Stop the fish from washing into stream

Dear Editor:

I really wish someone would take a closer look at Walton Lake. This is a very important lake to Nevada. Without the lake many of our streets would be flooded during times of heavy and or long periods of rain. Many people use the area for exercise and recreation.

The natural area is definitely a signature piece to our community. Walton Lake is a good fishing area for many families with young ones, as well as to many seniors. In my family, Walton Lake remains an excellent area to escape to. However, in that escaping, I have noticed a flaw that concerns me.

During times of heavy rain, Walton Lake spills off excess water that it can not hold over its dam. Along with that water going over the dam, are fish. The water that spills off Walton Lake goes down into a waterway where the fish end up. This waterway is not self sustaining. Without rainfall this waterway dries up and all that remains is pools of water. These pools of water often shrink or evaporate completely with the summer heat. If a pool remains, it becomes stagnant and unhealthy, which kills the wildlife in it.

There is still time and some water that is traveling this water way to keep the fish alive. One can take a hike down the waterway and clearly see what is going on and what will be the obvious fate of all the fish trapped in these pools. It makes me upset that the lake is stocked with fish all the time at tax payers expense and these fish end up dead. The fish are vital to our lake.

I do not understand why the lake is stocked, wasting money and time, when the dam allows the fish to be washed away. The dam needs updated. A part of protecting wildlife is ensuring that they have a proper home. I am asking Missouri Conservation to look into this matter.

I am asking you to please look into this story and if you find enough human interest in my story to do something with it so that the public becomes aware that something needs to be done. I want a long screen put in front of the dam spill over, so that fish are protected from being sucked down the spill way. Even if such a device could not be 100 percent effective, it sure would be better than the present nothing.

Melinda Jean Mason