DEPT. OF CONSERVATION TO DEDICATE LAKE

KENNETT -- The Missouri Department of Conservation will host a dedication ceremony for a 150-acre lake that was recently constructed near Kennett.

The new lake bears the name of Jerry P. Combs, a former conservation commissioner instrumental in the department's purchase of property and construction of facilities on the 1,066-acre Little River Conservation Area. The ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, August 15, at the main parking lot four miles east of Kennett off Highway 84.

The dedication ceremony is open to the public, and the entire area will be open to the public from 3-6 p.m. on that day.

Facilities at the Jerry P. Combs Lake include: a two-lane concrete boat ramp, courtesy boat dock, fishing pier, floating covered fishing dock, pavilion, paved parking, privies, five 100-foot jetties and two gravel parking lots. Many of these facilities are disabled-accesible.

The lake, when filled, will be 10 feet deep with levees on all sides. It contains a diversity of fish habitat including 84 underwater islands, a four-foot deep shelf for spawning, riprap along the entire shoreline, and six 12-by-20 foot stake beds. Also, numerous large trees were felled or placed in several areas of the lake, including near the disabled-accesible fishing pier.

The well pumps soon will be turned on to fill the lake, which should take about six months. The lake will be stocked with fingerling bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish in October, followed by largemouth bass and black crappie in June 1997. Fathead minnows will be stocked as food for other fish.

The lake will be closed to fishing for about three years to allow the fish populations to become well established.

Besides fishing, the area will be open to other uses; hunting will be allowed after duck season closes in January 1997.