Cherokee Lake fish’s future uncertain

Published 12:29 pm Friday, June 23, 2017

THOMASVILLE — Cherokee Lake fish have to go, no doubt, but the removal method is the question.

Whether man or nature will do the job has not been settled.

City of Thomasville officials said the Georgia Department of Natural Resources would relocate the thousands of fish to the Cassidy Road Park pond, but DNR personnel told the Times-Enterprise the state agency will not participate in the project.

“We still haven’t settled on that,” said Jerry Pionessa, assistant city manager/city engineer. A private company might be able to assist in relocating the fish, he added.

Draining of Cherokee Lake for dam and other repairs will begin the week of July 4. The slow drain will require two months for completion.

“(Georgia Department of Natural Resources) Wildlife Resources Division will not be relocating the fish,” said Rob Weller, Albany-based DNR fisheries biologist.

Weller said the lake — about 15 acres — probably contains 5,000 to 10,000 fish, including largemouth bass, channel catfish and bluegill and redear sunfish, also know as bream.

“Those are the predominant species,” Weller said.

Relocating the fish is possible, but it is labor-intensive and time-consuming, Weller said, adding that special equipment probably would be needed.

DNR relocates fish only when threatened or endangered species are involved.

Fish could suffer from a lack of oxygen and stress during a relocation journey. If the Cassidy Road pond has a lot of fish, to add thousands more could result in disease, a shortage of oxygen and additional stress among all fish. 

“The easiest was is to pull the plug and start over,” Weller said. “If there’s a free smorgasbord available, other wildlife will take advantage.”

During a slow drain resulting in smaller quarters, big fish are known to eat little fish. As the water level lowers more, large birds, such as herons, ospreys and cormorants, pluck fish from the draining lake.

“Maybe even a bald eagle will show up,” Weller said.

Cherokee Lake turtles will eat fish and leave when the supply is no longer plentiful.

Weller said an alligator might be in the mix.

“They can be pretty secretive,” Weller said. “You never know when an alligator will show up.”

In addition to dam repairs, silt and vegetation that accumulated on the north end of lake after the Lake Eagle dam burst several years ago will be removed.

Pionessa said the city’s goal is to make dam improvements and repairs, enhance the walking track and construct a bike trail on the west side of the lake.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820