Little Piney- Barbed Wire Fence

[Kayser]

No run-ins with landowners or anyone else for that matter, but definitely a problem at Vida Slab. It seems that the landowner has "fixed" the barbed wire fence that goes completely across the creek downstream from the concrete bridge. The cattle have already torn up the bank in a few places since I was last there in March, and have free reign to enter the stream. A lot of mixed sand and gravel has entered the stream just downstream from these areas and has begun filling in the streambed. Now, I'm not saying I did cross the fence, but one could most likely hold it down and step over without leaving the stream.

I'm just curious- is this legal? To string barbed wire across the river and give cattle unrestricted access to it? Saw a lot of cows just hanging out mid-stream, too. I do plan on calling the folks at the local MDC office, just to get some answers on it.

[Justin Spencer]

Doesn't seem legal, definately call on it to get some clarification. If it's a navigable stream at that point I'm sure it wouldn't be legal.

[Greasy B]

The fence wil not degrade the stream. The cows are are the problem. Unfortunately there is no solution because land owners apparently have the right to degrade a public resource.

[Gavin]

Its floatable from Lane Spring on down when the water is up...so barbed wire across the creek seems like a stupid idea. The next flash flood should take care of it...Lousy habitat below Vida..there is an active gravel mine not far below the bridge. Always plenty of cows.

[Kayser]

I'm assuming that massive pit/lake on the east side of the creek is that active gravel mine? If so, that is the section where the cows are. The gravel mine really hasn't done much to affect the habitat, as it seems isolated from the stream. The degradation comes from the cows trampling the streambank into the creek, stripping it from stabilizing vegetation, and tearing up the streambed with their hooves.

Lastly, it doesn't matter what we think of the habitat currently- there are still trout there, and it's still a public resource.

[mdrstl]

Below is some information regarding the fence I posted after a trip in May when I first saw the fence>

I headed out around noon and decided to try downstream from the gravel pits. No luck there during about 30 minutes of fishing but I picked up some interesting information. First thing I noticed was someone had placed some trailers and fencing with “Posted” signs around the property which contains the water filled pits. This included strands of wire across the river. A real nice guy who owns some property further downstream stopped to chat and he said some religious group bought the land and had fenced it in. He indicated the primary reason was to keep out other’s cattle and driven by an interest to deter fishermen or garrote giggers. He provided other bits of information readers of past postings may find interesting. He named the lady who owns the property around Vida slab, saying she’s real nice but has had some problems with some of the fishermen. When I asked him about public access, he said that the LP is a Creek, not a River, which means those who own land on either side own the ground below, though folks can legally canoe through. I have no idea how accurate he is about this, but he’s owned his property for quite some time and the matter of fact manner of his statements indicate that is what one land owner believes.

How was the fishing? I haven't been back since that last trip due ot the heat.

[Al Agnew]

No law that says he can't fence the stream. No law that says he can't run his cattle in the stream. Welcome to life in rural MO...and most other states, for that matter. There are LOTS of conservation issues like this that are still left not taken care of, and they aren't getting any better. There are also federal programs that will reimburse farmers for constructing stock watering systems that don't allow the livestock to get into the streams...but they require the farmer to spend the money up front and then apply for the funds. And a lot of the Ozark farmers are so distrustful of "govmint" that they wouldn't take advantage of them, anyway.

[Gavin]

The gravel pits do do some harm..Water seeps in and out of those gravel pits and they warm the water considerably in the summer time...Cows in the creek are never good...Several landowners on the Little Piney are bad in that regard. Its pretty easy to find fish...look for good habitat...usually found on forest service land, or where the cows, or a bulldozer cant access the creek.

[Greasy B]

The gravel pits do do some harm..Water seeps in and out of those gravel pits and they warm the water considerably in the summer time.

That's a good point. A significant part of many streams water flow is through the gravel substrate.

[Kayser]

To clarify- the water isn't running in, just kind of seeping. Not nearly as bad as it could be.

I did talk with the local MDC people, and they said it's an ongoing thing that they're trying to resolve, possibly through a legal recourse on behalf of the public? They were kinda vague on it, and didn't seem too thrilled about the fence from what I could tell. Something about a lack of a watergate in the stream. I also didn't see any "Posted" signs around, just the fence.

Flow was better than expected, water was gin clear. Saw a few hoppers, almost switched to a big dry after a bunch of fish ate my indicator. Nothing worth writing home about, but it was good to get out again.

Rob