Pickerel Lake could be carp-free next spring, if the Shell Rock River Watershed District can start construction on the electrical fish barrier at the outlet from Mud Lake by the end of September.

“We are really, really close to starting construction on this project. Just the last few details and we should be done,” said watershed Conservationist Andy Henschel.

The watershed board Tuesday unanimously approved the projected plan presented by G-Cubed Engineering. The plan will now be sent for approval to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. The resolution also approved G-Cubed to choose the final contractor.

If construction can start on time, he said the project could be complete by Dec. 15.

A public hearing on the fish barrier is set for 8:30 a.m. Oct. 14.

The Shell Rock River Watershed is receiving a lot of nutrient loading from Pickerel Lake, said Administrator Brett Behnke, much of which is contributed by the carp population.

With the reduction of carp the fish barrier will bring, the reduction in nitrogen and phosphorous will make a great difference in Albert Lea and Fountain lakes.

Residents could see a difference in water clarity in Pickerel Lake almost immediately after the fish kill next year, following the installation of the electrical fish barrier.

The fish barrier consists of culverts with electrodes to prevent fish migration upstream, Behnke said.

The project was open for bids in July so the engineering firm, G-Cubed, could get the watershed board an estimate of the cost.

The total cost for all site work, electrical work and constructing the maintenance building is estimated at $97,000. RCON Construction made the low bid for general contractor.

The project cost adding engineering from G-Cubed and equipment, design and administrative fees would total $260,400, which is a little under the estimate, according to Mike Opat of G-Cubed. The estimated cost was $280,000.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has already seen the project plans. The project is joint with the DNR.

The electrical fish barrier project could have some grant money to help fund it. The watershed district is trying to get $10,000 from the DNR toward the first phase of the project.

The second phase of the project is the reclamation of the lake, or the chemical treatment to kill the fish. The DNR will cover the treatment of the lake.

Watershed district staff submitted a grant request for a $100,000 reimbursement toward the project from a Pheasants Forever organization, Henschel said. The final decision of the grant won’t be known until June or July 2009, but the project is still eligible.