Life returns to rehabilitated ice pond in Summerside

The stillness of the pond is broken by the cries of the four osprey circling overhead,followed quickly by the excitement of theBedeque Bay Environmental Management Association (BBEMA)crew as they see the wildlife responding to the rehabilitation of the Heritage Ice Pond in Summerside, P.E.I.

"They were hunting in our pond here," said Jennifer Woods, environmental projects co-ordinator with BBEMA.

"It is really great to see the different wildlife coming in and enjoying our pond. That shows that what we are doing out here is working."

The crew spent part of Wednesday morning putting in more pollinator plants, testing the water and pickingup garbage from the pond area.

The pond, locatedoff South Drive on Summerside's west side, looks verydifferent from a few years ago, before BBEMAgot involved.

In 2016, BBEMA received a grant worth close to$300,000 fromFisheries and Oceans Canada to restore fish habitat and fish migration.

The money wenttowardrestoringand rebuilding parts of the pond, including a new fish ladder to help species likebrook trout spawn.

"When we first actually started talking about it, peoplefirst of all were asking uswhere the pond was, because to them, this just looked like a marsh," said Tracy Brown, executive director with BBEMA.

"The water was at the most maybe two-and-a-half feet deep in the centre, so it had had years of siltation."

History of the pond

The pond was a source of ice to Summerside residents before the time of refrigerators, around the 1890s.

"You would have what was called an ice box. So basically once a week the gentleman would come by and they would drop a block of ice in your ice box," said Brown.

"This is where they would cut all the ice."

It was also a popular spot for fishing and swimming in the summer, and hockey and skating in the winter until the late 1950s.

Restoration

The pond was dug out to an average depth of four metresand the area was cleared up of all the years of silt and garbage.

The new fish ladder was built to restore the pond to a habitable place for more aquatic species.

That major work was completed in the spring of 2019. The 1.75 acre land was donated to BBEMA,a non-profit organization, by Amalgamated Dairies Limited, whichhas other property adjacent to the pond.

The group had the pond stocked with 1,000 brook trout fromAbegweit Biodiversity Enhancement Hatchery in 2019.

"Because this is historically a brook trout pond, we are trying to maintain it with that native species," Brown said.

Freshwater fishing in Summerside

Some people have already been fishing this year, including one resident who landed one on Canada Day.

"They caught, I think it was an eight-inch brook trout," Brown said. "Took it home and put it in a pan anyway.Apparently it was a good brook trout."

The organization plans to release another 1,000 brook troutthis fall, and isstudying the water quality and temperatures to ensureoptimal timing.

Historic pond's future

BBEMAplansto continue enhancing the area for both wildlife and the people whoenjoy the natural space. They have been planting more gardensto attract creatures, likemonarch butterflies.

The organization isaiming to put a walking trail around the park, as well asan accessible fishing dockso anyone can get out and experience the pond.

"We are trying to provide an area for wildlife to come and enjoy it, and then also an area where people can come and enjoy that as well," said Woods.

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