On Apr 1, 2016, at 1:13 PM, Jennie Rambo <Jennie.Rambo@gilbertaz.gov> wrote:

Tom,

Thank you for contacting us about the ducks at The Riparian Sanctuary at Neely Ranch.  The Wastewater Division staff responded first thing this morning by removing dead ducks to prevent further spread of the disease.  They were able to rescue one sick duck and Parks transported the duck to an avian veterinarian for care.  Wastewater and Parks staff will continue to monitor the recharge ponds and Town lakes for any sign of sick birds. Your message to staff likely helped save other birds, had the condition gone unchecked.   Please feel free to contact me directly at (480) 797-2019 or the Park Ranger on duty at (480) 503-6263 if you observe wildlife in distress at Gilbert facilities.  Thank you again.

Jennie

Jennie Rambo
Naturalist
Gilbert Parks and Recreation
(480)797-2019 cell

Jennie,

I’m glad to have helped. I hope early action can prevent a major die-off.
You may know that I wrote a book about the Neely Ponds. It’s here if you’re curious:
http://tomhascallcole.com/NewE&CBook6x9August24Small.pdf
There’s a little about the year 2000 die-off on pages 27 and 28.
Also, I have more than twenty years of data on the Neely ponds here:
http://tomhascallcole.com/elliotandcooperrelaypage.html

Yours,

Tom

PS: Why is the Higley and Ocotillo site all dried up?

******************************************
OH, HERE'S A RELATED EMAIL ABOUT BRUSH CLEARING
NEW

October 14, 2019
Hi, Jennie,

From the email below you will be reminded of our communication before. 

I’m writing because I have gone to the Neely Site since 1995, 1463 times and have recorded 19,865 birds there. The problem is that now it’s getting so overgrown that you have a limited view of even Pond 9 right next to the parking lot. From the viewing area up the sidewalk, you can still see into Pond 10, but the view into Pond 8, which used to be the primary viewing pond is completely blocked by paloverde trees and brush. You can’t see the MAIN VIEWING AREA at all.

These are the only three ponds that still contain water and they remain good birding areas. However, the uncontrolled growth and lack of maintenance of the site makes viewing either difficult or impossible. 

It’s a shame because just on the 11th and 12th I saw Long-billed Dowitchers (the bird I visited the site first to see in 1995), least sandpipers, white-faced ibises, greater yellowlegs, and many more birds at Neely.

I remember years ago asking Scott Anderson to take action on this and he did—Pond 8 was visible again and so were the others. 

I was wondering if you knew how to help in a similar way. 

Yours,

Tom Cole

October 15, 2019
Hi Tom,

Thank you for contacting me about the Riparian Sanctuary at Neely Ranch.  I, too, think it is very important to maintain viewing areas into the ponds from the public area.  I have contacted a staff member in Wastewater since they maintain the site.  I will ask them what they think is practical for reopening the viewing areas in the near future and let you know their plans.  Please feel free to contact me for other questions/suggestions.  And feel free to share any birding observations.  Thanks,

Jennie

Sent from my iPhone

I reply GREAT!

THEN: OCT 16, 2019

Tom,

I was told by Wastewater staff that they plan on opening viewing areas at Neely in the autumn or winter when workload permits.  Feel free to contact me about updates.

Jennie

Sent from my iPhone

HERE'S THE 2013 EMAIL ABOUT BRUSH TO SCOTT ANDERSON

From: Scott Anderson <Scott.Anderson@gilbertaz.gov>
Subject: RE: Trees in Front of Pond Eight
Date: June 25, 2013 at 12:06:19 PM MST
To: Tom Cole <tom.cole@asu.edu>

Thanks.

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Cole [mailto:tom.cole@asu.edu]
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 5:17 PM
To: Scott Anderson
Subject: Re: Trees in Front of Pond Eight

Scott,

Just a note to say that they did cut a whole lot more down. You can see well into the pond with only one tall paloverde in the middle.
This is a great improvement!

I think the paloverde tree will get bushy after a time and they'll have to diddle with it again, but it's good enough now. Perhaps they thought it was pretty. That kind of tree is sort of a weed if you ask me.

At any rate, thanks very much for getting the view cleared!

Yours,

Tom


On May 15, 2013, at 11:32 AM, Tom Cole wrote:

Scott,
That's good. It really became totally blocked and you could hardly see in at all. Before they cut down that little bit, I peered in through  a slit and saw a Wilson's phalarope female swimming there. A few years ago the workers promised they were going to cut down the trees, but they cut down a lot of other stuff instead.

I made a little cardboard toad stairway, so the toads didn't die in that cement pit. Someone tore it up and the next day there were four dead toads in there. I made a new one out of duct tape.

Tom


On May 13, 2013, at 7:39 AM, Scott Anderson wrote:

Tom,  Thanks for the reminder.  I was over there a few weeks ago and meant to let the Wastewater people know we need to remove some trees blocking the viewing ramada.  I will send off a reminder to them today.  Great article!  Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Cole [mailto:Tom.Cole@asu.edu]
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2013 5:32 PM
To: Scott Anderson
Subject: Trees in Front of Pond Eight

Scott,

I think you remember me. The story about me in the Republic was right next to the one you wrote.

I have been meaning to ask you how one might get the trees in front of Pond Eight at Elliot and Cooper Roads cut down.  From the main viewing area behind the fire station, the pond has been almost completely blocked by paloverde trees.  Someone has just cut down one or two of them, and you can now see into the area a little. However, the job is far from done.

As you know, I go there a lot and would like to be able to see in better.

I don't know if you really have any control over this, but there still is a viewing area and it doesn't make sense to have one if the trees are blocking the view.

Tell me what you think.

Thanks,

Tom Cole

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