Fish Habitat Work To Begin This Week

[Phil Lilley]

Friday, the Corp will leave the water off and MDC will start placing these rocks in the lake. The one area they will put most of the rocks is starting across and upstream from outlet #2 down the south bank to rebar. Andy Austin, out of the Springfield office, has experience at Montauk in their fish habitat project and he will have suggestions where they will place the rocks. They are also eyeing a few places down below Rocking Chair (where the rocks are on the bank).

The goal is to create deeper water for fish to hold.

They are going to stay away from the middle of the lake so as to not interfere with boat traffic.

It starts Friday and will continue into the following week. I don't think they'll be in the lake working on the weekend.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I wish they would put them all across the stream to get a better spread. I would think the could anchor a sign that says NO BOATING BEYOND THIS POINT at a level where it would be covered by water when it didn't apply.

I that for years that the bed needed rocks or concrete obstructions. After the high water this winter there should be some good holes behind the rocks.

[Phil Lilley]

The Corp won't let them do it - for boating reasons but more for operation reasons. Anything that holds back flow below the dam creates head pressure and they won't allow it. I'm surprised they've let the water level stay at 702.0 instead of lowering it back to 701.3.