Moberly, Conservation Dept. team up to provide new facilities at Sugar Creek Lake

The City of Moberly hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony last Friday to usher in its new facilities at Sugar Creek Lake, just in time for Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial beginning of summer.

The former ramp to the boat dock was dirt. It’s steep incline lent itself to severe water erosion and deep ruts. This was not a condition conducive to promoting tourism. The area now sports a new handicap-accessible fishing dock, concrete approach boat ramps, courtesy dock, trailer parking area and solar-powered lighting. New restroom facilities are near the shelter area.

“This is another feather in our cap,” said Mayor Bob Riley. “It is one of many projects we have accomplished in the last 25 years that makes our community better. We can accomplish a lot when we all work together.”

Sugar Creek Lake is the source for water used in the homes and businesses in Moberly. But the lake is also a recreational source for area residents and visitors. With that in mind, needed improvements were determined about four years ago to modernize facilities and make the lake more accessible.

The city could have applied for funding through the Department of Conservation and chances were good their improvement project would be approved. But it would be on a “to do” list that could take a number of years just to begin preliminary work.

So the city worked out a compromise with Conservation. Work would proceed on the city’s nickel with Conservation reimbursing Moberly 75 percent of the estimated $426,000 cost, through its Community Assistance Program.

 As part of the agreement reached in 2008, according to Keith Phipps, public utilities director, the city was responsible for construct the facilities, making improvements, providing maintenance around the lake and managing the property within the watershed to maintain the lake’s good water quality. Conservation would provide a management plan for fishery resources and manage fish populations and assist in rules and regulation enforcement.

Merlyn Miller, program supervisor for the fisheries program supervisor for the Department of conservation was present at the ribbon cutting and presented Mayor Riley for a check in the amount of $312,500. According to Greg Hodge, Moberly Finance Director, the project came in under budget for a total of $400,316, with the reimbursement being 78 percent of the cost. The City made up the remainder of the cost. The check presentation came a few months earlier than anticipated, said Hodge.

Also present at Friday’s festivities was Jerry Adams, star of Jerry Adams Outdoors which airs on public station KMOS. The show features fishing “holes” around Missouri. Adams was taping the event for a show to be broadcast later in the year.

“This is a great lake,” said Adams. “We have already caught a five-pounder and four or five three-pounders just in the first two hours.”

Directions to Sugar Creek Lake: From Highway 24 W in Moberly, turn north on Rt. DD and go about 2 miles; turn right onto CR 1310 and travel approximately 1.5 miles.