Fish and Game to reclaim Connor Pond, Emerald Lake

JEROME - The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will be eliminating the entire fish population in both Connor Pond and Emerald Lake in order to re-establish better game fish populations. The reclamation effort will be conducted on October 20 and 21. Currently, the majority of the fish populations in both ponds are made up of carp, suckers, and chubs. After removing all fish, Fish and Game will restock the waters with game fish, enhancing the public's fishing experience. "Our goal with this project is to establish productive fishing waters for the area anglers," said Doug Megargle, Magic Valley Regional Fisheries Manager. "Unfortunately we have no means of eradicating only the carp and suckers, so we have to eliminate the entire fishery to start over with a blank slate." The reclamation effort will be completed using the chemical Rotenone¨. It is a pesticide and fish control agent that works quickly and then breaks down into harmless residue. It is not toxic to the people, birds, or animals that may consume the dead fish or insects." Rotenone¨ chemically inhibits the ability of fish to use the dissolved oxygen in water. Concentrations of approximately 2 parts per million of Rotenone¨ are typically used for fish control. The speed with which Rotenone¨ breaks down varies with temperature, light, oxygen content and alkalinity of the treated water. At water temperatures of 80 degrees, the breakdown can occur in as little as four days; if the water is as cold as 45 degrees the Rotenone¨ may last up to a month. "In the early spring we will be restocking both Emerald Lake and Connor Pond with rainbow trout," said Megargle. " We will also be stocking bluegill, largemouth bass, and channel catfish into Connor Pond when they become available in 2005." This project is a cooperative effort with the Minidoka Irrigation District and Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The irrigation district has assisted IDFG by managing water storage and transport to reduce the amount of water that needs to be treated. For more information on Fisheries in the Magic Valley Region, contact Doug Megargle at 324-4359.