Today’s News Hearld Sept 3,2009
Dead carp could help other fish in Lake
May result in population boom for other species

By TONY WAGGONER
Wednesday, September 2, 2009 10:13 PM MST
The Koi Herpes Virus had a devastating effect on Havasu and Mohave lakes, but now the carp die-off could help other fish species in both lakes.

Arizona Game & Fish fisheries biologists estimate the virus killed more than 20,000 carp, as it made its way down the Colorado River in spring and summer this year.

“There is really no way to tell what percentage of the carp died, though,” said Russ Engle, Game & Fish Region 4 fisheries program manager. “It appeared to be significant, but on the other hand, we don’t know what the population was in Lake Havasu.”

Carp are bottom feeders, which means many of the other fish in Lake Havasu could see an increase in reproduction this year, said Zen Mocarski, spokesman for Game & Fish. Hatch rates and populations of other fish like bass, catfish, bluegills, sunfish and crappie should increase with less carp feeding on their eggs at the bottom of the lake.

Game & Fish fisheries specialist Mark Brown said another benefit to existing fish is the increase in nutrients in the water. He said the dead carp rotting in the water was like fertilizer to other fish.

But fisheries experts say don’t expect the carp to stay away for very long.

“I’m sure the carp will rebound,” Brown said. “There is a constant biomass of carp in the Lake. I don’t doubt they would come back.”

When that would happen is unknown. Brown said the season for the carp to spawn coincided with the onset of the virus this past spring.

“An event like this creates a void that is generally filled pretty quickly,” Engle said.

And there is a chance KHV could make its way back into the river next year. Both Engle and Brown say it is a possibility, but without knowing exactly what caused the virus in the first place — many have speculated it was the introduction of a diseased goldfish or koi, while others have said it could have been the water temperature — it is difficult to know if it would reoccur.

Brown said several years ago Clearlake, Calif., experienced an outbreak of KHV and have not reported anything since.

What fisheries experts do say is this was the first time they had ever seen KHV in the Colorado River, and Brown says the first time is usually the worst.

The activity level of the Lake Havasu City Real Estate Market is staying at a high level. Sales are being pushed by low prices and many First Time Home Buyers taking advantage of the Government Incentive Programs.

As you can see July sales of Single Family Homes was up almost 25% over last year.

Monthly Statistics Report 07/01/2009 - 07/31/2009
Lake Havasu Association of REALTORS Compiled on August 21, 2009

07/01/2009 - 07/31/2009 Change from 05/31/2009 - 06/30/2009 07/01/2008 - 07/31/2008 Change from 07/01/2008 - 07/31/2008 to 07/01/2009 - 07/31/2009
Residential
New Listings 233 10.43% 266 -12.41%
Sold Listings 147 -2.00% 102 44.12%
Volume - Sold Listings $27,907,548 6.59% $25,412,578 9.82%
Average Sale Price $189,847 8.77% $249,143 -23.80%
High Sale Price $1,125,000 70.45% $1,200,000 -6.25%
Low Sale Price $50,000 -1.96% $63,000 -20.63%
Average Days on Market 139 6.92% 154 -9.74%

Vacant Land
New Listings 133 114.52% 84 58.33%
Sold Listings 12 0.00% 9 33.33%
Volume - Sold Listings $935,075 -3.42% $1,230,420 -24.00%
Average Sale Price $77,923 -3.42% $136,713 -43.00%
High Sale Price $168,000 -37.75% $325,000 -48.31%
Low Sale Price $23,000 -23.33% $40,000 -42.50%
Average Days on Market 124 -52.85% 215 -42.33%

Commercial
New Listings 21 -12.50% 42 -50.00%
Sold Listings 6 200.00% 5 20.00%
Volume - Sold Listings $1,846,500 195.68% $829,900 122.50%
Average Sale Price $307,750 -1.44% $165,980 85.41%
High Sale Price $900,000 50.00% $590,000 52.54%
Low Sale Price $17,000 -30.61% $27,500 -38.18%
Average Days on Market 305 113.29% 332 -8.13%

Multi-Family
New Listings 14 -12.50% 12 16.67%
Sold Listings 3 -40.00% 2 50.00%
Volume - Sold Listings $381,000 -50.42% $440,000 -13.41%
Average Sale Price $127,000 -17.36% $220,000 -42.27%
High Sale Price $130,000 -33.98% $225,000 -42.22%
Low Sale Price $125,000 19.05% $215,000 -41.86%
Average Days on Market 181 13.84% 69 162.32%

Rental
New Listings 4 -42.86% 0 N/A
Sold Listings 0 N/A 0 N/A
Volume - Sold Listings $0 N/A $0 N/A
Average Sale Price $0 N/A $0 N/A
High Sale Price $0 N/A $0 N/A
Low Sale Price $0 N/A $0 N/A
Average Days on Market 0 N/A 0 N/A

Total
New Listings 405 26.56% 404 0.25%
Sold Listings 168 -0.59% 118 42.37%
Volume - Sold Listings $31,070,123 8.85% $27,912,898 11.31%
Average Sale Price $184,941 9.50% $236,550 -21.82%
High Sale Price $1,125,000 70.45% $1,200,000 -6.25%
Low Sale Price $17,000 -30.61% $27,500 -38.18%
Average Days on Market 145 3.57% 165 -12.12%

ALL INFORMATION DEEMED RELIABLE BUT NOT GUARANTEED

Residents might notice a few parking changes in Lake Havasu City in the coming weeks.
This is because of some approved changes to the city’s parking standards.
At the Aug. 11 City Council meeting, city staff requested the council vote to amend those standards. The council approved.
Included among these changes, are several new recreational vehicle standards.
The new standards eliminate the requirements for RV parking within multi-family residential developments.
City Planner Dan Kassik says the changes add some flexibility to the city’s existing standards.
He said in multi-family residential areas, such as a triplex or apartment complex, the RV spaces were rarely being used for that purpose. The city’s Planning & Zoning Commission had determined there was no reason to set a minimum mandatory 10 percent requirement for RVs any longer.This does not mean residents can’t park their RVs in multi-family residential zoning areas. It creates more space for regular parking, he said.
The standards for RV parking-space sizes have changed from 12-inch by 40-inch to 10-inch by 36-inch or any 360-square-foot area within commercial developments.
Each development must provide no more than 5 percent of its total required parking to motorcycle and small vehicles. The individual spaces must be 5-inches by 12-inches in size.
Public parking leases could allow for additional revenue for the city. Kassik said the lease allows businesses to meet the required amount of parking by leasing public spaces or lots from the city for additional parking spaces.
Kassik said the city hasn’t determined how much additional revenue the lease agreements could accrue, because each would be on a case-by-case basis.
Parking structure heights are now not to exceed 48 feet or the maximum height requirements allowed in a particular zoning district.
A transit improvement section added to the city’s development code does not mean mandatory improvements, Kassik said. It only allows for improvements in the future to bus pullouts, pads, shelters and other facilities in multi-family residential and commercial developments along planned transit routes.
Transportation demand management programs, such as carpooling, are what the city might also look toward in the future.
For instance, Kassik said a business could reduce their required parking spaces by showing proof of carpooling employees or ride sharing.
Transportation demand management programs are included in the new set of standards.
Businesses could provide bicycle parking spaces to reduce the number of parking spaces required. However, Kassik said there are a number of criteria for this type of parking.
“People just can’t stick up a sign that says bicycle parking,” he said.
A minimum of six bike parking spaces would be required with bike racks. This could eliminate two regular parking spaces.

Today’s News Herald
By Tony Waggoner
Wednesday, August 19, 2009