The Storm Lake City Council on Monday approved a partnership request from the Storm Lake Preservation Association to move forward with a shoreline stabilization project along East Lakeshore Drive.
The plan focuses on about 1,580 feet of city‑owned shoreline between Awaysis Beach and the natural beach east of Chautauqua Park Drive—a heavily used stretch that has been eroding for years. The shoreline is currently lined with broken concrete rubble and exposed rebar, creating safety hazards for families, walkers, cyclists, and swimmers who use the adjacent trail and nearby beaches.
LPA President Ryan Mohr told the council the project would remove those hazards and replace them with natural fieldstone.
The LPA has been raising funds to re‑armor the north shoreline between Awaysis Beach and Mae Street and plans to apply for several grants. Many of those applications require proof of local partnership.
Mohr emphasized the group was not seeking direct city funding, but instead asked the city to document in‑kind support.
Councilperson Don Piercy Jr. questioned how construction equipment would access the site without damaging the sidewalk or trail.
City staff noted that when similar work was done at Frank Starr Park, the city repaired sidewalk damage as part of its in‑kind contribution.
The council ultimately voted unanimously to approve the partnership. The decision allows the LPA to list the city as a project partner in upcoming grant applications and commits the city to documenting between $15,000 and $50,000 of in‑kind support. The LPA has already set aside $40,000 of its own funds and plans to pursue additional grants through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Buena Vista County Community Foundation, and other sources.
If funding is secured, Mohr said construction could begin as early as this fall.
