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Wellsville dam renovation includes walking trail, fishery rehab

October 16th, 2009 Posted in Opinion

By Nick Rust

WELLSVILLE — Renovation of Wellsville Reservoir is moving forward, with a tentative completion date in the spring, says City Councilman Gary Bates.

The city has been awarded a grant from the state of Utah to build a trail around the reservoir and a bridge across the water from east to west. Bates said no tax dollars have been spent on any of the renovation projects. Instead the projects have been funded by grants and impact fees. Impact fees come from recently moved in citizens with the money going to sewer and parks and recreations departments.

“We’ve been concerned with the Wellsville dam fishery,” said Bates, a councilman since 2007. “They (fish) seem to disappear quickly.”

The city of Wellsville has also applied for fishery community status. If granted, the status would allow the state to stock the reservoir with fish more often and the reservoir would be patrolled more heavily by rangers to ensure anglers are sticking to the limit of fish. This status would also help keep the reservoir maintained on a more regular basis, helping to reduce weeds and stagnant waters.

“We don’t have enough opportunities for the elderly or young,” Bates said.

The city plans to open the fishery year-round as well instead of Memorial Day to the end of December. Bates said keeping the fishery open year round would provide more opportunity for those who enjoy fishing in the Winter.

Wellsville city is also formulating a youth fishing program. The program will allow children to learn the tricks of trade from experts and will include a youth fishing day, Bates said.

“The intent of all this is to let kids have fun and get excited about fishing,” Bates said. “It is intended to provide a nice environment for young people to enjoy nature and the outdoors.”

Since 2007 when the project was started, the city has installed a pavilion; a new parking lot; a new road; a sprinkler system; and a new set of playground equipment at the reservoir. The city also held a fundraiser where citizens could donate trees or benches in memoriam of a deceased loved one. The fundraiser raised money for 25 trees and 13 benches, said Bates. A large number of Eagle Scouts helped clean out the stream alongside the park and pick up garbage as well.

Bates said the parks and recreations department is currently evaluating other ways to improve Wellsville. He said one option is a small community playground in the Red Slide Subdivision. Among other long term goals is the construction of a soccer and baseball complex on approximately five acres of land purchased by the city.

Tags: reservoir renovation, Wellsville