The fish in Martensville’s Kinsmen Park Pond will breathe a little easier this summer, thanks to the planned installation of a windmill aerator.
Martensville City Council voted at its May 18 meeting to approve the installation of the aerator by Steve Cusson, owner of Phobia Auto Care.
Cusson is covering the cost of the aerator installation, and has been stocking the pond with fish at his own expense for several years.
He requested permission from council to put in the wind-powered aerator in order to improve the survival rate of the fish over the winter.
The aerator is designed to increase oxygen levels in the water while limiting algae growth and reducing mosquito populations and foul odours from the pond.
The downside of the aeration proposal is its impact on the potential safety of winter activities on a small area of the ice in the immediate vicinity of the aerator. The city intends to fence that area off and monitor the ice thickness frequently.
While the aeration system is being installed at Cusson’s expense, the city is prepared to assume responsibility for future maintenance of the windmill and underwater aeration system.
The city will also be responsible for costs of safety signage and fencing around the area with thinner ice.
Kinsmen Pond is catch and release only. The city follows provincial guidelines, so a fishing license is required and anglers are required to use barbless hooks.