Fern Lake - HSU's Hidden Jewel By Matt Kapko Eye Correspondent 10-2-2001 Walking the scenic trail to Fern Lake between classes seems at first surreal. The isolated environment gives a feeling of being miles from the daily happenings at Humboldt State University. The trailhead just behind the HSU tennis courts leads to Fern Lake. The vast open land around the lake serves as a frisbee golf course and joins with the Arcata Community Forest. The pier leading to the middle of the oval-shaped lake offers a panoramic view of the ideal picnic spot. Sunrays radiate off the water -- forcing steam to rise. The lake's edge offers dense redwoods and rocky shorelines. Silence and a peaceful mood lend itself to the occasional fish jumping to the waters surface. Fern Lake was built between 1960 and 1961 as the United States first re-circulating fish hatchery. HSU offers one of the few universities with an on-campus fish hatchery -- re-circulating 900 gallons of water each minute. "Its function is to supply water to the fish hatchery," said Dr. Eric Loudenslager, manager of the fish hatchery. Fern Lake teams with the fish-rearing facilities including: "…an earthen brood pond, concrete raceways, circular ponds, fiberglass circular tanks, and hatching troughs," said the HSU website. The lake is a reservoir that draws water from a small creek, which has been dammed to control the flow. The lake's role in the program has lessened as modern facilities are added. In the past it served as location for Lumberjack Days, an annual HSU festival. Log rolling was one of the main attractions at the festival. Alcohol-related problems eventually caused the demise of Lumberjack Days, said Sean Kerns, Director of University Communications. There is no fishing at Fern Lake. In fact, the Fish Hatchery tries to remove any noticeable fish from the lake, said Loudenslager. Carved into thick forest, the lake serves as a water hazard to the frisbee golf course. The HSU Forestry club also uses the lake for various activities -- even log rolling. Stopping for lunch at the lake, a student uses it as a shortcut between school and his job at the Redwood Sciences Laboratory. Operated by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service the laboratory conducts watershed, wildlife, and fisheries research. Others come to relax and enjoy the lake's allure. Runners frequent the weaving trails that circle the lakes perimeter. The more adventurous may brave the murky waters for a swim, but more likely to retrieve their frisbee that took a wrong turn. Home