The City of Mesa asked the Pond Society to rescue about 200 goldfish from a pond in front of Taco Bell at Dobson and Main Street in Mesa.  The property has been purchased by the City for the right-of-way for their light rail transit system.  The contractors were ready  to drain and bull doze the pond.  The Mesa Council was concerned about animal rights groups (i.e. PETA, ASPCA) finding out and “raising a stink”. So the City contacted us to step in, if possible.

 

Eleven members showed up at 9:30 am Saturday, January 27 to help rescue the goldfish.  The fish ranged in size from 1-4” and were very healthy.  Sump pumps were tried to drain some of the water so members could net the fish, but there were no live electrical outlets.  The bottom of the pond was mire, making it almost impossible to net all the fish. There were a several dozen huge water lilies and cattails as well, and Tom Briggs removed some and will clean them up and divide them if possible.

 

Some of these fish and water lilies will be available at the February 10 meeting, so please bring containers if you are interested in adopting the goldfish. 

 

Yvonne McCall from the City of Mesa Real Estate Office has promised publicity in the Mesa papers, so this is a good opportunity for P. R. to promote our club and the upcoming Pond Tour as well.

 

A special thanks to Tom & Carla Briggs, Jeff Kirk and Wendy Chern, Terry & Michele Hulse, Mike Hazel, Nancy Magee, Dan Stough and my husband Doug. It was an overwhelming job.

           Eliz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please submit anything to be published in the newsletter by the 22nd of the month to nnmagee@qwest.net.  Be sure to include GPPS in the subject line.

If anyone has a favorite fish or pond supplier, an informational website, or an internet supplier, please let the Newsletter Editor know.  I would like to print a new source list in the newsletter as well as put it on the GPPS website.  Many stores have shut down, but the internet is still full of information.  It’s just a matter of picking the most informative ones.  So, put on your thinking caps.  Everyone will benefit.                         nnmagee@qwest.net