Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Jed Boal ReportingThere's new life for an old pond in Davis County that used to be all but dead. The community got behind a project to create a true urban oasis.
From time to time you may crave a place where you can get away, listen to the birds and let stress slip away. A place to play with your kids or catch a fish on your lunch break.
What used to be known as Bountiful Pond is now a lake, and it's that kind of place.
Drew Cushing: D.W.R. Community Fishery Biologist: “There are moms and dads and kids riding bikes and walking and fishing and doing all the things that relieve stress and improve health. If it does nothing else but that, it's a success."
LaVar Peacock likes the relaxation whether he's catching fish or not.
LaVar Peacock, Angler: “I've seen quite a few caught this morning. Unfortunately, I'm not one who's caught anything yet."
The lake transformation started three years ago with about $300,000 in federal grant money.
Mark Franc, Asst. Bountiful City Engineer: “It went from a mud flat in the 90's to what we have today."
Clay was quarried for the landfill in the early 90's, diverted water created the pond, but it was dead until Bountiful City and the DWR set their sites on an urban fishery. Trout, catfish and bass are thriving, bringing the ecosystem into balance.
Drew Cushing: D.W.R. Community Fishery Biologist: “We see age zero up through age four of fish. Good numbers and good ratios, it's a real success story."
Volunteers really helped bring this project all together. 1500 hours in all, and 800 in one day. That gives all of those folks a sense of stewardship for the future of this little slice of urban wilderness.
Mark Franc, Asst. Bountiful City Engineer: “Planting trees, picking up trash, church groups and scout groups have gotten in to the project and enjoyed being involved in it."
Ilgar Kassoumov, Angler: “Usually when you come Saturday or Sunday, there are people barbequing, fishing. That's good stuff."
New restrooms, a paved parking area, wildlife signs, and two piers make a more accessible fishery that's self-sustaining.
Mark Franc, Asst. Bountiful City Engineer: “We'd like to keep it as natural as possible."
And everyone seems to like it that way.
