This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Boulder County Parks & Open Space, along with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, will host a public meeting Tuesday, March 3, at 6 p.m., at 5201 St. Vrain Road in Longmont to discuss a fish project in Webster Pond at Pella Crossing open space. Pella Crossing is located on N. 75th St. just south of Hygiene Rd.
The goal of this project is to establish state-listed native fish species in Webster Pond. As a part of flood recovery, Parks & Open Space decided to transition Webster Pond from a warm water sport fishery to a native fish refuge. Parks & Open Space received a grant from CPW to create a complex wetland to provide habitat for the small native fish. Volunteers contributed hundreds of hours to install over 21,000 plants .
Species include the state endangered Northern Redbelly Dace and state threatened Brassy Minnow. In order to properly establish populations of the endangered and threatened species, all sport fish will be removed from Webster Pond. Webster Pond is and will remain closed to fishing.
Webster Pond Native Fish Project Public Meeting
Tuesday, March 3, at 6 p.m.
5201 St. Vrain Rd., Longmont
Information will be presented on the history of the Webster Pond fish community, the threats existing fish pose to the completion of this conservation project, and plans to eliminate remaining fish.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife plans to treat Webster Pond in April (pending workable weather conditions) with a very low concentration of rotenone. Rotenone, a natural pesticide derived from the roots of certain members of the bean family from South America, is a common tool that fisheries use to manage fish populations and assist in the management of endangered species.
The picnic shelter and trail along Webster Lake will be closed for 30 days after the natural pesticide is applied.
For more information, please contact Dave Hoerath at [email protected] or 303-678-6204.
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