Mdc "open House Forums" On Didymo To Be Held

[duckydoty]

The MDC will be hosting a series of "Open House Forums" during the months of March and Aprill 2011. The topic will be Didymo or "rock snot" and invasive alga that can form large thick mats on the bottom of streams smothering aquatic life vital to the food chain that supports fish. Didymo has been found just south of our border in the White River in Arkansas.

Preventing the spread of this invasive species is critical to the health of Missoui's streams. Equipment such as kayaks, lifejackets, and felt soled waders are the most likely way for Didymo to spread. The Department of Conservation is considering potential regulation changes to prevent the spread of this invasive alga. Your input in this process is important.

You are invited to attend one of the meetings to learn more about this threat and what you can do to help prevent it from spreading to Missouri streams.

Montauk State Park Seacy Building Tuesday March 15 at 6 p.m.

Bennett Spring State Park Bennet Spring Hatchery Building Monday March 21 at 6 p.m.

Sheperd of the Hills Hatchery Lake Taneycomo Sheperd of the Hills Hatchery Saturday March 26 1 p.m.

Roaring River State Park Emory Melton Inn and Conference Center Thursday April 7 6 p.m.

Maramec Spring Park James Memeorial Library Meeting Rm. 300 w. Scioto, St. James Monday April 11 6 p.m.

[exiledguide]

Here we go again someone is going to tell me that my felt soled waders that have been nowhere but Missouri waters will infect the streams of Missouri with an algee found nowhere in Missouri. I'd like to see the science behind that. I also think that if the MDC really wanted input from the fishermen and women they should hold there meetings in the populated areas of the state where most of the fishing permits are sold and most of the fisherman live.

[Danoinark]

Thanks for posting Duane. These will no doubt be some interesting meetings.

[Outside Bend]

Here we go again someone is going to tell me that my felt soled waders that have been nowhere but Missouri waters will infect the streams of Missouri with an algee found nowhere in Missouri.

Where is anyone saying that? I see where MDC is saying didymo is a threat to our stream fisheries. I see where MDC is saying felt soles transport didymo. I don't see anywhere MDC is saying your felt soles, which have never left the state, are transporting didymo.

I'd like to see the science behind that. I also think that if the MDC really wanted input from the fishermen and women they should hold there meetings in the populated areas of the state where most of the fishing permits are sold and most of the fisherman live.

Fair point, but cold, stable spring creeks (Montauk, Maramec, Roaring River, Bennett), and cold, stable tailwaters (Taneycomo), are the locations where didymo may have the greatest impact. To me it makes some sense to focus the discussion on and at these areas.

Thanks for sharing DD, I'm going to try to make either the Maramec or Montauk meetings.

[exiledguide]

Good points were not that far apart. My concerns are that most the people that fish these streams do not live near the meetings that are scheduled. Also if your talking about Taney couldn't the water left in my engines cooling system after leaving The white river end up in Taney? I first waded an Ozark Stream in 1957 at Alley Springs State Park and almost all of my adult life my free time has spent chaseing smallmouths and the last I want to see is anything happen to these streams but I find it kind of funny that this has become an issue only after a new sole has been marketed by Sims, Orvis, etc. that don't work as well as felt. My whole issue is safety, if these new soles worked as well as felt I,d be the first one to buy them. The only info I get about them are from the marketing division of the manufactures. If someone who wadefishes the James or the Finley, Castor,Upper Big Piney, Marble Creek, East and middle forks of the Black river,St Francis tells me that these soles work as well as felt I will have no problem using them.

[Outside Bend]

Good points were not that far apart. My concerns are that most the people that fish these streams do not live near the meetings that are scheduled. Also if your talking about Taney couldn't the water left in my engines cooling system after leaving The white river end up in Taney? I first waded an Ozark Stream in 1957 at Alley Springs State Park and almost all of my adult life my free time has spent chaseing smallmouths and the last I want to see is anything happen to these streams but I find it kind of funny that this has become an issue only after a new sole has been marketed by Sims, Orvis, etc. that don't work as well as felt. My whole issue is safety, if these new soles worked as well as felt I,d be the first one to buy them. The only info I get about them are from the marketing division of the manufactures. If someone who wadefishes the James or the Finley, Castor,Upper Big Piney, Marble Creek, East and middle forks of the Black river,St Francis tells me that these soles work as well as felt I will have no problem using them.

You're putting the cart before the horse- Simms et al came out with rubber soles because governments were eyeing felt bans, governments are not looking at felt bans because Simms et al have developed rubber soles.

Safety is a big concern, and there are places where they just don't work as well as felt. It's inconvenient, but wading carefully or avoiding those slick spots helps quite a lot. To me, preserving and maintaining quality fisheries is the larger issue, and felt soles just provide too great an opportunity to transmit invasives. Not busting your arse on a stream is all well and good, but if the tradeoff is wading through streams choked with rock snot for the opportunity to catch a few starving fish, I'm don't think felt soles are worth it. Managers are already documenting declines in brown trout condition on the Arkansas tailwaters, coinciding with the invasion of didymo in their waters.

What it really boils down to is: Do you want this in your stream? Do you want this in your favorite fishing waters? If not, do everything you can to keep it from getting there. If that means cleaning all your gear religiously, clean it. If that means switching to rubber soles, switch to rubber soles. It's no different than any other regulation (C&R, length limits, closed seasons, barbless, take your pick) designed to maintain quality fisheries.

[Danoinark]

Just saw this.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41692545/ns/us_news-environment/

[duckydoty]

Here we go again someone is going to tell me that my felt soled waders that have been nowhere but Missouri waters will infect the streams of Missouri with an algee found nowhere in Missouri. I'd like to see the science behind that. I also think that if the MDC really wanted input from the fishermen and women they should hold there meetings in the populated areas of the state where most of the fishing permits are sold and most of the fisherman live.

There is only one way to find out and that is to show up at the meeting. No since in guessing what is going to happen.....Show up and lets hear your input there.

[exiledguide]

There is only one way to find out and that is to show up at the meeting. No since in guessing what is going to happen.....Show up and lets hear your input there.

Right, thats why they should they should have a meeting in the bigger cities.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Right, thats why they should they should have a meeting in the bigger cities.

Well, if you don't have a problem driving to those areas to fish, I don't know why you would have a problem driving to those areas to learn how to protect them.

What is it for you, about 40 miles????