ODFW plans new youth fishing pond near Camp Sherman
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said Thursday it wants to turn a non-operational fish hatchery site near Camp Sherman into a youth fishing destination.
The agency is hosting a meeting to talk about their plans to create a small fishing pond and small parking area on the 15-acre property on Spring Creek. The public meeting is on Monday, April 18 at the Camp Sherman Community Hall and begins at 6:30 p.m.
According to Jen Luke, ODFW fish biologist in Bend, the half-acre pond would be stocked with rainbow trout and open only to anglers 17-years-old and younger.
In addition, the pond could be used for smolt acclimation and egg hatchboxes as part of the effort to re-introduce Chinook salmon to the Metolius, upper Deschutes and Crooked River basins.
“We think a small, youth-only fishing pond would strike the right balance between creating a new fishing opportunity while maintaining the natural environment of the site,” said Luke.”This is the perfect project to be funded by a Restoration and Enhancement grant.”
The Restoration and Enhancement Program (R&E) is grant program that provides $2-3,000,000 per year to fishery projects throughout Oregon. The grant program was established June 29, 1989, when the Oregon Fisheries Restoration and Enhancement Act was signed into law.
