We would like to address the public’s concerns regarding the work being done at Homer’s Pond. The dam at the pond required reconstruction to meet State requirements and has been under a consent order for several years for being out of compliance. To bring the dam into compliance, the primary spillway had to be reconstructed which required the water level to be lowered.
Prior to construction, we looked at multiple options regarding the fish there were in Homer’s Pond. The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department was contacted for their input as well. They informed us that due to the threat of transferring invasive species, the fish could not be relocated to another body of water.
When fish are transferred, they can carry with them harmful organisms such as parasites, invasive plants, or non-native species. Once these invasive species are introduced into a new environment, these species can rapidly multiply, outcompete the native wildlife, and cause long term ecological damage. To protect our waters, fish should never be moved between ponds and lakes.
With the input from The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department, our hopes were that the water depth necessary for construction would be sufficient to sustain most of the fish population during this time frame. Unfortunately, this was not the case. The contractor has stated they plan to be done with the work that requires the water level to be reduced by May 23rd. Once construction has finished and the pond has been refilled, Homer’s Pond will be restocked with fish.