The plans were put into action on this project in 1934. The January 11 edition of the Foster County Independent tells the story of the dam to be built on the N.N. Loesch land, section 33, Melville Township. The site was located in a freshet draw or coulee that drains approximately 28 square miles of land. The area was covered with native grass and the whole lake location was well-sodded prairie.

During the spring thaws the water flowed out of the fields in torrents and then would drain into the Pipestem Creek.

The dams were constructed, the main dam had a top length of 295 feet and the other one was 200 feet long. Thy created a lake that covered 34 acres of land and was 14 feet deep. Mr. Loesch donated the land for the lake as well as a strip around it for a picnic area. The lake was named "Lake Bonita" after Mr. Loesch's daughter. The location was three miles southwest of Melville and eight miles south and one mile east of Carrington.

The construction began in June 1934. Laborers were taken only from the town of Melville and the surrounding farms. The working crews averaged about 12 men a day, working eight hours a day, with six four-horse teams. As many as 10 four-horse teams were used at times. The dam was completed in January 1935.

Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 18