Base officials extend base lake catch and release policy Published April 12, 2012 LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- Base officials have extended the temporary catch and release fishing policy for both base lakes until further notice. Continuation of the catch and release policy is recommended by the Arkansas Department of Health in March after further testing revealed elevated levels of lead and mercury in the fish population of the base lake. The source of the contamination is unknown at this time, but testing is on-going to determine the source. "These are precautionary catch and release measures. For most individuals consuming fish from the base lake will not cause any problems, but the sensitive population -- young children, pregnant and breastfeeding women -- should not consume the fish," said Capt. Jessica Le, base military public health officer. There is no immediate health concern for those who have caught and consumed fish caught from the base lake, according to base public health officials. However, based on this preliminary data, extending the catch and release measure will allow base health and environmental experts to conduct further testing on the base lakes' soil, water and fish. Testing by the U.S. Geological Survey released to base bioenvironmental officials in early January indicated elevated levels of trace metals in tiny bluegill fish and the lake's sediment. The further analysis of the preliminary data by the state health department found levels of arsenic, nickel, manganese and zinc to be in the normal range for fish fillets. For more information, call Public Health at 987-7209.