Pond work is complete

GENTRY — Clear, cool water was flowing from a spring along Dawn Hill East Road and into the new pond at the Flint Creek Nature Area on Thursday. And the pond was full, with excess water flowing down a manmade flume and into Flint Creek. The reflected images of trees, in fall colors, could be seen on the glassy water.

A small causeway constructed over the incoming stream gives visitors an easy way to cross the steam, and stepping stones in the stream as it exits the pond and cascades down the back side of the dam, allow visitors easy access to both sides of the pond. Grass planted along the banks and trees along the water’s edge will provide shady spots to fish or just enjoy the outdoors on warm days.

Pond work at the city-owned nature area is now complete. Representatives of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission inspected the work on Friday and are closing out the grant used to dredge out the two existing ponds and deepen the pond to make it suitable for fish to be stocked.

“Our grant coordinator, James Rogers, with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, did a walk through with us last Friday,” said Kevin Johnston, Gentry mayor. “He said everything looked good to him and that he would submit the fi nal paperwork to close out the grant.”

Once that work is counted as complete, groups of volunteers hope to add trails and work on a parking area for the new city feature designed to draw fishermen, nature lovers and students. It is hoped that much can be completed over the fall and winter months so that the area can be opened to the public and for fishing in the spring.

The AGFC, following a study of any other indigenous species found there, plans to stock the pond in the spring. Fish specieswill likely include channel cat, bluegill and bass.

Work on the pondswas completed through an AGFC grant in the amount of $83,000. Additional work to provide parking and trails is being planned through volunteers and possible future grants.