Temporary winter drawdown planned for Lake Ocheda

The Okabena-Ocheda Watershed District, in partnership with the Lake Ocheda Advisory Team and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), has announced plans for a temporary winter drawdown of Lake Ocheda to boost wildlife habitat and improve water clarity.

Beginning Sept. 8, water levels on the 1,800-acre lake will be lowered by approximately two feet, leaving a depth of 2 to 2.5 feet. Levels will remain low through April 2026. The drawdown is designed to encourage a winter fish kill, targeting species such as black bullheads, common carp, and fathead minnows. These fish are known to stir up sediment, damage aquatic vegetation, and diminish water quality.

A press release from the district stated: "This effort is part of a long-term management strategy to improve water clarity, restore the ecosystem of the lake, and enhance conditions for native plants and wildlife."

The DNR commissioner is currently reviewing an addendum to the Lake Ocheda management plan that could allow drawdowns to extend for up to two years, should further action be necessary to meet restoration goals.

Lake Ocheda is managed under Minnesota Statute 103G.408, following an approved lake management plan. Water levels are controlled by a recently updated stop-log structure at the outlet of the lake.

For more information or questions, residents are encouraged to contact the Okabena-Ocheda Watershed District at (507) 372-8228 or the Windom DNR Shallow Lakes Specialist at (507) 832-6016.