fish relocations at brookfield pond and lake huntsman, may 2013

Fairfax County Stormwater Planning Division

A Fairfax County, Virginia Publication May 2013

The Stormwater Planning Division (SWPD) of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services will be undertaking pond/lake improvement projects this spring and summer on Lake Huntsman (Springfield District) and Brookfield Park pond (Lee District). A necessary action for both of these projects includes draining the ponds/lakes prior to construction.

Both of these ponds/lakes harbor fish communities

that may be impacted. To preserve these living

resources, staff of SWPD is overseeing the collection,

removal and relocation of the fish before draining

begins. This will be in coordination with the Fairfax

County Park Authority and the Virginia Department of

Game and Inland Fisheries

Fish will be collected by an electrofishing boat, which uses electrical current to temporarily stun and capture the fish. The fish will then be moved in a special transport truck and released into nearby ponds/lakes. Fish collected from Lake Huntsman will be relocated to Lake Mercer, while the fish collected from the Brookfield Park pond will be released into Lake Accotink.

Once construction is complete, Lake Huntsman and

Brookfield Park pond will be restocked with new fish.

Lake Barton was recently restocked following the

dredging and improvement project that occurred in

2011.

Brookfield Park Pond

Brookfield Park Pond

Brookfield Park Pond

Brookfield Park Pond

Lake Huntsman

Lake Huntsman

Lake Huntsman

Restocking (Lake Barton 2011)

Expected Species – Largemouth Bass

Expected Species – Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Expected Species – Read Breast Sunfish

Expected Species – Channel Catfish

Expected Species – Mosquitofish

Expected Species – Margined Madtom

Information Contact: Shannon Curtis or Irene Haske

Stormwater Planning Division

Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, Fairfax County

12000 Government Center Parkway

shannon.curtis@fairfaxcounty.gov

irene.haske@fairfaxcounty.gov

703-324-5500, TTY 711

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/stormwater