Town of Gilbert Shares Wildlife Relocation Plan Ahead of Freestone Lake Drawdown

GILBERT, Ariz. - As part of the ongoing Urban Lakes Renovation project (PR0570), the Town of Gilbert is preparing to begin draining Freestone Lake in mid-August to allow liner replacement and other repairs needed to restore the lake's long-term health. Ahead of the drawdown, the project team wants to share how it is caring for the lake's wildlife population and address questions raised by residents.

"Freestone Lake's wildlife is part of what makes this park special, and the Town is committed to caring for them the right way during this critical infrastructure project," said Michael Elliott, Parks and Recreation Director. "We've been working in partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) to build a relocation plan for wildlife during construction and restoring the natural habitat when it is finished. This renovation is critical to the lake's long-term health and will restore the habitat so both the ecosystem and the wildlife that depend on it can thrive for years to come."

What is the current activity?

Before the lake can be drained, crews are dredging the lakebed, which removes accumulated silt, sand, and mud so that water can be repurposed to irrigate other areas of the park rather than going to waste. Once dredging is complete, the drawdown will begin, a process expected to take several weeks to fully lower the water level.

What Happens to the Wildlife

During construction, waterfowl like ducks, geese, cormorants, and herons will naturally relocate to nearby waters and are expected to return once the ponds are restored. Fish will be collected and relocated by AZGFD to another Gilbert water source, likely Water Ranch or Gilbert Regional Park. Non-native or non-approved species will be humanely managed per AZGFD guidelines, with many donated to wildlife centers. The Town has already paused restocking fish at Freestone Park for some time to reduce the lake's fish population ahead of the project.

As the water level drops over several weeks, the project team will get a clearer picture of how many turtles live in the lake and will begin safely removing them in coordination with wildlife experts.

Most of the turtles in Freestone Lake are not native to the habitat; many were released into the lake by residents over the years rather than occurring there naturally. Left unchecked, these non-native turtles outcompete and displace native wildlife, which is why the Arizona Game and Fish Department does not permit them to be released back into the lake once renovations are complete. As a result, the Town is looking to permanently relocate any non-native turtles in accordance with AZGFD guidelines. It's important to note that AZGFD code does not allow for wildlife to be adopted.

The Town has been working with two nonprofit sanctuaries on the relocation. The Phoenix Herpetology Sanctuary will accept up to 30 turtles for long-term care, and a local non-profit group, "Crystal's Critters," has agreed to accept additional turtles for long-term care.

Habitat Restoration

Once construction is complete, the Parks and Recreation team will work in partnership with AZGFD to restore the lake's habitat and reintroduce native species to the lake environment. Waterfowl are expected to return once water is restored.

Staying Informed

The Parks and Recreation team has been meeting with resident groups throughout the planning process and will continue share updates on our project website as the project continues.

"We appreciate the passion our residents have for this park and its wildlife," Michael Elliott added. "By partnering with the Phoenix Herpetology Sanctuary and Crystal's Critters, we're confident these turtles will find safe, appropriate homes."

Residents with questions about the project can call the Urban Lakes Renovation project hotline at 480-898-4090, email the project team directly at [email protected], or visit the project website for more information.