627 CES leads Morey Pond cleanup

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Divine Cox
  • Senior Airman Divine Cox
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  More than 20 volunteers from the 627th Civil Engineer Squadron gathered to cleanup Morey Pond on McChord Field, Feb. 27, on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

The volunteers spent the day clearing out more than one and a half acres of overgrown invasive species of plants growing along the banks of the pond.

"I was very excited that all the volunteers showed up," said Senior Airman Austin Knight, 627th CES structural journeyman. "This was a pretty big project and I am very appreciative for all the support we received."

Knight said he first noticed the problem back in November when he had to repair a fence near the pond.

"We noticed that the pond was completely dry and overgrown with plants," said Knight. "We knew that without proper care-taking, the area would only get worse as time goes by."

Knight teamed up with Senior Airman Cullen Davis, 627th CES structural journeyman, and planned and executed this morale, welfare, and recreation improvement project.

"Over the last year, it has become so overgrown with invasive species that it was overwhelming for the fish to survive and nearly impossible to fish from the banks," said Davis.

The main purpose for the Morey Pond cleanup is to eradicate the invasive species of plants growing along the banks.

"By removing the plant from the banks, this will create a better habitat for any fish that may be in the pond or any that may be stocked in the years to come," said Davis.

Morey Pond is located on McChord Field near Holiday Park, so JBLM service members and their families are allowed to go fishing in the pond.

"More importantly, when fish become a surplus here, the cleared banks will allow fisherman easier access to fish," said Knight. "The easier access will allow the fishermen access to the banks, which in turn controls the fish population."

Knight said that the drought from last summer plus the beavers damming up the pond's natural water source ultimately lead to the drying up of the pond and allowed the influx of plants to overtake the banks, creating an unlivable habitat for the fish.

"I cannot emphasize enough how proud I am of Airmen Knight and Davis for envisioning, planning and executing this MWR improvement project," said Maj. John Brindle, 627th CES operation flight commander. "Our Airmen use that pond for recreational fishing and it was truly a selfless act on their part to lead this cleanup."