Daily Archives: March 2, 2016

Arizona Game and Fish, City of Tempe work together to keep Town Lake fish healthy

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TTLpicWebTEMPE — The City of Tempe and Arizona Game and Fish Department have cooperated on a management plan to help fish in Tempe Town Lake during the final phase of construction of the new dam.

“Our natural environment is extremely important to Tempe. We are grateful to have the expertise of Arizona Game and Fish and our longtime water quality expert, Aquatic Consulting, as we undertake the final phase of our dam construction,” said Tempe Public Works Director Don Bessler. 

Arizona Game and Fish and the City of Tempe are working together to save as many fish as possible while the previous dam system is being removed. Tempe has to move the water out of Town Lake into an SRP canal system, leaving the lake without water for approximately three to five weeks.

The cooperative effort started several months ago and includes:

  • Not stocking fish as normal in fall 2015 in order to lower the number of fish that would need assistance.
  • Removing the limit on the number of fish that people could catch at Town Lake.
  • Moving a representative portion of some fish into protected areas of the lake that will retain water.
  • Using fish-friendly pumps that allow the fish to move into the SRP canal system along with the water.
  • Monitoring pockets of water within the lake that contain fish, since fish can survive in small space for such short amounts of time.



This planning has reduced the number of fish that need assistance. Several thousand people live and work around Tempe Town Lake and millions come to visit each year. It is the intent of both Arizona Game and Fish and the City of Tempe to minimize the impact of this project for these people.

“Some people have asked why we can’t move fish into other bodies of water, such as nearby Canyon Lake. We can’t do this because of the possible transfer of fish-related bacteria and diseases,” said Scott Gurtin, AZGFD Community Fishing Program manager. “This plan represents the best and safest way to conserve fish and keep our waters healthy.”

New fish will enter Town Lake when the lake is refilled. The water will come from the Central Arizona Project canal system, which has many varieties of fish. Insect-eating fish will also be stocked at that time. Arizona Game and Fish will restock Town Lake with other varieties at the appropriate times.

Town Lake is expected to be completely full and operational by approximately April 30. The new dam system is expected to last more than 50 years. Read more.

Game and Fish Commission to meet March 4 in Sierra Vista

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Sierra Vista — The next meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will be March 4 at the Sierra Vista City Hall Council Chambers at 1011 N. Coronado Dr. in Sierra Vista. The meeting begins at 8 a.m.

The public is invited to attend the meeting in person, view it live via video stream at any Game and Fish regional office (Friday only), or view it over the web at www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam. Members of the public who wish to speak to the Commission may submit Speaker Cards (Blue Cards) in person at the meeting or from any regional Game and Fish office. The ability to speak to the Commission is not available for those viewing the webcast online.
 
Items on the agenda include:

  • An update on a potential reduced fishing license fees promotion as a means of marketing Arizona fishing and expanding the department’s customer base.
  • A briefing on current state and federal legislation related to the department’s mission.
  • A request to make Patterson Ponds in St. Johns a community fishing water.
  • A presentation on the department’s borderlands and international wildlife conservation efforts.
  • Several requests to reinstate bonus points.
  • Appointment of commissioners to standing committees.
  • Hearings on license revocations for violations of Game and Fish codes, and civil assessments for the illegal taking and/or possession of wildlife (time certain at 2 p.m.).

On Saturday, the commission will take a field trip to view one of Arizona’s premier state parks, Kartchner Caverns State Park.

To view a copy of the full meeting agenda, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission and click on the “commission notice/agenda” link.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is the policy-setting board overseeing the Arizona Game and Fish Department. It is composed of five members (serving staggered five-year terms) appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. No more than one commissioner may be from any one county. No more than three may be from the same political party. Since its inception in 1929, this organizational structure has served as a buffer for the best interests of science-driven wildlife conservation during eight decades of back-and-forth political change.

For more information on the commission, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission.

Bridge work scheduled on SR 89 at Hell Canyon next week

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Drivers traveling on State Route 89 at Hell Canyon Bridge (milepost 345) starting tomorrow (March 3) should expect intermittent delays of up to 30 minutes at a time as crews begin placing girders on the new bridge over Hell Canyon. Traffic will be stopped in both directions approaching the project.

Impacts for up to 30 minutes at a time are expected between 10 and 11 a.m. and again from noon and 1 p.m. The installation of the girders will be done by very large cranes, positioned in the bottom of the canyon, that need to be flown over the existing bridge causing the temporary closures.

In addition to the delays tomorrow, crews will again place girders next week, Tuesday through Friday (March 8 through 11) between 10 and 11 a.m. and again from noon to 1 p.m.

ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zones with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.