A Freestone Park lake renovation in Gilbert, Arizona, has prompted complaints from residents who report foul smells, mosquitoes and sick or dead waterfowl as the water is drained for repairs.
The project is intended to replace the ageing lake liner and remove years of accumulated silt and sediment. But residents say the drawdown has left some ducks and other wildlife exposed, while rescue groups have been called in to help animals unable to move to nearby water.
“It smells, it’s so bad. There’s so many mosquitos right now,” Gilbert resident Lisa Fuller said.
Another resident, Fonda Christopher, said turkey vultures had been seen around the lake because of dead ducks.
Michael Elliot, Gilbert’s parks and recreation director, said the town had worked with the Arizona Game and Fish Department on a wildlife relocation plan before construction began. Fish were to be moved to other water sources and non-native turtles removed, while waterfowl such as ducks, geese, cormorants and herons were expected to relocate naturally.
However, Mr Elliot said some fish could not be moved before the water level fell and died as a result. He also said the reduction in water had probably contributed to the deaths of some ducks.
The town had announced in August that fish could be transferred to Water Ranch or Gilbert Regional Park, while non-native turtles would be placed with wildlife organisations. It said the drawdown was expected to take several weeks and that the lake would ultimately be restored as part of the wider Urban Lakes Renovation project.
Rescuers help wildlife at Freestone Park
Crystal’s Critter Haven and East Valley Wildlife became involved after concerns were raised about domestic ducks and other birds that could not fly away from the drained lake.
Crystal White, of Crystal’s Critter Haven, said the organisation had initially expected to take in domestic ducks but became involved in a wider rescue operation involving birds showing signs of illness. She said botulism was among the possible causes, although testing had not yet confirmed it.
The group said it had rescued 36 waterfowl and four turtles from the lake. Ms White said the response had taken time to develop, but that she was now working with the town on measures to protect the remaining animals.
“It was definitely handled poorly in the beginning and now I think that we’ve come to the agreement that they are going to have a plan in place for future renovations of different parks throughout Gilbert,” she said.
Residents have said they support the improvements to Freestone Park, which opened in 1988, but believe the impact on wildlife should have been anticipated.
“This is a multi-million dollar project, and they’re obviously working to redo the pond, which is great,” Ms Fuller said. “But they obviously didn’t plan for what to do with all the animals.”
The town said it was testing the lake water for botulism and treating nearby drainage basins to control mosquitoes. Mr Elliot said officials had also committed to working more closely with wildlife partners on future projects and developing a more detailed relocation plan.
Once the renovation is complete, the town expects native wildlife to be reintroduced and waterfowl to return to the restored lake.
