The 1,475-acre Welch Lake complex filters runoff from approximately 16 percent of the West Okoboji Lake watershed, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Its 56 natural and restored wetlands extend about 2½ miles northwest of Highway 9. Water passing through those wetlands drops sediment and loses nutrients before eventually reaching the northern end of West Okoboji Lake.
Chris La Rue, a wildlife biologist with the DNR’s Great Lakes Unit, called Welch Lake “one of the top water quality projects in the state.”
The complex underwent a major restoration during the early 2000s, followed by another extensive wetland improvement project in 2019.
More improvements are planned for the fall of 2026. The DNR intends to restore another 20 acres of wetlands on the northwest side of the complex and convert the remaining upland acres along Highway 86 into diverse native prairie.
Work will begin after soybeans are harvested from the property. Crews will construct berms to establish four additional wetlands.
The project is expected to provide another layer of protection for West Okoboji Lake while increasing habitat available to migrating birds and other wildlife.
Wetlands act as natural filters by slowing runoff and allowing soil particles to settle before the water moves downstream. Plants and microorganisms within the wetlands also capture or process nutrients that could otherwise contribute to algae growth and declining water quality.
Welch Lake’s combination of marshes and prairie has made the property one of Dickinson County’s leading public hunting destinations.
Pheasants thrive in the surrounding grasslands, while diving ducks and other waterfowl use the wetlands during migration. La Rue said the property offers excellent walk-in hunting opportunities and may attract 20 to 30 vehicles to its parking areas during the waterfowl opener.
Dove hunters also frequent the complex, while paddlers can explore its wetlands during quieter portions of the year.
The area played an important role during the early stages of Iowa’s trumpeter swan restoration effort. Swans successfully nested at Welch Lake, helping return the enormous native waterfowl to a landscape from which they had disappeared.
Two adult trumpeter swans were recently observed guarding two young cygnets as they swam near protective shoreline vegetation.
The sight reflects the broader success of Iowa’s restoration program. Trumpeter swans attempted a modern Iowa record of 158 nests in 2025, including 98 nests known to have successfully produced young.
Iowa began its modern trumpeter swan restoration program in 1993 and released its first four birds the following year. The DNR ultimately released 1,218 swans before ending the release phase of the program in 2022.
Welch Lake is also included within the Cayler Prairie Bird Conservation Area, which was dedicated in 2011. The designation recognizes the area’s high-quality mixture of prairie and wetland habitat supporting both grassland and wetland birds.
For West Okoboji Lake, Welch Lake’s greatest contribution may be largely unseen: holding back soil and nutrients before they can reach the lake. For hunters, birdwatchers and paddlers, however, the wildlife and recreational benefits remain plainly visible throughout the year.
(TOP IMAGE: Two adult trumpeter swans keep a watchful eye as their two young cygnets swim near the safety of the shoreline vegetation on the Welch Lake complex. The Welch Lake complex was one area during the early years of the trumpeter swan restoration to see swans successfully nest. Photo courtesy of the Iowa DNR.)