|
March 9, 2001
Vol. 31, No. 57
For additional information, contact Cathy Martin, 302-653-2882 or Rob
Hossler, 302-834-8433, Division of Fish and Wildlife; 302-653-2882;
or Melinda Carl, Information and Education, 302-739-4506
Drawdown, Boat Ramp Repairs Completed at Becks Pond;
Fishing Permitted While Water Rises to Normal Level
Fishing is permitted again at Becks Pond with completion of the drawdown
and boat ramp repairs.
According to Rob Hossler, regional manager of the Division of Fish
and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control,
the water has not yet reached normal levels but will continue to rise
gradually this spring. All but one row of the new boards have been replaced
this week and the final row will be in place very soon.
The drawdown began in January to replace worn dam boards that affected
the ability to maintain normal water level at the pond due to excessive
leakage between the boards. Also, because the installation of new boards
necessitated a drop in water level, the Division decided to prolong
the drawdown period to improve water quality by exposing the pond bottom
to allow some consolidation of sediments. This should lessen the muddiness
of the water following storm events.
The drawdown also exposed trash, primarily litter barrels and newspaper
coin boxes, which New Castle County's Special Services Department has
removed. Becks Pond is owned by the State Division of Fish and Wildlife
and leased to New Castle County to provide recreational opportunities.
A Becks Pond Work Group, spearheaded by Fish and Wildlife, has been
investigating pond issues since last February. A variety of state agencies,
including DNREC's Divisions of Soil and Water Conservation and Water
Resources, the Division of Public Health, New Castle County, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service,
interested anglers and local residents have been drawn together to work
on the pond. The work group hopes to develop an action plan for the
pond to improve water quality and provide a variety of recreational
activities.
"Becks is the second most-heavily fished pond in Delaware so it
is an important area," says Catherine Martin, Fish and Wildlife
Fisheries biologist. "We feel that the range of expertise in the
group will provide the best chance of improving this popular pond."
-30-
|
