The Reid Berney Walleye Raising Pond **

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1 The Reid Berney Walleye Raising Pond ** Today the Reid Pond is a 17 acre parcel of land located in a small valley just off of Rotter Road in Tuscarora Township in Cheboygan County, and is owned by the State Of Michigan and operated by The Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division. The Reid Pond is used by the MDNR to receive Walleye Fry, which are less than 1/2 inch in size and have recently been hatched from eggs at a MDNR hatchery. The new fry are then placed in the conditioned waters of the Pond and kept there for six to eight weeks, or until they reach 1-2 inches long. They are then collected and then released into Lakes of Northern Michigan according to a plan established by the Fisheries Division. The Reid Berney Pond, named in 1993, after a long time Fisheries Division employee who was very active with the Northern Michigan Walleye Association, The Pond was previously known as the Pickerel-Crooked Lake Walleye Pond. During the early 70's the Association Board and many of its active fishing members felt that our Lakes would benefit from stocking of walleye and rainbow trout. Their discussions led to the fisheries division, who encouraged them to develop a pond and become part of their stocking program. Leonard and Sarah Barney learned of the Association's interest and offered their existing Pond. In August of 1974 the PCLIA (Pickerel-Crooked Lakes Improvement Association) leased 5 acres of their property to construct a 300 foot earthen dam with a 1-3 acre pond that would fill naturally with the winter runoff. The lease was for 10 years at $10.00 per year. The PCLIA, at the same time agreed to a cooperative walleye rearing program with the MDNR, who provided funding to pay for the excavation and building of the pond. The PCLIA bid out the work, and a contract was awarded to Ginop Construction for $11, The Groundbreaking ceremony was October 5, Documents were signed by Wm.S. Conway, President and Charles E. Fay, Director. The walleye pond was managed by a committee of the PCLIA with Charles Fry, the Barney's and many volunteers helping. During these years, many frustrations occurred and some successes, as the Association worked to find the correct formulas for preparing the pond, filling the pond, reducing predators and keeping conditions optimum for the fry in their vulnerable early life. Eventually the committee decided not to pursue rearing of rainbow trout and focus only on walleye as the fish of choice for our lakes. In the summer of 1980, the Barney's decided to sell the property and the PCLIA offered to purchase the pond. They had a 17 acre portion appraised, and in April of 1981 entered into a land contract with the Barney's for $10,000 with $3, down, and payment of $1, every six months for four years. The contract was signed by PCLA president, Margie Graham and Director, Jamie Martin. Past President, Robert Meyer was instrumental in the arrangements. In the summer of 1991, the Association began discussions with the MDNR to gift the property to the State, and to enter into a more extensive cooperative agreement between the PCLIA and the MDNR. Eventually, after much difficult discussions pertaining to the language regarding stocking levels, lake prescriptions and reverter clauses, the PCLA (name changed from PCLIA) and the State of Michigan signed the quit claim deed on September 16, Page 1 of 5

2 The document was signed by PCLA President, David K. Williams and Jamie M. Martin, Secretary-Treasurer. The details of the Quit Claim Conditions are as follows: As part consideration for this deed, the tract is to be used for fish rearing to stock nearby lakes, including but not limited to, Crooked and Pickerel Lakes, Emmet County, Michigan. The stocking shall be conducted in accordance with the numbers and priorities set forth in the currently approved stocking plan, as may be amended. The tract shall revert to the Pickerel- Crooked Lakes Association if it is no longer used by the Department of Natural Resources for fish rearing purposes as herein described, for three consecutive years. At the time of the sale, fish prescriptions for Pickerel-Crooked lakes called for Crooked Lake to receive 50,000 fry and Pickerel Lake to receive 25,000 fry every two years. In 1992, no fry survived, and the MDNR decided to install electricity and a well on the pond property; and the size of the pond was expanded to 3 1/2 acres for better productivity. From this time on until 2007 when the MDNR stopped Statewide stocking of walleye, due the VHS virus that was attacking walleyes and the threat of transmission thru brood stock eggs, the MDNR Fisheries Division have consistently provided Walleye fingerlings to Northern Michigan. Records show that our Lakes received 150,000 fry in 2005 and 91,000 fry in The PCLA Board in 2007 granted the MDNR an annual exception to the 3 year reverter clause until the VHS virus threat was contained and stocking could be started again. In a fail proof test was developed for detecting VHS in brood stock eggs, and in 2011 stocking programs were re-started in the State. In 2011 the Reid Pond was unproductive due to frog populations eating the fry, and adjustments were made to the off season preparations of the pond bottom. In 2012 a substantial number of fry were successfully harvested and distributed. The MDNR has chosen to stock these fry in Lakes of Northern Michigan, other than Pickerel and Crooked Lakes, as these lakes have less/or no walleye and have a higher likelihood of fingerlings survival. Their assessment of our Lakes is that our two lakes have a large population of naturally breeding walleye, and that available food and the presence of predator fish will not allow for successful stocking. In 2010 a Northern Lakes Citizens Advisory Committee was formed and composed of The Northern Walleye Association, the MDNR, The Little Traverse Band of Odawa, Michigan State University, PCLA, Burt Lake and Mullet Lake Associations and others to monitor and provide data for a complete study of walleye populations, migration and habits on the Inland Waterway. This study will take 3-4 years to complete, and at that time, this data will assist the MDNR in providing new Prescriptions for walleye populations in Northern Michigan in (current lake fish prescriptions expire in 2014). Early results of the population assessments appear to show that we average two adult walleye per acre on each of our lakes and that these walleye are from natural occurring stock. The walleye are smaller in size than Walleye on Burt Lake, and it is believed that this may be due to the lack of food supplies and the warming of our waters. The PCLA Board will continue to monitor the survey activities closely, and hold the MDNR accountable to the results and the conditions of our Quit Claim Deed for the Reid Berney Pond. ** All information taken from PCLA files and documents, and available for verification and copy Contact Dudley Marvin, PCLA Page 2 of 5

3 Please take a look at the pictures that follow. Page 3 of 5

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