All,

Thank you for all your concerns for the fisheries in NE Ark. I am the District Fisheries biologist for NE Ark and I come on here often to answer questions about the fisheries around here. Your opinions mean a lot to me and this is the reason I come on here along with Ben (bigben7) and Matt (D10).

First, The AGFC not in charge of Big Lake NWR. The feds handle it.

As for the low water at Mallard Lake, we take full responsibility for the low water during 2012. We reduced the water 18” to place new pipe in the north end. The whole project was suppose to take 1 ½ weeks to complete. As you are all aware of, it took to till October to get completed. I could easily point fingers at the reasons why it took so long but it still doesn’t change the fact that the lake got low. It is our lake and it was our decision to start the project thus we should take responsibility. The lake still would have been low due to the drought but not as low as it got. It was the first of January before there was finally enough water in Ditch 28 to pump. We have been working hard since then to get the lake back up. This includes working several weekend days, which must be done to run the pump continuously and we are not complaining about doing it because that is our job. We currently have the pump off because the water in Ditch 28 is too low. If you drive by the pump, look in Ditch 28. You will see a gate. If you see mud between the bank and the gate, the water is too low. The pump will start sucking air and ruin the pump. After every rain event, we drive up there to see if the pump can be turned on.

I have been in this District for 3 ½ years. I worked in SE Arkansas before that. I am a fisherman (tournament green carp fisherman) just like all of you. You can check out my website in my signature. I really want good fisheries for all anglers because we work for you and I fish them too. NE Arkansas lakes are challenging to manage especially the four levee lakes where we have to pump water in to keep them at normal level. There are very few other places in the state that have to deal with that challenge. We spent a lot of time and resources doing that one activity. We realize that we have a problem with the crappie at Lake Charles. We also understand that Lake Frierson is difficult to manage because of the turbidity. This is why we are stocking saugeye in there. There are numerous problems with Lake Ashbaugh. We just try to do the best with what we have to work with.

Again, I thank you for your time and opinions. I have my AGFC email and phone number attached to the signature as well. Please feel free to contact me.

Jeremy Risley