Lorin Hicks, Sun Lakes Fly Fishing Club Member

Many Sun Lakes residents live, bike, and walk around the five Cottonwood Country Club lakes and are unaware that the five lakes support thriving fish populations.

I recently met with Steve Hardesty, Cottonwood Palo Verde (CWPV) General Manager, and Scott Anderson, CWPV Golf Course and Common Area Manager. Part of their responsibilities is to manage multiple water bodies that lie in the common areas and golf courses. Their tasks include chemical algae and insect control, pump and pipeline maintenance, removal of floating algae mats, and fish stocking.

Water input to the lakes comes from two wells, managed by Pima Utility Company. The water sources date back to days before Sun Lakes was constructed and the area supported irrigated cotton fields.

CWPV managers and greenkeepers also rely on Balanced Aquatics Consultants, a Chandler-based firm that provides water management support for the many water bodies found in Sun Lakes. Maintenance activities on the lakes include application of dye to reduce sunlight penetration that inhibits algae growth. A larvicide chemical is added to the water to keep the midge and mosquito larva from becoming biting adults.

Of particular interest to fishers is the annual stocking of fish in the CWPV common area and golf course lakes. Over 21,000 fish were placed in the lakes this year. Stocking usually occurs between January and March of each year. Species of fish include white amurs (also known as grass carp) that help control algae and plant growth in the lakes. Also included are bluegills, goldfish, minnows, and channel catfish. The size of fish introduced to the lakes ranges from 10-inch carp, 8-inch catfish, and smaller sizes of bluegill, goldfish, and minnows.

Fishing is open to all CWPV residents year round, and both spin fishing and fly casting equipment is allowed. No license or permit is required. Fishers may have some competition from herons, cormorants, egrets, and the occasional bald eagle that frequent the lakes.

Historically, the CWPV management team has supported the Sun Lakes Fly Fishing Club (SLFFC) by allowing the club to host disabled veterans with Project Healing Waters (PHW) by bringing them in to fish the CWVP lakes. This relationship was started over eight years ago and continues today, and is well appreciated by the club’s president, George Abernathy.

The SLFFC has two goals: Keep our lines wet and support the disabled veterans. This year alone, the club has sponsored several events and has given them $6,000 in cash. Much of this cash is derived from the sale of fishing and camping equipment donations that we receive from Sun Lakes residents. If you have either gathering dust and would like to donate it to an outstanding cause, please contact George Abernathy at [email protected] or 480-521-1060.