The Lake

There is something for everyone to enjoy at our beautiful four acre lake. Our lake is stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish. Many runners and walkers can be found doing laps around the lake (three times around is a mile). The sounds of laughter from families walking with their children on a leisurely stroll can be heard at any given time around the lake. It is a great place to walk your dog or to have a picnic. When you catch the reflection of the trees and houses in the water or when the sun is setting, it is truly a beautiful sight to behold.

Fish Restocking

In spring 2012, we ordered 400 large mouth bass for the lake, but delivery was postponed. This delay proved fortunate, considering the extremely hot weather we had this summer. The little fish (3-5 inches long) probably would have had a tough time surviving in those conditions. Terry Norris is working with Osage Catfisheries to schedule a new delivery date for sometime this fall. Watch our Facebook page for updates.

Lake History

Older residents may remember the lake was advertised in 1976 as a "four acre lake," but the original lake was actually smaller. A dam extended across the back of the lake with a spillway and behind it was a wooded area. A farm house was visible to the right, complete with a large stable of horses. This provided a beautiful backdrop to the lake. Domestic duck and geese lived on the lake all year, visited by great white heron and other wild life that would fly in. Children would come to the lake to feed the ducks and geese as well as their offspring every season.

In 1999, Lake View Heights developer Denny Moellenhoff made an exchange with the subdivision that made the reconstruction of the lake possible. He needed land fill and the lake needed to be dredged. Contractors removed hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of sediment from the bed of the lake between May and September of 1999, saving the residents $565,000 in the process.

Prior to refilling the lake in 2000, volunteer homeowners constructed numerous artificial fish nest cavities and reef structures along the edge slopes. These nest cavities are required for reproduction of certain species of fish, including the channel catfish. After the lake was filled, a total of 19 weighted bundles of evergreen trees were strategically sunk into the lake along the shoreline. This provided additional shelter and forage areas for the fish. Various species of aquatic plants were also planted both in the lake and along the shoreline, including pickerel weed, bulrush, arrowroot and wild celery. The plants prevent "algae blooms" during hot summer months and help remove dissolved oxygen from the lake, which can cause summer fish kill.

With the recommendations of the Missouri Department of Conservation, the lake was stocked in the Spring/Fall of 2001 with largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish. Today, these species are reproducing and appear to be healthy. Crappies were not recommended for the lake, but were placed in the lake by a well meaning individual a few years ago. These fish are unfortunately reproducing at a faster rate than the other species and, if left unchecked, could stunt the growth of the bass, bluegills and catfish. Since late 2004, the subdivision has been selectively removing every crappie caught and ask that residents do the same. The use of live bait (except worms) is prohibited as many minnows purchased or seined are actually baby carp. Carp and other such fish feed almost exclusively from the bottom and such feeding habits could make the water column muddy and unsightly.

After the lake renovation was completed, construction of the path around the lake began using chat and rock under the guidance of former trustee Terry Norris. The remainder of the circumference around the lake was too hilly to finish but was completed in 2007 in concrete thanks to the dedication of another former trustee, John Brophy. Thanks to Terry and John, the path now surrounds the entire lake for all to enjoy. The lake was restocked in 2007.

Fishing in the lake is permitted to residents only and accompanied guests are welcome.