TO: Campus Community
FR: J.Dana Twedell, Associate Vice President, Facilities Management
Over the next few days, Facilities Management, in conjunction with Environmental Health and Safety, will be removing dead fish from the Beaujolais Pond. This summer, the pond has experienced a bloom of seasonal algae and other vegetation along with a significant increase in the number of fish. We believe these conditions led to a decrease in oxygen, which created an uninhabitable environment for the fish.
While the current conditions of the pond are not safe for the fish, they do not indicate any risk to the campus community.
Beaujolais Pond was originally designed to serve as a stormwater retention basin to help control stormwater flow and reduce flooding during the winter. Both the North Lakes and Beaujolais Pond contain untreated, non-potable water that is not intended for recreational use. For those fishing at either location, any wildlife caught should not be considered for consumption. All fishing should be catch and release only.
If you have any questions, please contact Facilities Management at 707-664-2317 or fmwo@sonoma.edu.