator fish in the lake, this process increases the survival rate of the fingerlings.

Over the next 20+ years, the rearing pond began to fill with sediment from small riverbeds to the north. Eventually, the sediment grew so deep that the pond became shallow, clogging and blocking the water flow into the lake. Due to the cost of repair and lack of funding to implement the project, the rearing pond ceased operation in 2014. With the rearing pond shutdown, the only option for restocking the lake came through the purchase of larger fish; a significantly more expensive option. Shabbona Lake was facing an immediate challenge with a long-term impact. As fishing pressure continued on the lake, how long would it take visitors to notice the reduction in fish? If fishing declined on the lake, what are the effects for Shabbona Lake tourism and the local economy?

In 2016, a group of dedicated supporters called “Friends of Shabbona Lake” got together and applied for a grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation. Through generous donor support to Community Impact funds, funding is available for projects such as fixing the rearing pond through the Community Needs Grant program. In a few months’ time, the Friends of Shabbona Lake received a grant for $12,000, leveraged over $5,000 of their own local funding, and began repairs to the rearing pond.

Local contractor Kyler Excavating began work in November 2016 and completed the project in June 2017.  The first step was to dig a deeper channel where the water drains into the lake. Once complete, the next step was installation of drainage tiles and new piping with an anti-seep collar. The final step was to remove sediment and reshape the pond for better drainage. After some challenges with a rainy spring and summer, the project has reached completion and the rearing pond is ready for operation. Over the next few months as water collects, the pond will slowly begin to fill. In spring of 2018, after the ice melts, fish will added to the rearing pond.

“The rearing pond plays such a vital role in the overall health of the fishery,” said Spencer Meyers, President of the Friends of Shabbona Lake State Park. “Without the support from our members/donors and organizations like the Community Foundation, a project of this magnitude would have sat idle negatively impacting the angling opportunities. We are very excited to see our organization continue to grow and gain the support from local residents. These members/donors make projects like the rearing pond repair possible. We have many other future projects currently in the works and rely heavily on this type of community support to continue making a positive impact at Shabbona Lake State Park.”

2015 was a very busy 1st year for the Friends Of Shabbona Lake State Park. Friends, with our partner members, has successfully finished 5 major projects that have substantially improved Shabbona Lake State Park.

1. Friends partnered with the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance to repair a severely damage boat launch ramp. Repair Costs $2,100.  (See full report below.)
2. Friends, partnering with Lakeside Bait, Tackle & Boat Rental purchased $1,998.25 worth of 5-7 inch Walleye that were stocked into Shabbona Lake. The money came from donation jars at Lakeside. (See full report below.)
3. Friends partnering with 6 fishing clubs raised $$2,012.50 to repair the Spillway Barrier Fence. (See full report below.)
4. Friends thru donations of paint, a striping machine and volunteer hours painted all of the Parking Lot Space Lines, as well as Handicap Spaces and Trail Crossings in the whole Park. (See Full Report Below.)
5. Friends partnering with the Shabbona Lake Sportsman Club plants new stockings of water willows in Shabbona Lake.
6. Friends partnering with Park Staff have begun an entrance sign beautification project.

2015 was a very busy 1st year for the Friends Of Shabbona Lake State Park. Friends, with our partner members, has successfully finished 5 major projects that have substantially improved Shabbona Lake State Park.

1. Friends partnered with the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance to repair a severely damage boat launch ramp. Repair Costs $2,100.  (See full report below.)
2. Friends, partnering with Lakeside Bait, Tackle & Boat Rental purchased $1,998.25 worth of 5-7 inch Walleye that were stocked into Shabbona Lake. The money came from donation jars at Lakeside. (See full report below.)
3. Friends partnering with 6 fishing clubs raised $$2,012.50 to repair the Spillway Barrier Fence. (See full report below.)
4. Friends thru donations of paint, a striping machine and volunteer hours painted all of the Parking Lot Space Lines, as well as Handicap Spaces and Trail Crossings in the whole Park. (See Full Report Below.)
5. Friends partnering with the Shabbona Lake Sportsman Club plants new stockings of water willows in Shabbona Lake.
6. Friends partnering with Park Staff have begun an entrance sign beautification project.

THE BOAT LAUNCH HAS BEEN REPAIRED !!!

Thanks to generous donations from the Friends Of Shabbona Lake State Park and the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance the pot holes in the East boat ramp has been fixed. We have been waiting several years for the State Of Illinois to fully repair the main boat launch. However, the State, as we all know, does not have funds available for projects like this.

So the “Friends” and the “ISA” each donated $1,200 (total $2,400) to fix the east boat ramp, which was really becoming a hazard.

Saying Thanks, does not seem enough, as once again we realize why Shabbona Lake is such a special place.

If you are at a Fishing Show this Winter and see a Smallmouth Alliance Booth, stop by and tell them what you really think.

If you are thinking about joining Friends Of Shabbona Lake State Park, why not now!!!

Go to www.friendsofshabbonalake.com and sign up or make a donation. Friends is a 501c3 tax exempt organization.

  

Friends Paints The Night Away

On Friday evening, July 24, 2015, the Friends of Shabbona Lake State Park organized & completed a work day to paint the parking lots stripes at Shabbona Lake State Park. All of the paint was donated and all of the labor and machinery was volunteered.

Dan Raih obtained the paint striping machine and ran the machine, as he painted the stripes. Dan was assisted by Rich McEligott, Jim Peaslee, Larry Kimpan, Peter Dordal, Tim Pierce and Tim Tausch, along with 4 Boy Scouts from Tim’s Scout Troop.

They started around 4:30 PM and all lots were done by 10 PM.

Thanks again Friends Of Shabbona Lake State Park!!!

Thanks to generous donations by customers at Lakeside Bait, Tackle & Boat Rental, 935 were purchased from Logan Hollow Fish Hatchery and stocked into Shabbona Lake today, 11-02-15

Once again we see why Shabbona Lake is such a great fishing lake. Thanks to pennies, nickles, dimes, quarters and dollars donated, Shabbona Lake has a new stocking of 5-7 inch Walleye. Those who fish Shabbona Lake generously give back to Shabbona Lake!!!

Thanks everyone!!!

THE BOAT LAUNCH HAS BEEN REPAIRED !!!

Thanks to generous donations from the Friends Of Shabbona Lake State Park and the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance the pot holes in the East boat ramp has been fixed. We have been waiting several years for the State Of Illinois to fully repair the main boat launch. However, the State, as we all know, does not have funds available for projects like this.

So the “Friends” and the “ISA” each donated $1,200 (total $2,400) to fix the east boat ramp, which was really becoming a hazard.

Saying Thanks, does not seem enough, as once again we realize why Shabbona Lake is such a special place.

If you are at a Fishing Show this Winter and see a Smallmouth Alliance Booth, stop by and tell them what you really think.

If you are thinking about joining Friends Of Shabbona Lake State Park, why not now!!!

Go to www.friendsofshabbonalake.com and sign up or make a donation. Friends is a 501c3 tax exempt organization.

  

Friends Paints The Night Away

On Friday evening, July 24, 2015, the Friends of Shabbona Lake State Park organized & completed a work day to paint the parking lots stripes at Shabbona Lake State Park. All of the paint was donated and all of the labor and machinery was volunteered.

Dan Raih obtained the paint striping machine and ran the machine, as he painted the stripes. Dan was assisted by Rich McEligott, Jim Peaslee, Larry Kimpan, Peter Dordal, Tim Pierce and Tim Tausch, along with 4 Boy Scouts from Tim’s Scout Troop.

They started around 4:30 PM and all lots were done by 10 PM.

Thanks again Friends Of Shabbona Lake State Park!!!

Thanks to generous donations by customers at Lakeside Bait, Tackle & Boat Rental, 935 were purchased from Logan Hollow Fish Hatchery and stocked into Shabbona Lake today, 11-02-15

Once again we see why Shabbona Lake is such a great fishing lake. Thanks to pennies, nickles, dimes, quarters and dollars donated, Shabbona Lake has a new stocking of 5-7 inch Walleye. Those who fish Shabbona Lake generously give back to Shabbona Lake!!!

Thanks everyone!!!