Clear Water

[denjac]

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Why-Is-Table-Rock-Lake-So-Clear-this-Year--40-Foot-Visibility-Not-Seen-in-30-Years-.html?soid=1102224436468&aid=h9j7ut2lLQo

[Champ188]

Good info, thanks for sharing.

[dtrs5kprs]

That was well done. Many thanks.

[Pepe]

That is a good article. If TR becomes, and stays, as clear as Beaver or Bull Shoals it might really change the bass fishing here.

[Quillback]

I beg to differ with the article, he's saying that increased plankton growth will lead to clear water, that's, as I understand things, just flat incorrect. Good plankton growth tends to reduce water clarity, reduced water clarity tends to restrict algae growth. Increased plankton levels tend to support the entire food chain and lead to better fishing. Super clear water is not fertile and not good for the fishery long term. A lake with a healthy zooplankton population will be greenish in color, not clear. In other words, clear water is an indication of very low plankton levels.

[denjac]

I beg to differ with the article, he's saying that increased plankton growth will lead to clear water, that's, as I understand things, just flat incorrect. Good plankton growth tends to reduce water clarity, reduced water clarity tends to restrict algae growth. Increased plankton levels tend to support the entire food chain and lead to better fishing. Super clear water is not fertile and not good for the fishery long term. A lake with a healthy zooplankton population will be greenish in color, not clear. In other words, clear water is an indication of very low plankton levels.

But don't expect this unusually clear water to last all summer. This clear-water phase will end as newly hatched fish graze the zooplankton numbers down and allow the algal community to rebound.

Think he said zooplankton , not plankton.

[dtrs5kprs]

But don't expect this unusually clear water to last all summer. This clear-water phase will end as newly hatched fish graze the zooplankton numbers down and allow the algal community to rebound.

Think he said zooplankton , not plankton.

Would expect it to get back towards normal color as we see temps (or maybe "if") get over 70 degrees, almost surely once we clip 80.

[Quillback]

Yeah I believe he said zooplankton, which feed on phytoplankton as I understand things. Clear water indicates less phytoplankton which would not be good for zooplankton populations.

[Bill Babler]

Great piece. Last Summer divers reported 100 ft. of visibility below the thermocline, and I believe this with what he said is contributing. Thanks Denny good piece

[bfishn]

Think he said zooplankton , not plankton.

True, but...

Zooplankton include a multitude of micro-crusteacen species, and while some are largely translucent, in the collective, large numbers of them decrease water clarity.

Zooplankton feed entirely on phytoplankton, and given their various lifespans of a few hours to a few days, the entire population would crash in the absense of food.

Without belittling the organizations efforts to reduce the nutrient load, or their unquestioned success in doing so, the article does give a rather poor explanation.