Low o2

[Dylan Cluver]

Definitely not "screaming" for minimum flow, just saying 100 cfs has more oxygen in it then 0cfs. 

[Phil Lilley]

If the Corp would run 10 or 15 mw of water, that would be good for everyone.  Waders could wade and the Corp would have to inject liquid O2 into the water.  But that's not going to happen.  It's too hard on their equipment (turbine blades).  So we're talking about 35+ mw like they ran in August and September.  Very little wading opportunities.

MF would definitely help the food base.  That would be the biggest positive.  But it would take an act of Congress (literally) to get it and that won't happen for a long, long time.

[mic]

8 hours ago, Trout Newb said:

Do you really think the Corps will manage minimum flow right? The same people who can't even tell you what generation will be tomorrow (maybe) until late afternoon?

Summer of 2014 - Norfork dam had siphon issues so in order to meet minimum flow they just cracked open the flood gates with warm water to get the required CFS that the new rules required bumping water temperature way up: http://flyfisharkansas.com/archives/2856

I would agree with Pete that minimum flow has created less wading opportunities.  The shops and guides probably love minimum flow though because more people are having to book a guide with a boat that otherwise would be wading on their own.  Plus they don't have to compete with wade fishermen for water.

Conditions are not great right now but I wouldn't be screaming for minimum flow quite yet.  

 

 

This time of year what temp would top water be? Would it not be cool enough for trout with O2.

[laker67]

Going back to what Pete and Phil said about limited wading, a few years back we were all discussing MF, and it seems like the numbers they gave us came to about 16 more inches of water we would have to wade with MF. That would make it about 702.5 at low water. Wadable to some extent but a terrible level to hold many fish in close to the banks. With the filling in over the years, there is nothing to offer or hold fish above the rebar. Only  spawn time and heavy generation seem to bring fish up in any numbers. With 02 injection at 4 and not 6. what the heck. Who's bright idea was that? 

[Phil Lilley]

Yea- it was about 16 inches and that's probably about 15 mw of power.

State says anything discharged from a point source below 6 ppm is pollution basically.  But a discharge from a dam is not a point source, according to ... someone.  That's how they get around state standards.

 

[Phil Lilley]

The higher the water temp the less O2 is can carry.  Cold water can carry O2 better than warm water. "Carry" might not be the right word but I don't know a better one.

Typically our lake temperature is in the mid 50's in the fall.  It's 63 now and turbid.  It's usually much clearer.  So I'd think it's easier for a fish to breath in clear water vs turbid water, plus it's warm, plus it's low in O2.  Triple whammy!

[snagged in outlet 3]

I just don't think MF in Arkansas is delivering as thought.

Sure there's more surface water but that doesn't mean it holds fish.

It really limited wading opportunities in my oppinion.

50 years of going to Branson and I guess I'll finally go to Silver Dollar City.

My wife should be happy though.

Pete

[Phil Lilley]

Pete - we're not getting it.  Don't worry.

But the reason the White got it was to cool water temps way down away from the dam.

The reason it would help Taney is to keep the water moving - that grows more bugs.  It would help DO in the fall too.

But it won't happen - not for a long long time.  MDC doesn't think it's worth the effort and Congress won't just give us a ton of money without lobbyist pushing it.  And there's no one pushing.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Thanks, Phil.

I'm not worried I just like to wade.

But I am getting better fishing out of a boat lately.

Pete

[Dylan Cluver]

Plenty of good fish were caught running 35 mw, while wading. I've got the pics to prove it. It's not that mf kills wading. You just have to know where you can and can't.