The vast majority of those (1.31 million) were rainbow trout, while the rest were made up of brown trout, brook trout and tiger trout, a cross between the two. Game and Fish has stocked around 61,000 walleye fingerlings at Lake Fort Smith since 2013, Stein noted. Continue about one mile. Thats also the time that well be going back to all of the ponds with truckloads of channel catfish for our anglers to enjoy, Jackson said. wildlife and their habitats while promoting sustainable use, public understanding and support. The mussel was listed February 1989 asendangeredunder the Endangered Species Act. (Special to The Commercial/Arkansas Game & Fish Commission). We can't guarantee fish that are released into ponds and lakes that don't meet these requirements. Examples: a half acre = 0.5 ac1 and 3/4 acres = 1.75 ac. Proudly powered by WordPress Fish Stocking Search ADF&G's Division of Sport Fish stocks a variety of fish species into lakes and streams throughout the state. Note: these estimates will not be valid for egg-shaped ponds (ellipses). Work has also been done to repair campsites and bridges at the state park, just outside Harrisburg. "What we did there was essentially plant seed for the recovery of more shad.". . The AGFC's mission is to conserve and enhance Arkansas's fish and wildlife and their habitats while. If you have any questions we are more than willing to help. Brown trout can reproduce successfully in Arkansas, but rainbow trout populations require annual stockings. They eat plankton, which thrive in the nutrient-rich waters of the Mississippi River Delta, Arkansas River Valley and Gulf Coastal Plain. The Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery is located in the southern foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Cleburne County, Arkansas. Each year, ODFW stocks millions of trout in dozens of reservoirs, lakes and ponds throughout the state. Nov 22, 2021 Arkansas game and fish. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. States. Let us take the stress and guesswork out of stocking your pond or lake so that you can concentrate on what's most important: enjoying it and making memories. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, along with the U.S. in 1965 and produces rainbow and brook trout. Thats also the time that well be going back to all of the ponds with truckloads of channel catfish for our anglers to enjoy, Jackson said. Mourning, White-Winged and Eurasian Collared-Dove, Arkansas Waterfowl Rice Incentive Conservation Enhancement (WRICE), Natural State Landowner Conservation Awards, Endangered Species and Other Threats to Wildlife, Gov. Over the years as Arizona Game and Fish Department stocking efforts intensified, the rainbow trout quickly became Arizona's most common trout species. Agree Disagree FORT SMITH The Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be sponsoring a free Family Fishing Derby at Wells Lakes, adjacent to the AGFCs Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center, on Saturday, Nov. 6. Feb. 1, 2023 LITTLE ROCK The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission hatchery system and its partners stocked more than 14.6 million fish into Arkansas waters last year, even with a massive renovation project limiting the output of the Jim Hinkle Spring River Fish Hatchery in Mammoth Spring. Anglers 16 and older must have a valid license to fish. Call us at 1-870-578-9773 and one of our representatives will place your order for the next Fish Day in your area. The statewide stocking schedule link below includes all waters receiving catchable-sized trout from Arizona Game and Fish hatcheries. It is the easiest to maintain and strikes a proper balance between predator and prey. A major reason to stock forage fish is to jump-start game fish populations in newly renovated lakes, Olive said. Search for volunteer opportunities around the country, News about wonderful wild things and places, FWS is taking steps to mitigate climate impacts, Search employment opportunities with USFWS. The fish are stocked into cold tailwaters below federally operated dams in Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. Stocking with us is easy. ). Fingerlings average 1.5 inches long when they're put into the lake. Looking for the best way to catch a catfish, land a lake trout, or snag a smallmouth? Daily Limits: 3-catfish, 5-trout, 25-bream Largemouth bass may not be retained and must be released immediately into the water. Absolutely nothing has changed as far as scheduled stocking for '22! In 2021, it stocked 2.6 million threadfin shad in Arkansas waters. Striper anglers will note more than 577,000 of these fish stocked in Beaver, Ouachita and Norfork lakes this year, thanks to the AGFC's collaboration with many partners, including Keo Fish Farms in England, which is owned by former commissioner Mike Freeze, and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's Inland Fisheries Division. Please click "Odd-Shaped" above for details. Most fish populations are very good at maintaining themselves, but sometimes they need a bit of assistance from managers to reach their potential. Additional Listings: Download our new free mobile app now and display stockings close to you! Whether you are a beginning angler wondering about walleye or teaching your kids to fish for crappie, heres a roundup of some of our favorite fishing tips from the experts who raise them. The facility is just north of the historic city of Heber Springs and minutes from thebeautiful Greers Ferry Lake and scenic Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam. National Fish Hatcheries raise fish and other aquatic species like crayfish and mussels - to help restore and sustain important fish and other aquatic species for the benefit of the American people. That situation existed on Greers Ferry Lake about a decade ago. However, Greers Ferry's hydrology limits the effectiveness of stocking shad on a large scale. Vic DiCenzo, AGFC Black Bass Program coordinator, explained that Florida bass stockings are about much more than boosting numbers of fish to catch. Anglers wetting a line in the waters of The Natural State have a lot of fishing, and fish, to look forward to. Over the next few months, various types of fish will be added. Live Fish For Ponds And Lakes Stocking Fish With Arkansas Pondstockers Our stocking plans include: Guaranteed Survival Rates Live Phone Support Transport Containers Detailed Release Instructions Customized Stocking Rates, for now and for the future On-site Delivery and Release for large orders Winter 2022/2023 Arizona Trout Stocking Schedule. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. You can use the search and filter functions to search the stocking schedule for specific locations and dates. This is the chance to hook into a specially tagged, prize-winning rainbow trout before the water warms too much to support these cold-water fish. This is the chance to hook into a specially tagged, prize-winning rainbow trout before the water warms too much to support these cold-water fish. Thanks to the USFWS hatcheries at Greers Ferry, Norfork and Mammoth Spring and an additional purchase of trout using Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for flood damage to the AGFC's Jim Hinkle Spring River Hatchery, the AGFC and its partners were able to deliver 1.36 million trout to Arkansas' tailwater fisheries and Family and Community Fishing Locations around the state when conditions were favorable. LITTLE ROCK The Arkansas Game and Fish Commissions Family and Community Fishing Program has begun trout stockings for the 2021-22 winter stocking season at ponds throughout Arkansas. The ponds are great for beginners as well as advanced anglers who just want to make a quick trip to the water.. Improper release of your fish will likely result in a total loss, either because the fish weren't tempered correctly or the transport container is depleted of oxygen. Customized Stocking Rates, for now and for the future, On-site Delivery and Release for large orders. Community fishing event kicks off 2022 catfish stockings Date: 03.30.22 LITTLE ROCK The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Family and Community Fishing Program will kick off the 2022 catfish stocking season with a special fishing event from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 2. at MacArthur Park in Little Rock. Producing fish continues to be an irreplaceable tool in managing or restoring fisheries along with habitat conservation. In those situations, stocking forage fish is little more than feeding fish. Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. (Courtesy photo/Arkansas Game and Fish. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Game and Fish Commission stocked a lot of shad into the lake to stave off an overall fishery failure. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "A million shad would not make Greers Ferry into Lake Fork (a renowned trophy bass fishery in Texas). We cannot guarantee fish that are improperly released. Call for details.Fathead Minnows must be restocked at least once per year. Feeding forage fish in a nursery pond is inexpensive, and it's inexpensive to move and release them. In cooperation with state game and fish agencies of Arkansas and Oklahoma, trout are stocked for recreational fishing purposes into the cold tailwaters below these federally operated dams. Lake Monticello - Game fish creel limit is 0; all game fish caught must be immediately returned to the water. Its great to know you are never more than a short drive to be able to cast a line in The Natural State. Visit www.agfc.com/familyfishing to learn more about the Family and Community Fishing Program and to find a pond near you participating in the winter trout stocking schedule. Weekly trout stocking schedule. Attempting to balance the fish composition in your new pond or lake can be a daunting task if you don't know where to start. LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas Game and Fish Commissions Family and Community Fishing Program is getting a head start on the holiday season by releasing hundreds of rainbow trout in program ponds throughout the state. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Family and Community Fishing Program concluded its final trout stockings for the 2020-21 winter season in late February at ponds and urban lakes . We work with our partners and engage the public to conserve, restore, and enhance fish and other aquatic resources for the continuing benefit of the American people. Again, hydrology determines the robustness of the food chain. They're just going to get hungry in short order and continue to be in poor physical condition. Sections Since 1871, National Fish Hatcheries have been applying science-based approaches to conservation challenges. Some pools of the Arkansas River, for instance, have seen extreme siltation that has blocked off backwater habitat critical for spawning. We want to give people the opportunity to see why fishing is such a great outdoor pursuit, Jackson said. by Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Notice: Grass carp are not available in Louisiana, Michigan, and Texas. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Family and Community Fishing Program concluded its final trout stockings for the 2020-21 winter season in late February at ponds and urban lakes. More than 2.2 million Florida largemouth bass and more than 616,000 northern largemouth bass were stocked by AGFC personnel in 2021. Maurice Jackson, community fishing coordinator Game and Fish, said the program keeps ponds in urban areas stocked with catfish during summer, but switches to rainbow trout when the water is cold enough to support the fish. All credit goes to Daft Logic for the above link. Creating a balanced ecosystem is very important for the health of your pond or lake. It's that easy! The hatchery partners with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in restoration and recovery of the Ozark hellbender. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. "We're really proud of what the culture section at the AGFC has been able to accomplish in the last year," Tommy Laird, AGFC assistant chief of fisheries, said in the Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Newsletter. Olive was peeved at Internet websites and YouTube channels criticizing the commission for not stocking ailing lakes with game fish and forage fish. Fish produced from the hatchery not only enhance recreational fishing opportunities in waters that have been modified by the cold releases of the dams, but also provide an enormous economic value to the local economies. "It does not matter how many shad you stock. In certain situations, the Game and Fish Commission stocks threadfin shad, golden shiners and fathead minnows. In these extreme cases, stocking can play a role in bolstering bass populations. The hatcherywas establishedin 1965 and produces rainbow and brook trout. Water temperatures in mountain lakes often fall below that threshold, Olive said, but some forage fish survive by finding pockets of warmer water. March 16, 2021 at 1:00 a.m. Scheduled to get about 1,400 Browns in November '22 Jackson said this last round of trout will survive until the water temperature climbs out of the 60s, but anglers typically catch all but a few of the fish by then. Tour routes of great scenic drives on National Wildlife Refuges. The next time you go fishing, you might just catch a fish that was raised at Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery. Announcement of daily trout stockings are posted each afternoon during the season on the Daily Trout Stocking web page and the Trout Line (434-525-3474) DWR's five trout hatcheries are open to the public 8:00 AM-3:00 PM daily. Natural State trout anglers have a lot to be happy for from 2021 as well. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's mission is to conserve and enhance Arkansas's fish and The business quickly gained traction over the next couple of years and soon the whole Denton family was involved. Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center, Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center, Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center, Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center, Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center, Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Action Plan | 2020-2025, Disability, Mobility-impaired, 65-Plus, Military Retiree, Lifetime Licenses, Habitat barges and hatcheries produce banner year for Arkansas anglers, Sunset Lake surrenders a 10-pound largemouth bass, AGFC, partners stock more than 12.5 million fish in 2021, AGFC tags special stocking stuffers for the holidays, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stocks ponds with rainbow trout for winter, Family Fishing Derby Set for Fort Smiths Wells Lake Nov. 6. Arkansas Pondstockers provides a free Fish Release Guide that will instruct you on the proper procedures for releasing your fish. Are you trying to balance a pond or lake that already contains fish? AGFC biologist Brett Timmons says this will start the prey base for fishing. Officials said last year that renovations were nearly completed, with erosion near the shoreline repaired. by If you ever have any problems with our fish then please contact us immediately. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Stocking was delayed because of the winter weather that iced most roads and small waterways. To respect property rights and avoid trespass, always consult AGFC's Code of Regulations in addition to official surveys and other recorded land instruments, and adhere to the boundary signs and other on-site indicators. Open to fishing with handheld rod or pole only. "We're always thankful to have former commissioner Freeze's help, and the effort to collect the stripers from Carolina was a point of pride in the fish culture section this year.". This is the chance to hook into a specially tagged, prize-winning rainbow trout before the water warms too much to support these cold-water fish. All rights reserved. Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery (501) 362-3615 349 Hatchery Road Heber Springs, AR 72543-9451 View Details Driving Directions Driving directions: Coming from Heber Springs, cross the Greers Ferry Dam, turn right on Hatchery Road. wildlife and their habitats while promoting sustainable use, public understanding and support. Nearly 613,000 black crappie were stocked in 2021, with most going toward a study to see if stocking larger size crappie will improve survival. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stocks ponds with rainbow trout for winter, SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN CIVIL ACTION AGAINST STATE POLICE * Video, Cave City Mayor Announces Future Projects, 3rd Judicial District : Arkansas Prosecutor, Sheriff Bell Announces Arrest And Closing Of Drug House. "Hatchery crews work tirelessly throughout the year and drive thousands of miles ensuring trout arrive safe and healthy to their destinations," Anderson said. Man! Trout daily limit is five. The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain! An additional 56,000 smallmouth bass were stocked by the AGFC last year, bringing the total black bass stockings to within a stone's throw of the 3-million mark. (KAIT) - An important part of a three-year plan to renovate Lake Poinsett happened Monday as crews restocked the lake with fish. More than 2.2 million Florida largemouth bass and more than 616,000 northern largemouth bass were stocked by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission personnel in 2021. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. So emphatic is Olive on this point that he said he wants it engraved on his headstone. The species was listed asendangered September 2011 under the Endangered Species Act. Jackson said this last round of trout will survive until the water temperature climbs out of the 60s, but anglers typically catch all but a few of the fish by then. The Hybrid Bluegill option is best suited for smaller ponds (two acres or less). "When we renovate a lake, we want the newly stocked bass and crappie to have more food than they can eat to fulfill their rapid growth potential," Olive said. The Bass / Bluegill / Redear option is the most popular option for most pond owners. The stocking of trout will begin the week of Sept. 26 and continue weekly through October. As typical of recent years, the largest numbers of fish produced revolved around forage species, such as threadfin shad, fathead minnows, and golden shiners. | Ask any one of our thousands of repeat customers and they will tell you the same. Stocking was delayed because of the winter weather that iced most roads and small waterways. Home States Arkansas Winter Trout Stocking Underway States November 18, 2021 0 LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Family and Community Fishing Program is getting a head start on the holiday season by releasing hundreds of rainbow trout in program ponds throughout the state. With declining fish populations and declining freshwater mussel populations becoming prevalent across the world, fish hatchery operations are important than ever. Small town news commentary from Imboden, Arkansas. Were excited to keep this great angling opportunity going for Arkansans. : January - 14,500 February - 13,180 March - 15,000 April - 1,980 May - 1,000 October - 1,520 November - 5,520 December - 5,480. | by the longest distance possible from one end of your pond to the other in a straight line. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. According to Brett Timmons Arkansas Game and Fish will start stocking the lake with fish on Monday March 22nd! Fish and Wildlife Service. Conservation is at the heart of what we do, and we recognize that we do this work for the American peopleboth the present generation who benefit today and future generations who will inherit our legacy of conserving Americas aquatic resources. For more information, contact the GIS Division at gis@agfc.ar.gov. Two things can cause a forage fish population to crash or decline, Olive said. Arkansas Game anD Fish efforts to conserve other aquatic species of mutual concern such as imperiled fish, mussels, and amphibians. The hatchery produces rainbow and brook trout, to mitigate for fishery losses caused by the operations of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water development projects (hydroelectric dams) located in the. All rights reserved. You can read or print the guide here on this website or obtain a printed copy from your delivery driver. Monitoring will help us adjust stock rates of forage fish and sport fish to prevent a crash like we experienced at Greers Ferry.". ), Doesn't have other factors that would otherwise inhibit the health or growth rate of fish (for example: an overabundance of snakes, turtles, fish-eating birds, etc. The Outdoor Skills Network is your one-stop resource for events offered by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and a network of partners who conduct opportunities to engage your outdoor skills in hunting, fishing, trapping, safety, wildlife, marksmanship, and more! Buy Your Licenses Online. "Forage fish populations depend on a lake's carrying capacity," Olive said. by Arkansas Game and Fish | December 1, 2020 at 7:00 a.m. Rainbow trout have been stocked in the region's community lakes for winter fishing. Channel Catfish are our most popular game fish, especially in the Southern U.S. the total distance traveled when walking around your entire pond once, i.e. Too many predator fish in a lake can deplete the forage fish population. Home About AGFC Press Room RFP and Bid Notices Surveys Calendar "I believe we sped up the rebound of that fishery by stocking shad," Olive said. If you're just starting out and need some advice or even if you're trying to improve an existing pond, then this is the place to start. Infertile water equals a low plankton base, which equals a weak forage fish component, which equals a weak game fish population. Anglers 16 and older must have a trout permit in addition to their license to keep trout. The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission released 35,000 bluegills, 98,000 flathead minnows, and some golden shiners. Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center, Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center, Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center, Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center, Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center, Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Action Plan | 2020-2025, Disability, Mobility-impaired, 65-Plus, Military Retiree, Lifetime Licenses. The hatchery partners with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in restoration and recovery of the speckled pocketbook mussel. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission | Little Rock AR The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, along with the U.S. Desirable traits include fast growth, ease of feed training, and ease of management. Fish produced from the hatchery not only enhance recreational fishing opportunities in waters that have been modified by the cold releases of the dams, but also provide an enormous economic value to the local economies. Desirable traits of hybrid bluegill include faster growth rate and larger maximum size than regular bluegill. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Water-Wastewater Consulting & Grounds Management LLC. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. One of the easiest ways that anyone can support bird habitat conservation is by buying duck stamps. The hatchery also partners with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in cooperativeefforts to conserve other aquatic species of mutual concern such as imperiled fish, mussels, and amphibians. While AZGFD places a high priority on meeting its stocking schedule found on the . According to Brett Timmons Arkansas Game and Fish will start stocking the lake with . Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery is one of more than 80 facilities in the National Fish Hatchery System administered by the U.S. "Although we have a schedule, Nebraska's weather may have its own mind that alters our plans. "Through research, we have identified the types of lakes and reservoirs where these stockings can be more successful.". Game and Fish stocks rainbow trout each year from the Jim Hinkle Spring River Hatchery in ponds throughout Arkansas while the water temperature is low enough for trout to survive. Click Here to Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter E-mails. Print Headline: Stocking forage fish won't cure infertile fisheries. Must not already contain a significant fish population, Maintains sustainable dissolved oxygen levels, Maintains at least four feet of water over the vast majority of the surface area, Pond or lake water isn't harmful to fish (significantly bad pH levels, disease or parasite infestations, dangerous levels of toxic chemicals, etc. If you have any questions or need a custom plan we would be happy to help! Arkansas Pondstockers was founded in 1996 by Don and Mike Denton, a father and son team who started out with one fish truck making deliveries of fingerling fish to area feed stores. You can use these rates to get a general idea of what your pond needs, but it's recommended that you give us a call at 1-870-578-9773 and let one of our representatives help you decide what's right for your pond. i.e. LITTLE ROCK The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission hatchery system and its partners stocked more than 14.6 million fish into Arkansas waters last year, even with a massive renovation project limiting the output of the Jim Hinkle Spring River Fish Hatchery in Mammoth Spring. Even thought the Game and Fish Commission must buy its forage fish brood stock from an out of state vendor, propagating and growing forage fish for stocking is cost effective, Olive said. Olive defines baitfish, or forage fish, as "a species of fish of interest chiefly as prey of more valuable game fish.". Not only are you getting fresh air and fun, but youre able to bring home some of the best-tasting fish to enjoy once youre done. | Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. We would love to have the chance to exceed your expectations. When the predators consume a stocked amount of shad, the lake will not produce enough to support the game fish without additional stocking. "With so much of our work requiring many hands at once, they had to pivot and adapt to social-distancing protocols as well as handle any labor shortages from quarantines to get the job done for Arkansas anglers.". The Arkansas Game and Fish Commissions Family and Community Fishing Program is getting a head start on the holiday season by releasing hundreds of rainbow trout in program ponds throughout the state. Here is a list of resources that you may find useful: Here's a neat tool from Daft Logic. "If there's a scuba shop near a lake, it's probably not a good lake for shad," Olive said. LITTLE ROCK Stores and shopping centers may try to coax everyone with low prices for Black Friday the day after Thanksgiving, but the AGFC has an even better opportunity to enjoy some fast action, and it will only cost you the price of a fishing license and trout stamp. Find additional information on DWR's State Fish Hatcheries and stocking program here. The ponds are great for beginners as well as advanced anglers who just want to make a quick trip to the water.. LAKE POINSETT, Ark. Fish and Wildlife Service trout hatcheries and other partners, delivered more than 12.5 million fish to Arkansas waters during 2021. Fact is, however, its a testament to what can happen when the right fish genetics and nature come together, even in a 28-acre lake. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commissions Family and Community Fishing Program concluded its final trout stockings for the 2020-21 winter season in late February at ponds and urban lakes throughout Arkansas . Fish and Wildlife Service whose mission is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. These ponds are year-round destinations for family gatherings and picnics, and we want to do what we can to make those experiences even more enjoyable.. The federal government mitigated the damage through the annual stocking of trout, which can handle much colder water temperatures. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.