Lake Delhi Resident Information

• Turtle Creek Park (2124 267th St, Delhi): Offers the most extensive facilities, including camping, restrooms, playground, multiple boat ramps (including one in Turtle Creek Cove), a beach, shoreline fishing access and temporary docking.
• Bailey’s Ford Park: Provides boat ramps, access for smaller watercraft, camping, and picnic areas.
• Delhi Dam Access (2624 230th Ave): Located south of Delhi, this spot features a concrete boat ramp, parking, and access to the Maquoketa River.
• Lost Beach: A designated public beach area on the lake with a volleyball net, portable toilets and community pavilion. Vehicle parking adjacent to Lost Beach is for Smokey's Lost Bar & Grill patrons only but boats may temporarily dock. The beach is home to an ever-growing hoola-hoop tree.  Please keep our beach clean and do not leave trash behind.
• Dam Cove: The cove adjacent to the dam is a great place to anchor out and relax so low or no wake is a courtesy. The shoreline is private property. 
• Marinas: There are 3 full-service marinas servicing Lake Delhi with only Hartwick Marina located on the water.
• Restaurants: The Pizza Place and Smokey's Lost Bar & Grill are accessible by water with public temporary docking available

Visitors and new boaters are encouraged to review the boating responsibilities below for safe and courteous boating. Lake Delhi is fairly narrow so towing skiers or tubers may not be safe during heavy boat traffic.

Current conditions for Maquoketa River at Manchester: 

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/uv?site_no=05416900&format=gif&period=31   

NWS action stage is 12 ft, minor flood stage is 14 ft, Moderate flood stage is 17 ft and major flood stage is 20 ft.  Peak flood stage of 24.48 ft in July 2010.   *Click Water Alert from this page for notifications

Set up a USGS Water Alert: 

 https://dashboard.waterdata.usgs.gov/app/nwd/en/?aoi=default Use the search bar to locate the Manchester, IA (Maquoketa River at Manchester, IA) location or a location of your preference. Click on the blue marker to view current information and click Water Alert at the top of the page. This location has reached moderate or higher flood stage 7 times between 2010-2025. You can choose your alert by stream flow or stage and get daily or hourly alerts. The hourly alerts only send if the value is within the parameters you choose but are valuable for quickly rising water that will impact your property or safety.

Iowa Flood Information System: This site contains maps and resources for waterways and flooding in Iowa. https://ifis.iowafloodcenter.org/ifis/

Weather Alerts for Delaware Co:

Click Alert Iowa Sign-Up on the Delaware County Emergency Management website to receive weather alerts. The site also has links to the county's hazard mitigation plan and preparedness resources.  http://delawarecounty.iowa.gov/emergency-management

*Tip: If you use "do not disturb" or "sleep" mode to silence notifications at night, add the phone number for alerts to your Favorite contacts and update settings to allow those notifications to be heard.

Check out this Iowa DNR site to learn about safety requirements, download a boater handbook, review registration and permit requirements and more. http://www.iowadnr.gov/Things-to-Do/Boating  

Here is a boat safety checklist to ensure a safe & smooth boating experience:

• DNR officers have the authority to inspect vessels to ensure the registration certificate is on board, registration & capacity numbers are displayed and the vessel is properly equipped. They will often ask for the driver's ID. See page 65 of the boat safety handbook for more checklist details. Improper speed or distance is the most common violation
• Carry the required safety equipment: lifejackets, throwable cushion, fire extinguishers, sound-making device, visual distress signal, working running lights
• Inspect boat for loose connections, cracks in hoses, clean battery terminals, fluids, and ensure the drain plug is in place
• Inspect trailer electrical connections, tires, hitch, winch and tiedowns
• Life jackets for every person with all kids under 13 wearing their life jackets at all times while on the boat
• Throwable floatation device must be on board vessels 16 ft or longer
• Familiarize yourself with the lake's map and potential hazards. Don't operate too fast for the conditions or too close to other vessels, particularly if towing skiers or tubers. This is the most common violation. 
• Use a bright orange  "skier-down" flag when someone behind the boat is preparing to be towed or is awaiting pick-up
• Navigation lights must be on between sunset and sunrise or in reduced visibility. Reduce speed to under 10 mph between 30 min after sunset /before sunrise.
• PWCs: Must wear life jacket and cannot operate between sunset & sunrise. Take care with your speed and distance to other vessels. 
• Towing Skiers/Tubers: Must wear life jacket and can tow from sunrise to 30 min. after sunset only. Must have an observer in addition to the operator. Stay >50ft or >100ft from other vessels based on speed. Skiers should know the proper hand signals. Observer should use skier-down flag. Do not pull into the marina gas dock while towing people.
• Paddlers: Must wear life jacket. Be aware of weather, boat traffic and other hazards
• Turn off engine & propeller when passengers are boarding or leaving the boat. Never ride on sear back, gunwale, transom or bow of the boat.
• Drivers should abstain from alcohol use. Drivers 12-17 should complete the DNR boating safety course and carry their certificate onboard but may drive a boat if accompanied by a responsible person >18. 
• Protect waterways by  not bringing or taking non-native invasive species between waters

Vessel registrations are valid for 3 years and expire April 30. You are prohibited from using your boat on public waterways without a valid registration. 

All docks on Lake Delhi must have a permit which expire every 4 years.

http://lakedelhi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Renewing-Lake-Delhi-Dock-Permits.pdf

Boater education is mandatory for any person 12 - 17 years old, who will operate a motorboat over ten horsepower or personal watercraft (PWC).  A driver 12-17 years old is allows to operate a boat or PWC with the oversight of a responsible adult 18 or older. Free online boater’s course: http://www.boatus.org/courses/

 Regional Medical Center 709 West Main Street, Manchester, Iowa 52057. Ph: (563) 927-3232

Urgent Care: Open M-F 4-7p, Sat-Sun 8a-1p. Closed holidays. https://www.regmedctr.org/services/urgent-care/default.aspx

Depth map: https://fishing-app.gpsnauticalcharts.com/i-boating-fishing-web-app/fishing-marine-charts-navigation.html?title=Lake+Delhi+boating+app#14/42.4309/-91.3946

 iBoating Fishing Map: https://www.gpsnauticalcharts.com/main/us_cc_ia_delhi_lake_ia-lake-delhi-nautical-chart.html

Iowa DNR Fishing Atlas & popular fish species: https://programs.iowadnr.gov/lakemanagement/fishiowa/lakedetails/del28

USGS 2003 Bathometric map: https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/wri034085

NOAA Office of Coast Survey Maps: https://charts.noaa.gov/InteractiveCatalog/nrnc.shtml