BOZEMAN POND 

BOZEMAN POND PICTURES

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The Bozeman Pond is owned by the State of Montana and is under the jurisdiction of the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department. However, it is presently managed by the City of Bozeman Parks Division through a lease agreement.

The ponds were originally created as a result of digging for material for the construction of Huffine in 1952. There were originally 3 ponds, separated by land dikes, and FWP began to stock these with brood stock from the fisheries around soon after they were developed. This became a popular spot for anglers of all ages, but the State lacked the funding to sufficiently maintain the "Park". A vault toilet was installed as well as trash cans between the ponds, but little else was done to maintain the area. The property extended from Huffine to W. Babcock, with a narrow strip from the middle of the park, about 135 feet wide, running along what is now Fowler. For many years, the State used the west edge of the property as a landing strip for FWP planes The south end along Huffine was sold in the early 80's and the old airstrip was sold in the 90's.The original entrance to the park was between the Quonset hut and the Woolen Shop on Huffine, but was abandoned, as per agreement with the sale of the south end piece, when the present Park was constructed and the entrance moved to Fowler. The Quonset hut that sits on Huffine was the old FWP offices.

 The pond receives its water supply through springs, the most active ones being in the SE corner and along the south beach. The outflow is located on the north side of the pond, just west of the north side beach, but was originally in the NE corner on of the Pond. It was relocated during the reconstruction of the Pond. This channel eventually meets up with the ditch which runs along Fowler. The pond receives no water from the ditch itself.

In 1994 the Breakfast Optimists approached the City of Bozeman and the FWP about the possibility of improving the Park. The Optimists, City of Bozeman and the State FWP began working together on a lease agreement between the City and the State, and a plan for construction of a new park. The City now leases the Park for one dollar a year from the State. The Optimists conducted fund raisers, received donations of materials, work and capital, and obtained funding from the City of Bozeman through its Park Fund Grant Program, which requires matching funds. Joe Urbani and Associates donated many hours of their services to help design the overall shape of the Pond, as well as the bottom contours. The 3 ponds were completely drained, the land dikes removed and the bottom deepened and contoured to varying levels, much of this work being donated by Simes Construction, to provide different temperature and oxygen zones for fish. Large logs were anchored to the bottom and boulders placed to provide shelter for fish. Wetland areas in the SW and NW corners were developed to provide a natural food source. The small island in the Pond is the only thing left of the land dikes. Once the Pond was completed and filled, the final grading of the ground was done and the pavilion, restrooms and parking lot were built. There is an underground irrigation system, which is supplied with water from the Pond, and  there are 2 volleyball courts east of the restrooms.

The FWP continues to stock the Pond with Native Cutthroat fingerlings and brood stock. The intention was to maintain the Pond as a "pure" Cutthroat fishery but unfortunately people have introduced other undesirable species of fish into the Pond. The Optimist Club holds its annual Fishing Derby at the Pond as it has for many years. The Bozeman Pond is one of Bozeman's most popular parks and is the only park that has a designated "Canine Beach". Without the tireless efforts of the Breakfast Optimist Club this Park would probably not exist.

LOCATION:                   FOWLER LN. & HUFFINE LN.

ACRES:                         16.5

DEVELOPED:                  YES

PLAYGROUND:              NO

SHELTER:                      YES

TRAILS:                         YES

BEACH:                         YES

IRRIGATION:                 YES

RESTROOMS:                 YES

WATER FOUNTAIN:       YES

SIDEWALK:                    NO

SPORTS:                       VOLLEYBALL, FISHING, SWIMMING

TYPE:                           COMMUNITY PARK