DAVIDSON—Arm River Wildlife Federation hopes to build a fishin’ hole in town.
Members of the local sporting group were at Davidson town council’s Feb. 17 meeting seeking council’s support of the idea as well as a parcel of land.
The group proposed building a trout pond for recreational use within town limits.
The pond would be about one acre in size and a minimum depth of 20 feet with its sides sloped for safety purposes. The deeper the better to help fish survive the winter, said Jeff Doyle, a member of the Arm River Wildlife Federation (ARWF).
The wildlife federation would dig and organize the creation of the pond. It indicates that grants are available and it would obtain volunteers with heavy equipment to dig the pond.
John McJannet, president of the ARWF, said the federation would bring in wildlife and water experts to examine the topography of various parcels of land.
The club was looking for a project, tossed around some ideas and came up with a trout pond, said Doyle.
“It’s something for the kids and the old guys out there who fished all their lives and can’t make the drive to the lake anymore, like Gerald (Coun. Gerald Kenny),” he joked.
Doyle said a trout pond in Tisdale was a success. Located near Tisdale’s campground and walking trails, Doyle said the popularity proved greater than the community anticipated.
Finding a parcel of land within Davidson town limits may prove difficult.
Town administrator Gary Edom said the town doesn’t have large chunks of land available. The only one that may be close in size is Davidson’s rodeo ground.
Water quality will be another issue. The pond’s water supply must be able to support fish, so locating it near Highway 11 may be a problem due to salt runoff.
Putting it near the cemetery is out of the question. Edom said the tests of the water at Davidson cemetery revealed the water there “isn’t fit to water grass”.
McJannet said the wildlife federation wants the trout pond located in town, so town kids “can get on a bike, grab a fishing pole. We don’t want them to have to cross #11 highway.”
ARWF would set the fish limits of the pond and keep it stocked with trout.
To read more, please see the March 2 print edition of The Davidson Leader.