Volunteer To Rescue Stranded Fish During Supply Pond Repair Work

BRANFORD, CT — The town is looking for volunteers to monitor, and help rescue fish and other non-mobile aquatic animals, who may be stranded on its banks when the Supply Pond's levels drop by three feet next week.

A "great opportunity" for folks who enjoy the outdoors and who want to be part of the effort to maintain the pond's wildlife as the dam undergoes necessary repairs.

The scheduled minor repair work starts Tuesday.

Classified by the state as a Class B “significant hazard” dam due to the amount of water it impounds, it's required to be inspected every five years. The scheduled repairs are a result of the last inspection. Before the repair work is fully completed, the level of the Supply Pond will drop three feet below normal levels in order to stop the flow over the dam’s spillway and expose the upstream face of the dam and spillway being repaired.

As part of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection permit requirements, the perimeter of the Supply Ponds must be monitored during the drawdown period in order to rescue any fish and other non-mobile aquatic animals stranded above water during the drawdown. The monitoring period is expected to take three days, Oct. 12 to Oct. 14.

Volunteers are needed to monitor the pond banks during the drawdown period.

Volunteers should have boots or other waterproof footwear appropriate for walking into mud and into shallow areas of the pond, weather-appropriate clothing including rain gear depending on the weather, bug spray, sunscreen, a water bottle, and a net and bucket, but for those who do not own a net and bucket, a limited quantity will be available.

"Volunteers should also be aware that this draw down will proceed rain or shine, so weather conditions may not be ideal," the town noted in a news release.

"This is a great opportunity for those that enjoy the outdoors and the scenic areas around the ponds to help the Town maintain one of the most heavily visited spots in Branford," it's noted.

Volunteers will be working alongside members of the town’s Engineering and Public Works departments, Sustainability & Compliance Office, Branford High School students, members of various town boards and commissions, and the public.

This work is solely outdoors and the volunteers would be either working independently or with one other volunteer after checking in and receiving direction from town staff.

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Jennifer Acquino, Assistant Town Engineer at 203-315-0606 or jacquino@branford-ct.gov.

The town asks that "any visitors to the Supply Ponds during the drawdown period to please drive slow and be aware of the volunteers and staff working to protect our natural resources."