The Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the recipients of the 2025 Iowa Great Lakes Walleye Weekend grant program. Each year a portion of the Iowa Great Lakes Walleye Weekend Registration proceeds are donated back to the community to assist with various conservation and angling projects.
This year, with the fantastic turnout of over 2,100 anglers from 18 different states, the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber is excited to announce a total donation amount of $20,000. The funds were split between six applicants with a variety of projects directly affecting angling and conservation in the Iowa Great Lakes Area.
Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club
The Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club received $5,000. This club hosts numerous kids fishing events for various organizations throughout the Iowa Great Lakes Region. Funds will assist with these events including: Spirit Lake Kids Fish Day (100+ kids), 3 Lakeside Lab events (75 kids), 2 Joy Camp Events (20 special needs kids/adults), the School of the Wild with Spirit Lake Students (100 kids), and a Spirit Lake mentors class (15 kids). Each of these 310 kids gets a tackle box and tackle from the club and helps build the future angling community in our region.
Spirit Lake Protective Association
Spirit Lake Protective Association received $6,000. These funds will go towards building a public dock at Marble Beach.
Okoboji Protective Association
Okoboji Protective Association received $3,500. These funds will help with the (Cooperative Lakes Area Monitoring Project (CLAMP) to help in measuring water quality in the Iowa Great Lakes. Measuring water quality helps guarantee safer lakes for fishermen/women and their catches.
East Okoboji Lakes Improvement Corporation
East Okoboji Lakes Improvement Corporation received $3,500. These funds will assist with the injection of 190 gallons of Aquathol K into East Lake Okoboji, south of the Narrows shoreline, Upper Gar shoreline, and Minnewashta shoreline.
Center Lake Improvements
Center Lake Improvement Corporation received $1,000. These funds will assist water quality with Lakeside Labs.
YMCA Camp Foster
YMCA Camp Foster received $1,000. The funds will be used to update their fishing gear for their campers to use each summer while enjoying the many things that camp has to offer.
