Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Parks and Recreation Department

TO:	Mike Wildgen, City Manager Debbie Van Saun, Assistant City Manager
FROM:	Fred DeVictor, Director, Parks and Recreation Department
Date:	February 3, 2005
RE:	KWPD New fisheries program

          For many years we have offered fishing to the public and have cooperated with KWPD to stock and monitor the fishing program at Mary’s Lake under their Community Lakes Assistance Program (CLAP).

          In December we met with Richard Sanders, KWPD fisheries biologist, to learn about a new fisheries program, Community Fisheries Assistance Program (CFAP), which replaces the CLAP program.  Basically KWPD wants to enhance fishing experiences for anglers and this program provides an annual $1,000.00 payment to agencies to open their community lakes to fishing close to where people live.

          The benefits to the City of Lawrence:

1. $1,000.00 annual stipend to lease fishing rights to KWPD

2. Receive priority for fish stocking by KWPD

3. Receive continued monitoring of fishing ponds and enforcement of KWPD regulations (creel limits, age requirements for licenses, etc.)

Additional City responsibilities:

1. More annual paperwork to apply and verify operation and maintenance quarterly

2. Must document O&M spending of 75% of the annual lease payment ($750.00 is not a problem for us because we spend much more than that in maintaining Mary’s Lake).

We recommend entering into a 5-year agreement with KWPD to participate in the CFAP program, to continue our priority of fish stocking for public fishing at Mary’s Lake in Prairie Park.  When we open the ponds in the Pat Dawson Billings Nature area at 27^th and Crossgate, we would anticipate adding that site to the program.

          If you have any questions, please advise.

Attachment