Post by Greenedog on Mar 21, 2012 17:59:29 GMT -5
tribstar.com/news/x1862284716/Released-to-catch
March 21, 2012
Released to catch-DNR stocks new city park with fish
Howard Greninger
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Flowing down a stainless steel chute, a state official released hundreds of rainbow trout into a lake Tuesday at the Maple Avenue Nature Park on Terre Haute’s north side.
The fish may be in, but the park remains temporarily closed to the public — including for fishing.
“We have gotten a lot of calls over the past year and half on when this will open. We do not want to open the park when there is heavy equipment here because we don’t want anyone getting hurt,” said Eddie Bird, superintendent of the Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department.
Further work, slated to start this weekend, includes planting 110 trees to replace trees removed when a levee near the park was removed. Wildflowers and grasses will also be planted.
In addition, the DNR will install a boat ramp, Bird said. Fishing at the lake will be limited to the lake’s banks until the ramp is installed. The park does not allowed gasoline-powered motors on fishing boats, but boating using electric-powered motors will be allowed, once the park opens.
Bird said the park does not yet have an official opening day. The park is expected to be open in mid-April, he said.
Jim Luttrell, hatchery manager at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Driftwood State Fish Hatchery in Vallonia, said the rainbow trout were placed in the Maple Avenue Nature Park with the idea of people fishing and taking the trout out. To do that, people must first get a trout/salmon fishing stamp, which costs $11. Fishing licenses can be obtained at www.indianaoutdoor.in.gov.
The state’s inland trout program is funded from the sale of the fishing stamp. In addition, a person can obtain a single-day fishing license for $9, which includes trout and salmon privileges. The daily bag limit for trout is five fish, with a minimum size of 7 inches.
“We are hoping to get more bank for our buck since this is urban fishing and get more youth involved in fishing,” Luttrell said.
Luttrell put 550 rainbow trout — measuring 8 to 11 inches long and weighing about a half pound — in the lake. The lake is only 20 feet deep, shallow for the trout, but the majority of the fish are expected to be caught before the end of this summer, Luttrell said.
Last year the lake was stocked with 1,500 catfish and 300 large mouth bass, Bird said.
“The DNR’s fish and wildlife department has been very supportive and we appreciate their helping us,” Bird said.
The city park department, Bird said, has an agreement for the DNR to manage the lake, as it does for small lakes/ponds at Dobbs and Deming parks. The DNR annually stocks the lake/ponds and gives park officials advice on maintenance.
“They evaluate the lakes, how deep they are and their water quality,” Bird said. As an example, the DNR recommends the city dredge a small lake at Dobbs Park as it is too shallow. “Dredging is very expensive and we are trying to get pricing on doing that now,” Bird said.
Bird said it cost the city about $26,000 to dredge a smaller pond in Deming Park. The main cost is transporting the dredged material out of the park and possibly spreading that out over a field or farm.
Maple Avenue Nature Park is the city’s newest park, established last year. It contains 25 acres and is surrounded with a concrete walkway, which is handicapped accessible.
Future plans at the park include installing a bathroom facility, a handicapped fishing pier and an expanded parking area, especially for boat parking, Bird said.
“We also tore down an old house along a hill looking down at the lake and would like to build a gazebo or pavilion there where people could get married and have the background of the lake. We also want to put in more shelters,” Bird said. “But that is all in the future as we don’t have the money for that now.”
Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com
March 21, 2012
Released to catch-DNR stocks new city park with fish
Howard Greninger
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Flowing down a stainless steel chute, a state official released hundreds of rainbow trout into a lake Tuesday at the Maple Avenue Nature Park on Terre Haute’s north side.
The fish may be in, but the park remains temporarily closed to the public — including for fishing.
“We have gotten a lot of calls over the past year and half on when this will open. We do not want to open the park when there is heavy equipment here because we don’t want anyone getting hurt,” said Eddie Bird, superintendent of the Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department.
Further work, slated to start this weekend, includes planting 110 trees to replace trees removed when a levee near the park was removed. Wildflowers and grasses will also be planted.
In addition, the DNR will install a boat ramp, Bird said. Fishing at the lake will be limited to the lake’s banks until the ramp is installed. The park does not allowed gasoline-powered motors on fishing boats, but boating using electric-powered motors will be allowed, once the park opens.
Bird said the park does not yet have an official opening day. The park is expected to be open in mid-April, he said.
Jim Luttrell, hatchery manager at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Driftwood State Fish Hatchery in Vallonia, said the rainbow trout were placed in the Maple Avenue Nature Park with the idea of people fishing and taking the trout out. To do that, people must first get a trout/salmon fishing stamp, which costs $11. Fishing licenses can be obtained at www.indianaoutdoor.in.gov.
The state’s inland trout program is funded from the sale of the fishing stamp. In addition, a person can obtain a single-day fishing license for $9, which includes trout and salmon privileges. The daily bag limit for trout is five fish, with a minimum size of 7 inches.
“We are hoping to get more bank for our buck since this is urban fishing and get more youth involved in fishing,” Luttrell said.
Luttrell put 550 rainbow trout — measuring 8 to 11 inches long and weighing about a half pound — in the lake. The lake is only 20 feet deep, shallow for the trout, but the majority of the fish are expected to be caught before the end of this summer, Luttrell said.
Last year the lake was stocked with 1,500 catfish and 300 large mouth bass, Bird said.
“The DNR’s fish and wildlife department has been very supportive and we appreciate their helping us,” Bird said.
The city park department, Bird said, has an agreement for the DNR to manage the lake, as it does for small lakes/ponds at Dobbs and Deming parks. The DNR annually stocks the lake/ponds and gives park officials advice on maintenance.
“They evaluate the lakes, how deep they are and their water quality,” Bird said. As an example, the DNR recommends the city dredge a small lake at Dobbs Park as it is too shallow. “Dredging is very expensive and we are trying to get pricing on doing that now,” Bird said.
Bird said it cost the city about $26,000 to dredge a smaller pond in Deming Park. The main cost is transporting the dredged material out of the park and possibly spreading that out over a field or farm.
Maple Avenue Nature Park is the city’s newest park, established last year. It contains 25 acres and is surrounded with a concrete walkway, which is handicapped accessible.
Future plans at the park include installing a bathroom facility, a handicapped fishing pier and an expanded parking area, especially for boat parking, Bird said.
“We also tore down an old house along a hill looking down at the lake and would like to build a gazebo or pavilion there where people could get married and have the background of the lake. We also want to put in more shelters,” Bird said. “But that is all in the future as we don’t have the money for that now.”
Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com
Just another night at work for me and Monty will be back here again bright and early. 
