Marion Pond holding water again

MARION - It has been more than eight months since a community attraction went dry in Waupaca County.

The fog hanging over Marion can't match the ray of light that has come back to the city.

"It's unbelievable," said Carol Polzin, a member of the city council. "The disposition of the city has changed just to see it slowly start to fill in."

The DNR ordered the 108-acre pond be drawn down last May after two large holes were found in the neighboring dam.

The pond was also purposely drained in 2006 to kill off invasive weeds.

Instead all of the fish went downstream.

"Total disbelief. Second time in three years. It's just hard to believe. The week we draw it down, We were going to start fishing the week after. The fish were spawning," said Marion Superintendent of Parks and Streets Dave Mattes.

But with the dam now fixed the pond is nearly full again.

Having to tear up much of the bridge to make the repairs the city is also making some improvements including lighting, better sidewalks and park areas.

"Perhaps in a way it was a blessing in disguise happen this way," said Polzin.

When all said and done, the repair project will cost about a half-million dollars -- most of which will be taxpayer money. But that that doesn't include restocking the fish supply.

"We rely heavily on donations. It makes it tough," said Mattes.

The city expects to start restocking fish within the week. So far it has ordered 13,000 game fish at a price tag of about $20,000. But to put that in perspective, when they had to drain the pond, officials estimate they lost about 800,000 fish.

"It's not a lot of fish. We want to get it established first. Probably a year or two," Mattes said.

The city estimates the entire repair project will be done in four to six weeks.