Gardnerville approves pond rules, sans events ban

While new rules were approved for the Mountain View Nature Park pond on Tuesday, a two-year ban on events wasn’t among them.

The pond is the largest water feature along the newly completed Martin Slough Trail.

The pond was the subject of a petition that was signed by 57 people, not all of whom were residents, according to organizer Julie Duda.

Both the pond and the homes that back onto it were built in the last five years, and the petition expressed concern that events might slow down the arrival of wildlife at the new location.

However

Gardnerville Town Board members didn’t agree and voted to deny the request in the petition, after not one person turned up for public comment on the item.

They did approve new rules for the pond that allowed nonmotorized and remote-control watercraft.

Swimming won’t be allowed in the pond, and Town Manager Erik Nilssen said any boats would likely be more for fishing than anything else, though the new regulations would allow kayaks or paddleboarders.

Swimming won’t be permitted in the pond, though attorney David Rigdon said that doesn’t include someone who falls off a paddleboard or out of a canoe. Lifejackets are required on the pond, which is around 25-feet deep.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife expressed eagerness to stock the pond, which Nilssen said he felt should focus on warm water fish. Bubblers are operating to aerate the pond at night during the summer.

Town Board Chairman Mike Henningsen said he doubted it would get cold enough in winter to freeze the pond over, and board members expressed concern should someone try to skate or fish on the ice.