demonicvanguard
Cadet
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2002
- Messages
- 16
Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery <br />Lake Taneycomo will be getting 52,500 rainbows in March, up from 38,500 in February. We are scheduled to get about 21,000 of those from the federal hatchery at Neosho and the rest from Shepherd of the Hills. Taneycomo did get a load of brood stock rainbows in mid-February of about 200. They were spread out from Ozark Beach up to Taneycomo Terrace, just above Branson. We haven't seen any caught as of today. We are also scheduled to get another load sometime in March. <br /><br />Minimum Flow <br /><br />I reported last month that MDC has put increasing the minimum flow below Table Rock Dam back on the front burner. I also reported that MDC had assigned a guy name Del Rob to work on the project. Since then I've found out the following information on the issue. <br /><br />First alittle background information for those who are newcommers to the TTT. Increasing the minimum flow on Lake Taneycomo would mean just that- increasing the flow from the dam from when the water is "off". When the water is "off" there is still water flowing from the dam- but very little. If you've fished the extreme upper end by the hatchery outlets, there is almost always a slight current. At the rebar hole (Lake Map), there is a rush of water at the shoot. Increasing the flow would increase the level and the speed of this flow considerably. Why? The objective it to cover more gravel with water, to increase the ability to harvest more aquatic life- food for our trout. The study would tell MDC at what level of increase would give them the best optimum results- 12 inches? 18 inches? And then translate that into cfs (cubic feet per second). Right now, at minimum flow we get about 50 cfs of water. <br /><br />Why is it such a big deal to get changed? First we are working with government- on all sides. The US Army Corp of Engineers are the operators of the dam facility, Southwest Power Administration tells the Corp how to run the dam (brokers the power) and the Missouri Department of Conservation is generating the study that will request the Corp and SPA to change their operating proceedures. Simple?! Not hardly!! Now throw into the picture Arkansas State Fish and Game Commission and the rest of the tailwaters in the White River system. They have to be included in the plans because the addtional water we are requesting has to come from Arkansas and return to Arkansas. And Arkansas F&G is trying to do the same thing below their dams- at Beaver and Bull Shoals. They reportedly have their "ducks in a row" and are waiting on MDC to finish their studies so everyone can proceed. <br /><br />Concern citizens here in Taney County been talking "minimum flow" for years- local groups like Friends of Lake Taneycomo have been pushing for change for over a decade with very little result. We were told at a public meeting five years ago (SPA, DNR, MDC, US Corp) that we (local business people and fishermen) were lucky to have any sort of consideration from SPA or the Corp because according to the law, they (SPA and the Corp) didn't have to give us anything (speaking about the low levels of oxygen in the fall months in the tailwaters. The Corp and SPA fund a program that injects liquid o2 into our tailwater. If they didn't, almost everything in the tailwater would die from lack of oxygen, including ALL fish). It's true, by law, government controled hydro facilities priority list reads as follows: <br /> 1. Flood Control. <br /> 2. Power Demand. <br /> 3. Recreation and Wildlife. <br />"If we wanted changes, we (the public) would have to fund them." That would involve millions of dollars at that time. But since then, environmental groups in other parts of the country have won court cases in which dam operators were found to be responsible for damage to the envionment either below or above the dam. And the dam operators are responsible for fixing it- even if it means removing the dam, which has happened out west- I think Oregon. Thus, enities like SPA and the Corp have warmed up to the idea of working with state governments to enhance enviornmental issues like low DO (dissolved oxygen) and minimum flow. <br /><br />So this issue of increasing our minimum flow is now a reality. The Corp and SPA has shown they are willing to look at solutions and it will cost them. Increasing the minimum flow below any of these dams will not be easy for the Corp. Just increasing the flow using the existing turbines will cause unusual wear and tear on the units so I'm sure they are looking for alternative ways to provide water for this. And the simple fact is that this water is money for SPA and the Corp- they really don't want to just let it thru without benefiting from its use. <br /><br />We have been told now that it'll be at least a year before MDC finishes their results on minimum flow. May be that's the light at the end of the tunnell- we'll see. <br /> <br />I hope you will come and join us....And please bring your own women and beer!