WHATS HAPPENING TO OUR LOCAL BASS POND?

Tucked away under the north east shadows of Canyon Mountain is the quaint town of Canyonville, Oregon. Located approximately forty five minuets south of Roseburg on I-5, Canyonville is one of those communities reminiscent of the term "one horse town". We write this in a positive way because we would like to have you visit this wonderful population of 1605 persons that maintains the unique character of Canyonville.

The town itself still has that eighteen hundred turn-of-the-century feel to it, complete with narrow side streets, a not much wider main street, with old style slant parking. The architecture and overall layout gives you the feeling that the high noon stage coach will be arriving soon.

Just outside of town is Herbert's Pond, an old log pond now under jurisdiction of Douglas County Parks Department. Herbert's Pond has long been a favorite fishing spot for Large Mouth Bass for the people of Canyonville. For the past several years in early June the pond attracts over 1300 persons for the annual Free Fishing Weekend Event. The pond's earth-constructed levy is thriving with trees and other vegetation that offers wild life and aquatic life habitat. Here inlays the current problem.

Besides fish reptiles and water foul, aquatic rodents commonly known as Nutria also live here. Per reports and meetings we have attended, these sizable rats have burrowed through the levy in places thus causing some flooding to nearby property owners. The State of Oregon has demanded Douglas County Park Department to fix the situation. As of the week of August 8-2007 the Herbert's Pond Free Fishing Day committee caught word that their County Parks Department is putting together a plan to completely clear cut the levy in order to restore the levy structure. As you can imagine, this fine group of Canyonville citizens were in a uproar. Calls were made by them to several local government agencies with questions of great concern; "what's happening to our local bass pond"?

So far the restoration project has been slowed down, giving time for County Commissioners, Oregon department of Fish and Wildlife and other officials to hold a Town Meeting and press conference at Herbert's Pond this Thursday 8-16-07 at 6 pm The purpose is to explain the safety issues of the pond to the locals and also hold a Q&A session.

Meanwhile, members of the Herbert's Pond Free Fishing Day Committee are putting together a request and rough plan to work with the Parks Department and other agencies to make the pond even better.

We will continue to follow this story and keep you all up to date on the progress.