Cherry Valley Lions Memorial Park Boat Launch Dock : Tributary entering SE End of East Lake

Sunny day with moderate winds and no rain in past 24 hrs. Red winged blackbirds here as always, a swan passed by and songbirds heard. Some bugs around too. Commercial fishermen arriving as I was done testing so had a nice chat. They had a catch of pike, rock and sun fish. Comments when asked about conditions: water temps a bit cooler on the lakes so far this spring not as conducive to fishing. So many swans now clearing out the undergrowth that is fish habitat…now getting mucky and murky. Lots of green algae bloom around Wellington on West Lake and zebra mussels a problem with nets. Not too many invasive species being found, apart from Gobi fish, which turns out have made good eating for Pickerel so that’s been a good turn of events in the end. Chatted with the person maintaining the park here who has been doing his best to protect the trees and shrubs planted by Natural Edge several years ago, but many haven’t made it so replanting is required soon. Many get trampled underfoot by people who don’t see them amongst the grasses, so he keeps them trimmed and visible to help avoid some of that. Also wild vines that strangle out some other plantings that were made so he trims them as best he can, but it’s killed off a lot.