By Doug Fletcher,Staff Writer

GREENE – Townspeople are lobbying the state to resume stocking Allen Pond with trout.

“It’s not for me,” said Selectman Mark Christman.”It’s for the people, and especially for the kids.”

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin was joined by a handful of other IF&W officials Wednesday as he toured a public access site to the pond at the end of Thomas Road.

Christman was there as well. So were other town officials and state Rep. Scott Lansley, R-Sabattus. All were trying to persuade Martin to have the department he leads reverse its decision not to stock the pond.

That action followed last year’s sale of Allen Pond Campground to a developer who plans to put up houses. The boat launch at the campground was closed to the public as a result.

Christman, however, contends the town-owned deeded access off Thomas Road can serve the needs of anglers.

“You can launch a canoe, a kayak, a car-topped boat there easy,” he said.

Christman said Martin agreed to review the state’s access policies to see if the site is sufficient. He also noted, however, that since Allen Pond doesn’t have boat motor horsepower limits, a bigger launch might be required by the state to resume stocking.

“We’re trying to stress that we don’t need a boat launch to stock the pond,” said Diane Dubois, the president of the Allen Pond Improvement Association.

Christman said the town is willing to make improvements to the existing access point. He said three to four vehicles can park there now, and perhaps more could be accommodated. But he also pointed out that the area isn’t heavily used.

“Ice fishing is popular,” he said, “but the pond isn’t heavily fished during the summer.”

He said Lansley has agreed to act as a go-between for townspeople and state officials, and expects to speak with Martin again sometime next week on the issue.

The pond hasn’t been stocked since last spring.

“I’d like to encourage sportsmen and others to write to Danny Martin and thank him for his interest and for coming to see the access point,” Christman said. “I hope they’ll also ask the commissioner to support resumption of stocking the pond. I just want to do the right thing for the people.”