Due to the rehabilitation construction at Marilla Reservoir dam
set to begin this spring, there will be no trout stocking at the
reservoir this season.

Bradford City Water Authority Executive Director Kim Benjamin
said Thursday the state Fish and Boat Commission will not stock the
reservoir with fish this year as they traditionally do, citing the
upcoming reconstruction of the dam.

The fishing season starts in mid-April, and “the reconstruction
will disturb the water levels all year,” Benjamin said.

The rehabilitation of the Marilla Reservoir dam, which was
deemed unsafe by the federal Bureau of Dams in the last couple
years, will cost the water authority $2.9 million, Benjamin
reported at the last regular authority meeting.

The project was originally anticipated to cost $2 million, but
when authority officials met with federal agency officials earlier
this year, alterations had to be made to the authority’s plans for
rehabilitation, resulting in the nearly $1 million increase.

Benjamin said Thursday officials are still looking at the same
time frame for work to start on the dam, with bids going out in
early spring and construction expected to start by late spring. The
entire project, he said, should be completed by late fall of this
year.

If that all goes according to plan, Benjamin said, he expects
Marilla Reservoir will be stocked as usual in 2007.

“What we need to do and what we shall do is to keep (state Fish
and Boat Commission) officials informed,” Benjamin said.

Benjamin went on to remind area residents that, especially with
the recent weather changes, they must stay off the ice on all three
reservoirs in the Bradford City Water Authority watershed. He said
people should be aware of the activities that are restricted at the
reservoirs as described on the posted signs at each location.

Ignoring those posted warnings can be “extremely dangerous,” he
advised.

In addition to Marilla, there are also Heffner and Gilbert
reservoirs.