White River Before The Dams

[Al Agnew]

Yeah, I saw his name but didn't remember if it was on this trip or just on the list of people who fished the White.

I often wonder just how long these dams will last. I don't expect the dams to collapse, but from what I've read, it's estimated that it will take about 100 years for the average lake behind a high dam to fill in almost completely with silt.

I also wonder how long it would take for the landscape along the river, and the river itself, to return to some semblance of "natural" if a big dam was removed.

If you read my latest piece in the short stories section, you'll know how involved I was in the Meramec Dam controversy. At least that was one dam that was stopped. In fact, during the height of the dam building era, dams were proposed for nearly every large stream in the Ozarks. The Gasconade had two dams planned which would have also backed far up into the Osage Fork, Little Piney, and Big Piney. The Bourbeuse had two dams planned. Big River had two planned. FIVE were proposed for the Current, which would have left just about zero miles of it un-submerged. There was one planned for the Eleven Point in AR that would have backed water up to well above Riverton. Three were proposed for the Buffalo. There was one planned for the White above Batesville that would have backed water up to the Buffalo.

The dams on Big River and the Bourbeuse got fairly far along into the planning process, as did the one on the Eleven Point. The threat of dams on the Current and Buffalo were a major reason that they became national rivers.

[Justin Spencer]

it will take about 100 years for the average lake behind a high dam to fill in almost completely with silt.

Not exactly sure when Norfork and Bull Shoals were built (late 40's early 50's I believe)so they have been there 60 years or so. Still pretty deep don't see them filling in in 40 years, but if I make it to 76 I guess I'll have my answer. I'm sure topography and erosion plays a major role in how quick these will fill in and some will fill quicker than others.

I also wonder how long it would take for the landscape along the river, and the river itself, to return to some semblance of "natural" if a big dam was removed.

That is an interesting question, bet it would get back pretty quick, think of the old home places that can now be found in mature forests, in the grand scheme of things even if it took 100 years that's pretty quick as far as the earth is concerned.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I would love to fish the White before the dams were built. I bet it awesome.

I think most people who don't like tailwater trout just aren't very good fisherman. They have trouble catching fish and to make themselves feel better they say they don't like it. Like Wayne said they are bigger and wilder and some guys just can't catch big, wild fish.

SIO3

[ozark trout fisher]

I would love to fish the White before the dams were built. I bet it awesome.

I think most people who don't like tailwater trout just aren't very good fisherman. They have trouble catching fish and to make themselves feel better they say they don't like it. Like Wayne said they are bigger and wilder and some guys just can't catch big, wild fish.

SIO3

That's not why I don't like them. I've caught lots of fish each time I have fished a tailwater. I just never enjoyed it much for the reason mentioned above.

Maybe I am too negative about it, but when I see a dam and a reservoir, I just think of what is under there, what used to exist before we messed it up. Being on tailwaters has always deeply unsatisfying for me, because I know what was lost for that fishery. Or rather, I'll never know.

[flytyer57]

That's not why I don't like them. I've caught lots of fish each time I have fished a tailwater. I just never enjoyed it much for the reason mentioned above.

Maybe I am too negative about it, but when I see a dam and a reservoir, I just think of what is under there, what used to exist before we messed it up. Being on tailwaters has always deeply unsatisfying for me, because I know what was lost for that fishery. Or rather, I'll never know.

Lord grant me the serentiy to accept the things I cannot change.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Don't ever take down the dams!!!!!!!!! You do that and then I will have to share all of these rivers and creeks with all of them Yahoo's! No thanks.

[Al Agnew]

Don't ever take down the dams!!!!!!!!! You do that and then I will have to share all of these rivers and creeks with all of them Yahoo's! No thanks.

Can't disagree with that. Of course, if I could wave a magic wand, I'd not only remove all the dams but all the motorheads using the lakes that would otherwise be on my streams!

[Smalliebigs]

Don't ever take down the dams!!!!!!!!! You do that and then I will have to share all of these rivers and creeks with all of them Yahoo's! No thanks.

Awsome....I love it.

[fishinwrench]

I would love to fish the White before the dams were built. I bet it awesome.

I think most people who don't like tailwater trout just aren't very good fisherman. They have trouble catching fish and to make themselves feel better they say they don't like it. Like Wayne said they are bigger and wilder and some guys just can't catch big, wild fish.

SIO3

It isn't the tailwater TROUT that I dislike, it is the suprise generation and the lack of a water flow pattern. Nothing bums me out worse than driving all the way to Taney, or Norfork, and getting flooded out. It's always a crapshoot.

That and the trout park atmosphere of our tailwaters.

As far as the Taney trout being bigger and wilder..... That is only because it is managed (stocked) better than the rivers.

If they stocked the Niangua like they do Taney, and stocked Taney like they do the Niangua, it would be a whole different story.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I should apologize, I was bored at work and wanted to yank some chains.

Seriously, I can't change anything so I roll with the punches like FT57 suggests.

I'm a stream fisherman, whether it's smallies or trout first, but I like to bass fish in lakes too. It more depends on the logistics of a fishing trip than anything else.

Heck, there isn't much to choose from in the Metro areas anyway.

I'll tell you one thing, we have pretty darn good here in southern MO and northern AR. And I'm glad I'm at least near it somemwhat here in St Louis.

SIO3