Springville Pond
An Osprey Captures Dinner on Springville Pond
Springville Pond, located in the Village of Plover, is an 18 acre impoundment of the Little Plover River formed by a dam built over 100 years ago. The pond has an estimated volume of 107.3 acre-feet, a maximum depth of 12 feet, and bottom materials of sand with some silt. The lower part of the pond has been dredged, but the upper end has not. This part of the pond has muck overlying the sandy substrate. The shoreline has seen extensive urban development in the recent past. The Little Plover River is navigable both above and below the dam. In recent years the Little Plover River has experienced historic low flows of water that has even resulted in some sections being completely dewatered. There is a small park on the south side of the pond with public carry-in boating access. Motors are not allowed on the Pond. Eurasian water-milfoil is an invasive aquatic plant that recently began having a significant impact on the aquatic plant community and ecosystem along with curly leaf pondweed.
Under normal conditions, the pond supports a wide variety of wildlife including several species of ducks, kingfishers, Green and Blue Herons, Osprey, turtles, frogs, a variety of fish and even an occasional otter. The fishery in Springville Pond consists of large mouth bass, panfish, and trout.
Over the last 30 years the average flow rate of the Little Plover River has been 10 cubic feet per second (cfs). Since May 2005 (except for a brief snow melt period early in 2010) the flow rate in the Little Plover River has not been greater than 4 cfs and has dropped to lower than 2 cfs on several occasions. In both 2005 and 2006 parts of the Little Plover went dry--and these sections would have gone dry in 2007 and 2008 had not augmentation been used. When river flow rates into Springville Pond fall below 4 cfs, the level in the pond drops daily even with all the gates in the dam closed.
There are 59 riparian landowners living along the banks of the pond
The Little Plover River's flow rate is of great concern to Springville Pond residents. A 2007 survey concerning the water quality in Springville Pond, distributed to riparian landowners, indicated the residents believed the dramatic decrease in the Little Plover River's flow rate was the number one contributing factor to the decline in the Pond’s water quality.
The survey results also indicated that pond residents are concerned that the low flow rates in the Little Plover River have accelerated other factors such as the and rapid growth of invasive non-native plant species that have diminished the water quality in the pond.
The Springville Pond Management Committee, a Village of Plover committee, was formed in 1986. Its members are appointed by the Village of Plover President.
Current members of the Committee are:
- Patrick Martin, Committee Chairman - Riparian landowner
- Steve Anderson - Riparian landowner
- Mike Kochinski - Riparian landowner
- Jason Naffe - Riparian landowner
- Dave Worzella - Riparian landowner
- Tom Davies - Village of Plover Board member
- Fred LaRosa - Village of Plover Board member