Walleye restoration and conservation in the Lake Champlain Basin 

LCWA Fingerling Ponds

LCWA currently runs four ponds that we use to raise Walleye Fingerlings. One of the ponds is located in Ferrisburg, Vt. on the property of Bob Perkins one of our directors. Bob has maintained this pond for LCWA for over 20 years now. Another of our ponds is located on Campbell's Bay in Swanton, Vt. Alex Campbell and his family has hosted LCWA now for over twenty years also. Our two newest ponds are located in the Town of St. Albans and are on the Samson Farm.

Our current goal is to get our pond production to 100,000 fingerlings for stocking into the Lake Champlain Basin. We have made great strides in getting to this goal. Last year (2007) we were able to raise just over 50,000 fingerlings for stocking. The Campbell's Bay pond was down due to construction and upgrades and the Vergennes pond was plagued by predatory insects. We also think that we held the fish in Vergennes a bit to long and cannibalism took it's toll as well. We are quite optimistic about pond production for the 2008 season as all ponds will be in operation.

Below are pictures of these ponds, some during construction and some during harvest.

Collecting Fish in the St. Albans Catch Basin

Geese on the St. Albans Ponds

St. Albans Ponds Under Construction

Campbell's Bay Pond

The Campbell's Bay Pond used to be two ponds. Due to the size water temperatures and oxygen levels varied quickly. To combat this situation we made them into one pond.

Waiting for Fish in the Campbell's Catch Basin