Fish Pond

(Click image for a larger view)

The empty pond

Sediment being removed

New wall under construction

The main fish pond for reproduction was constructed 14 years ago and has been in operation since that time. Over time this pond has collected significant amounts of sediment and is now causing problems because of its shallow depth as a result of the build up over the years. We now find it necessary to clean out and re-build this important pond structure.

We are doing this job now even though we have not yet been able to locate a sponsor for the project. The reason we must move on this project now is that March, April, and May is the only time of the year that we do not have heavy rains and this job can not be done during the rainy season.

The pond is for the reproduction of fish. We take the baby fish "alevines" from this pond, and move them to the fattening pond where we keep them till they are ready to be harvested.

The job required us to drain the water then dig half a meter (approximately a foot and a half) out of 14 years if deposited sediments on the bottom of the pond. Then we are rebuilding the concrete wall at one end of the pond and installing a new drainage system.

Once this pond is finished we just wait for the rains, which will start very soon, and the pond will soon be full of water again. At that time we will check the PH and water quality and, if everything is satisfactory, we will then select the new adult fish for reproduction purposes.

 

Complete

This photo illustrates the fishpond after 1999’s earthquake. The fishpond is one of the more important sections of Casa Guatemala’s educational farm, and also one of the hardest hit from the July 1999 earthquake. This fishpond helps produces a very important food source for the children and as such was scheduled as a capital project with a high priority. This photo illustrates the fishpond after March 2002 reconstruction. The Almaden Valley Rotary Club of San Jose Califonia www.avrotary.org, together with Club Rotario Guatemala Las Americas - led by Mr. Earl McIntosh - focused their attention after the disaster on the reconstruction of the pond. Thanks to their generosity, the fish pond has been rebuilt and the fish production is now back to normal. One of the main goals of Casa Guatemala’s educational farm is the production of food to feed the 250 children under their care. Part of this is achieved with the use of our fish hatchery’s three ponds. Two ponds are for the reproduction, and the third is to grow and fatten the fish. After eight months in the third pond, the fish are ready to be harvested. A warm thanks from all of us here at Casa Guatemala for their kind generosity.