FISHING HOLES PROPOSED T.O. MULLS STOCKING DOS VIENTOS PONDS.Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer THOUSAND OAKS Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. - What were once used as watering troughs a trough from which cattle, horses, and other animals drink. See also: Watering for livestock could one day become fishing holes for residents. Councilman Michael Markey wants the City Council to look into using the two ponds at the new Dos Vientos Ranch housing development for public recreational fishing. He will ask the council Tuesday to direct a study. ``It's a win-win situation for the community,'' Markey said. ``It'll be close for citizens to use, and it's up in the hills where it's gorgeous and everybody can appreciate the natural environment.'' The ponds, part of the dedicated open space at the 2,350-home development, are the 0.9-acre south pond and the 1.4-acre north pond, he said. The California Department of Fish and Game is overseeing revegetating the ponds and surrounding areas with freshwater marsh, coastal sage scrub Coastal sage scrub (or simply coastal scrub) is a low scrubland plant community found in the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion of coastal California and northern Baja California. and native grassland grassland see grazing (2), pasture. for wildlife habitat, Markey said in his memo to the council. Markey said he's already made contact with Fish and Game about a program to stock waters with fish for recreation. However, resident and environmentalist environmentalist a person with an interest and knowledge about the interaction of humans and animals with the environment. Paul Nicholson Paul Nicholson (born June 16, 1954 in Listowel, Ontario) is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward who played for the Washington Capitals. He was originally selected in 1974 by the Capitals, and by the Michigan Stags of the World Hockey Association. had concerns that public users would trample down plants along the edge of the water and pack down the earth, which he's seen happen in other areas. ``There are a lot of wetlands vegetation around those (ponds), a lot of cattails and things,'' Nicholson said. ``I think fishing is a good thing, a good outdoor exercise but basically you have to balance that with the goals of preserving species and things like that,'' he said. The proposal is better suited to Conejo Creek Park, he added, where the lake is lined with concrete, can stand up to the foot traffic and there are no wetlands there. ``One of the big problems in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, is there're not enough places to fish,'' he said. ``But fishing is better suited for larger lakes where there're bigger fish. There are no big fish in small ponds like that.'' Markey said if there were concerns about harming the area, Fish and Game, which is responsible for protection, would not do the program. Markey also said there could be city costs associated for maintenance and upkeep if the ponds were to be used as recreational fishing spots. ``It's a very positive, viable program,'' he said. ``It's a benefit to our kids and community to go up and fish.'' |
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