Floating pads nearly cover the pond as Canada geese line the waters edge at East Lake Park.Chattanooga has moved closer to launching a major cleanup of East Lake Park pond and says it wants to address residents’ concerns about how that will take shape.
A recent letter sent to Mayor Andy Berke from attorney Christopher Jones calls for the city to refrain from removing any ducks or geese as part of the cleanup. Jones said he represents people and families who visit the park to observe and interact with the waterfowl.
In May, Chattanooga water quality specialist Jennifer Norton told the City Council that excessive algae, lily pads and geese have caused an ecological imbalance at the park.
“The pond is in disarray,” Norton said. “It needs to be restored. We need education for [people to] stop feeding the ducks and the geese and see what that looks like long term.”
Marissa Bell, a spokeswoman for the mayor’s office, said in an email that the Public Works Division’s Water Quality Program is currently gathering feedback from citizens concerning needed improvements by means of a community survey, which can be accessed online at www.chattanooga.gov/ eastlakepark.