What
started as a way to calm racial tensions, has evolved into a very successful recreational
program that provides thousands of St. Louisans with fishing enjoyment. The St.
Louis Urban Fishing Program (UFP) is 30 years-old in 1999 and has come of age.
From it's humble, five-lake beginning in 1969, today's UFP encompasses 24 park
lakes in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ferguson, and Ballwin. Split into two
components (sportfishing and fishing clinic lakes), the St. Louis UFP has remained
true to its original mission — provide quality close-to-home fishing opportunities
for St. Louis anglers. To interest future anglers in close-to-home fishing, Urban
Fishing Clinics (UFCs) were added. They are a real-life adaptation of the saying,
"Give a (child) a fish and he (or she) will have food for a day. Teach a
(child) to fish and he (or she) will have food (and fun) for a life time."
More recently, UFCs for recovering hospital patients and establishing St. Louis
county Locations have been included.
The late 1960s witnessed unusually high civil unrest in urban areas which caused
governmental agencies to think of ways to solve urban problems. One of the remedies
included creating outdoor recreational activities. So, in 1969, the U.S. Bureau
of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife (USBSFW) developed urban fishing pilot programs
in six cities (Boston, Washington, D.C.; Portland, Ft. Worth, Atlanta, and St.
Louis). The St. Louis program was a cooperative venture that included the Missouri
Department of Conservation (MDC) and St. Louis City.
From the beginning, the St. Louis UFP was a big success. Of the six pilot cities,
80% of the total fishing participation was in St. Louis. Over 70,000 days of fishing
took place, with about 50% of the anglers living close enough to walk to their
favorite lake. That high degree of popularity continues today, with over 185,000
hours of fishing taking place each year. When figured on a per acre basis, that's
15 times higher than Lake of the Ozarks!
In
1969, $9,000 was spent for 36,000 pounds of UFP fish (mostly bullheads and carp)
for the fledgling program. MDC currently spends more than $60,000 dollars to stock
80,000 pounds of bullheads, channel catfish, carp, and rainbow trout. Also, MDC
has established naturally-reproducing populations of largemouth bass and bluegill
in seven lakes. In its 30 years of service to St. Louisans, the UFP has spent
over $1.1 million on two million pounds of fish.
In 1972, the USBSFW terminated its involvement with UFPs. Seeing the benefits
of the program, MDC continued its cooperation. Passage of the Missouri Conservation
Sales tax allowed MDC to hire fishery biologists (including one in St. Louis)
to administer the program. With the help of the conservation tax, St. Louis fishery
biologists have expanded UFP to include 22 sportfishing lakes. Fishing clinic
lakes provide high-quality fishing for first-time anglers. In addition, channel
catfish now make up the majority of UFP stocking, while 11 UFP and 5 Busch CA
lakes also host winter trout fishing.
In 1993, MDC signed agreements with St. Louis City and St. Louis County to improve
27 park lakes (most are UFP lakes). These agreements pledged over $2 million to
deepen and aerate lakes, stabilize lake banks, and improve disabled-angler trails,
docks and parking. Similar agreements were signed with the cities of Ballwin and
Ferguson. Projects on 10 lakes have been completed.
In 1994, the first addition of FISH ST. LOUIS hit the streets. This
brochure continues to outline locations of public boat ramps and fishing lakes
in St. Louis, St. Charles, and Jefferson counties and is available from the Powder
Valley (314/301-1500) and St. Louis Regional (314/441-4554) offices. A fish stocking
hotline (636/300-9651) has been developed, to announce details of each UFP stocking
immediately after its completion. This toll-free hotline is available 24 hours
a day, 365 days/year.
But,
the St. Louis UFP is not standing on its laurels. The future calls for more trout,
more lake renovations, and increased urban fishing clinic opportunities. After
its renovation, Jefferson Lake in Forest Park will be the last UFP lake added
to the Winter Trout Program. Also, the improved fish habitat will allow MDC to
establish naturally-reproducing largemouth bass, bluegill, and redear sunfish
populations.
Next up for lake renovation is Horseshoe Lake in Carondelet Park and Fairgrounds
Park Lake. They will be drained, deepened, and have fish habitat installed. Also,
disabled-angler access will be improved and aeration added. Upon completion of
the Fairgrounds renovation, only seven (from the original list of 18) projects
will remain.
In years to come, MDC will be taking on more ambitious plans to improve and increase
urban fishing and aquatic education opportunities. In cooperation with St. Louis
City, an aquatic education center and doubling of urban fishing clinic ponds are
planned for a section of Forest Park. Development plans include renovation of
four fishing lakes, creation of disabled-angler facilities, and a successional
wetland. In north St. Louis County, development plans for the Bellefontaine Conservation
Area include construction of three clinic ponds, a pavillion, restrooms, and disabled-angler
facilities. An aquatic education site is also being added to Suson Park in south
St. Louis County. These developments will provide outdoor recreation for kids
and therapeutic patients, educating them on the importance of aquatic conservation.
The St. Louis Urban Fishing Program has given St. Louis anglers many thrills in
the past and promises more of the same in the future. UFP continues to invite
anglers to wet a line in their own backyard. And in the process, it has helped
St. Louis area fishing come of age.
What
started as a way to calm racial tensions, has evolved into a very successful recreational
program that provides thousands of St. Louisans with fishing enjoyment. The St.
Louis Urban Fishing Program (UFP) is 30 years-old in 1999 and has come of age.
In
1969, $9,000 was spent for 36,000 pounds of UFP fish (mostly bullheads and carp)
for the fledgling program. MDC currently spends more than $60,000 dollars to stock
80,000 pounds of bullheads, channel catfish, carp, and rainbow trout. Also, MDC
has established naturally-reproducing populations of largemouth bass and bluegill
in seven lakes. In its 30 years of service to St. Louisans, the UFP has spent
over $1.1 million on two million pounds of fish.
But,
the St. Louis UFP is not standing on its laurels. The future calls for more trout,
more lake renovations, and increased urban fishing clinic opportunities. After
its renovation, Jefferson Lake in Forest Park will be the last UFP lake added
to the Winter Trout Program. Also, the improved fish habitat will allow MDC to
establish naturally-reproducing largemouth bass, bluegill, and redear sunfish
populations.