MOORES LAKE
Moores Lake 27.1 acres Dover Although this pond often has a muddy appearance, bass were moderate to abundant. There are a good number of larger bass and average weights were high. The population was dominated by fish above 12 inches with the dominant size being 12 to 15 inches. A spring 2008 population estimate indicated that about 500 bass over 6 inches were in the pond. A great variety and number of panfish were present in Moores Lake. Both bluegill and white perch were abundant, but pumpkinseed sunfish, black crappie, and yellow perch also provide angling opportunities. Over one-third of the bluegill were above 6 inches. Crappie, which ranged up to 12 inches, were common with about 1 in 7 over 10 inches. Common carp and brown bullhead catfish were also present throughout the pond. VEGETATION Spatterdock beds formed the bulk of the available aquatic weeds in this pond although at a lesser abundance than found during the 1966 survey. High turbidity (muddiness) and deepening as a result of dredging during the early 1990s has prevented reestablishment of many other aquatic plants. Planktonic algae blooms often result in a dark green coloration in the water during the warmest summer months. SPECIAL CONDITIONS There is a fish ladder for river herring to gain access to the pond during the spring months. It is unlawful for any person to fish within ten feet of the entrance or exit of a fish ladder or remove fish from any ladder between March 15 and May 30. A fish consumption advisory has been in place since 1999 to limit angler exposure to contaminants in the entire St. Jones watershed, including Moores Lake. The advisory suggests that anglers eat no more than two 8-oz meals of fish per year based on longterm health risks associated with eating certain quantities of fish from localized areas. The contaminants of concern are PCBs and DDT. |
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