Lake Delhi begins to refill

Iowa's lost lake, Lake Delhi near Manchester in the northeast corner of the state, has slowly started to refill.

The nine-mile-long lake on the Maquoketa River drained away six years ago when its private dam burst under the stress of that summer's persistent floods. After wrangling with both Mother Nature and state politics, local lake advocates finally shut the floodgates and underwater tubes on the new $16 million replacement dam Friday.

Over the weekend, residents and onlookers watched as the river slowly began to refill the long-parched basin.

Steve Leonard, president of the governing board of trustees of the Lake Delhi Combined Recreational Facility and Water Quality District, said that the lake could refill in as little as four days or require three or more weeks, depending on the amount of rainfall and river flow.

"One hard rain could fill us up," he said.

The lake's big comeback celebration is scheduled for July 23 and 24, precisely marking six years since the dam breach.

After 6 dry years, Lake Delhi dreams of its best summer ever