carpanglerdude
02-02-2016, 07:37 AM
Hesitated posting this here, but have emailed local City Hall and DFG without any response.
In short, the Empire Lakes Golf Course has been sold, and the ponds will be removed with plans for commercial and housing instead. This course holds 4 large ponds, and, according to the environmental impact study, they hold largemouth bass and bluegill. Here's a quote from the assessment:
"During the aquatic survey conducted on May 19, 2015, three fish species were observed in each
of the ponds: mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and largemouth
bass (Micropterus salmoides). These fish species are exotic or introduced and do not occur
naturally. Bluegill and largemouth bass prey heavily on amphibian and insect species, keeping
their numbers low. Although no amphibian species were caught during the seining survey or
directly observed, the artificial ponds have the potential to support amphibian species such as
bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus), and Baja California chorus frogs (Pseudacris
hypochondriaca). No sensitive fish or amphibian species were caught or observed during the
aquatic survey and none are expected to occur within the artificial ponds. The presence of
largemouth bass and the lack of native emergent vegetation needed for breeding, due to pond
construction and routine maintenance activities, severely limits the presence of amphibian
species."
Source: https://www.cityofrc.us/cityhall/planning/current_projects/empire_lakes_specific_plan_project/default.asp
full file here: https://www.cityofrc.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=25341
In the past, several area ponds have been drained, including the Red Hill pond and the Upland Quarry/Colonies pond, with the fish relocated through official channels to Guasti and Fairmount. These fish from the golf course ponds would be a valuable source of additional sport fish for local parks, and relocating them would be a great idea. Guasti is literally around the corner from Empire Lakes Golf Course. Anyone have any ideas on getting this approved? I'm not talking about unofficial bucket biology relocation, I'm referring to something like this:
http://www.dailybulletin.com/article/LF/20140517/NEWS/140519386
Any thoughts?
For anyone worrying about a ninja spot being blown up--pond drainage has already started, good luck. Would be best to have fish moved before it's complete.
In short, the Empire Lakes Golf Course has been sold, and the ponds will be removed with plans for commercial and housing instead. This course holds 4 large ponds, and, according to the environmental impact study, they hold largemouth bass and bluegill. Here's a quote from the assessment:
"During the aquatic survey conducted on May 19, 2015, three fish species were observed in each
of the ponds: mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and largemouth
bass (Micropterus salmoides). These fish species are exotic or introduced and do not occur
naturally. Bluegill and largemouth bass prey heavily on amphibian and insect species, keeping
their numbers low. Although no amphibian species were caught during the seining survey or
directly observed, the artificial ponds have the potential to support amphibian species such as
bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus), and Baja California chorus frogs (Pseudacris
hypochondriaca). No sensitive fish or amphibian species were caught or observed during the
aquatic survey and none are expected to occur within the artificial ponds. The presence of
largemouth bass and the lack of native emergent vegetation needed for breeding, due to pond
construction and routine maintenance activities, severely limits the presence of amphibian
species."
Source: https://www.cityofrc.us/cityhall/planning/current_projects/empire_lakes_specific_plan_project/default.asp
full file here: https://www.cityofrc.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=25341
In the past, several area ponds have been drained, including the Red Hill pond and the Upland Quarry/Colonies pond, with the fish relocated through official channels to Guasti and Fairmount. These fish from the golf course ponds would be a valuable source of additional sport fish for local parks, and relocating them would be a great idea. Guasti is literally around the corner from Empire Lakes Golf Course. Anyone have any ideas on getting this approved? I'm not talking about unofficial bucket biology relocation, I'm referring to something like this:
http://www.dailybulletin.com/article/LF/20140517/NEWS/140519386
Any thoughts?
For anyone worrying about a ninja spot being blown up--pond drainage has already started, good luck. Would be best to have fish moved before it's complete.