Fish at Valley condo complex found dead in pond

PHOENIX, AZ - People living in a condominium complex in the north Valley are upset over the deaths of several fish in a pond.

The pond was currently being drained by the management company for the Mountain View Lakes Condos near 7th Street and the Union Hills Road in Phoenix.

A spokesperson for Snow Property Services claims they did all they could to try and save the fish but neighbors say more could have been done.

Owner Dustin Snow tells ABC15 they first put up flyers around the complex stating that people could take the fish and that fishing was permitted.

Snow also claims workers transported some fish to a neighboring pond.

But despite the efforts of the management company, Snow concedes some fish did end up dying.

Saturday, the fish could be seen swimming in about a foot of water in a pond that's being drained to remove all the sediment on the bottom. 24 hours later, all the fish had died.

As a result, some of the people who live at the complex are upset. They say more should have been done to keep the fish alive.

"It's horrible," said neighbor G.D. Kelly. "The smell, everything. It's horrible."

"I understand there are 10 dead fish in the top basin," responded Snow. "According to my lake management consultant, that is not uncommon and is to be expected. So I'd say we're right on track with what we're trying to accomplish here."

Snow says the plan is to let all the mud from the bottom of the pond dry out and then haul it away.

Workers will then refill it with water and stock it with fish again.

Snow didn't have an exact timetable as to when it'll be finished but he's hopeful to have everything done sometime this fall.