Preparing Deppe Pond for its New Inhabitants...
In 2000, the Mojave River Campus of the Lewis Center for Educational Research
opened its door for the first time. The campus covers 18 of the 53 acres that the Center owns above the Upper Narrows of the Mojave River. Since runoff from the campus, by law, can not go directly into the nearby marsh, wash or river, a unlined retainment basin was built to hold it. This retainment basin is located at the back of the school, between the marsh and the main campus building, and receives runoff from two river-rock lined channels.
In 2002, Bill Deppe, a newly hired veteran teacher and avid birder, started working with his ornithology class to line the pond in the hopes that it could act a resting site for migrating shore birds and water fowl. By 2004, the pond had been lined and started showing the signs of becoming biologically active with willows, cottonwoods,water plants, shore grasses, crayfish, bullfrogs, treefrogs, and water birds along with an occasional visit from western pond turtles and beavers from the nearby Mojave River. Gold fish and mosquito fish were also added to the pond to serve as bird food and mosquito control. It was about this time that Molly Estes and Amanda Pearson offered the suggestion that either the pond or the nearby marsh be used as a refugia for the MTC.
In the January, 2007, Mr. Huffine received a call from representatives of the California Department of Fish and Game and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service asking if the Lewis Center was still interested in host a refugia for MTC. During Spring Break of the same year, after a visit from Steve Parmenter (CDFG), Judy Holman (USFWS), Michael Glenn (USFWS) and Debra Hughson (NPS), it was determined that Deppe Pond would make a good site for the MTC fourth refugia. However, before the pond could support a respectable population of chub it would need some work.
By August, 2007, the pond, which is now called Deppe Pond, had been lined for almost three years and supported a thick growth of cattails and bullrush. What follows is a time-line that describes Deppe Pond's remediation prior to receiving MTC.
In 2000, the Mojave River Campus of the Lewis Center for Educational Research
opened its door for the first time. The campus covers 18 of the 53 acres that the Center owns above the Upper Narrows of the Mojave River. Since runoff from the campus, by law, can not go directly into the nearby marsh, wash or river, a unlined retainment basin was built to hold it. This retainment basin is located at the back of the school, between the marsh and the main campus building, and receives runoff from two river-rock lined channels.In 2002, Bill Deppe, a newly hired veteran teacher and avid birder, started working with his ornithology class to line the pond in the hopes that it could act a resting site for migrating shore birds and water fowl. By 2004, the pond had been lined and started showing the signs of becoming biologically active with willows, cottonwoods,water plants, shore grasses, crayfish, bullfrogs, treefrogs, and water birds along with an occasional visit from western pond turtles and beavers from the nearby Mojave River. Gold fish and mosquito fish were also added to the pond to serve as bird food and mosquito control. It was about this time that Molly Estes and Amanda Pearson offered the suggestion that either the pond or the nearby marsh be used as a refugia for the MTC.
In the January, 2007, Mr. Huffine received a call from representatives of the California Department of Fish and Game and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service asking if the Lewis Center was still interested in host a refugia for MTC. During Spring Break of the same year, after a visit from Steve Parmenter (CDFG), Judy Holman (USFWS), Michael Glenn (USFWS) and Debra Hughson (NPS), it was determined that Deppe Pond would make a good site for the MTC fourth refugia. However, before the pond could support a respectable population of chub it would need some work.
By August, 2007, the pond, which is now called Deppe Pond, had been lined for almost three years and supported a thick growth of cattails and bullrush. What follows is a time-line that describes Deppe Pond's remediation prior to receiving MTC.
- July-August 2007 - Lower water level and proceed to cut and remove over 90% of the cattail and bull rush, a cooperative agreement between the USFWS and the Lewis Center was being drafted, signed and ratified in advance of the issuing of a $25,000 grant to help create the refugia and begin the effort of educating the public about the MTC and the effort being made to "down-list" the species from being endanger of becoming extinct to merely being threatened with extinction.
- August-December 2007 - Students began to trap out Gold fish, mosquito fish, crayfish bullfrogs and their tadpoles, the grant was received in October
- December 2007 - March 2008 - Deppe pond was de-watered, rocks and trash was removed, a 120 foot well, pump and water distribution system was installed, a water aeration unit was installed and was refilled by 3/21/2008.
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