Fish Habitat Below Table Rock Dam On Lake Taneycomo

[Phil Lilley]

I was very encouraged by the discussion last night at the TU meeting on adding fish habitat.

"Boulders" has always been thrown out in conversations as one habitat addition mainly because of the project at Beaver Tailwater. Boulders were add there. But boulders here on Taney run into opposition because of heavy boat traffic and the liability issue raised there.

My thought- "boulders" is the wrong term. When you think of boulders, you think of rocks 3 to 4 feet in diameter. I think the objective for using rocks in the stream bed is to change the flow of the water to create eddies and pockets for trout to hold, as well as food sources like minnows and bugs. It will also hold vegetation and that will also help the bug population.

Why not use small piles chunk rock along with wood matter plus clay and silt strategically placed where it would do the most good. Rock would divert water and create pockets, wood would help bugs like scuds and sow bugs and clay and silt would host midges and other bugs.

I've always said it would make a fantastic program for a fisheries department at MU or MSU to create a model that would be financially feasible and applicable for our tailwater. There is grant money always there for habitat improvement for Table Rock AND Taneycomo. With TU helping both financially and with volunteers, I think it's very feasible that something substantial would be done.

[twosets]

Hi Phil

Is there any discussion or merit in some redredging of the channel in the first mile or so below the dam?

What are the negatives of such an action?

[Bman]

I was very encouraged by the discussion last night at the TU meeting on adding fish habitat.

"Boulders" has always been thrown out in conversations as one habitat addition mainly because of the project at Beaver Tailwater. Boulders were add there. But boulders here on Taney run into opposition because of heavy boat traffic and the liability issue raised there.

Boaters have boulders and shallow water to get to the upper end...oh ya, and lets not forget REBAR. Not to mention wade fishermen.

I think it's an awesome idea, boulders and all.

[Phil Lilley]

The word "boulders" is a major drawback to the habitat restructuring. Way back when we were talking to the Corp about doing something and the word boulders was used, it would get a rise out of the marina operators as well as some guides. Boulders came from the Beaver Tailwater project but boulders in NOT what we need at all. Actually it's a word that opponents have used to squelch any notion of moving towards any real planning.

[soggyfeet]

I think a line of boulders just above MDC boat ramp would be nice.

[Bman]

The word "boulders" is a major drawback to the habitat restructuring. Way back when we were talking to the Corp about doing something and the word boulders was used, it would get a rise out of the marina operators as well as some guides. Boulders came from the Beaver Tailwater project but boulders in NOT what we need at all. Actually it's a word that opponents have used to squelch any notion of moving towards any real planning.

Thanks for the heads up. Then we don't use the "B" word.

You mentioned," a program for a fisheries department at MU or MSU to create a model that would be financially feasible and applicable for our tailwater. There is grant money always there for habitat improvement for Table Rock AND Taneycomo. With TU helping both financially and with volunteers, I think it's very feasible that something substantial would be done".

What a great idea, it would be great to get the ball rolling on improvements of this nature.

[troutchaser]

I think a great first step would be to get a good estimate of just how much bottom structure was lost this past spring, when the dam was running full-bore 24/7. Once we make a case for the need to replace what has been lost, we can start to recruit researchers from the university to help us with the placement of wing dikes, structure piles, bio-matter, etc.

[Tightline]

Boulders are exactly what you will need,anything less than a 3-4 ft rock will wash right on down.I work with rock every day,and have spent all summer trying to repair what the rains of 08 have destroyed.We would try to repair with smaller shot rock only to have the next rain wash it away.

If they used huge boulders say 4-6 ft tall ,boaters could see the wash and boil in high water with no problem.Plus the wash around these huge boulders would create alot of Oxygen in low water.

The only problem is where can we drive in a huge Track Hoe?

[Phil Lilley]

Basically what happened during the high water was gravel was washed off the banks into the lake, plus gravel was pushed downstream from one place to another. As far as the bottom area of the lake, when the water is off (no generation), I don't see that anything like you mentioned was actually lost. It wasn't there in the first place. No wing dikes have ever been constructed, or man-made structures except what anglers put at the outlets to guide the stream of water. Those things need to be added now.

But thanks for adding to the conversation. Those are just the things we need.

[troutchaser]

Sorry, Phil. I wasn't all that clear, was I?

What I mean is that if we can prove a case of habitat destruction, such as the loss of food supply (scuds, sow bugs, midges, etc.) we could persuade the right people/groups to help and fund the installation of wing dikes, biomatter clusters, etc.

Personally, I'm all for the idea. If we could provide feeding lanes, vegetation and deep pocket water, to name a few, we could really improve the upper Taneycomo area.