AGFC D-2 Fisheries 2017 First Biannual Newsletter

[mojorig]

All,

Here is AGFC D-2 Fisheries 2017 first biannual newsletter (Click here). The newsletter highlights some of the activities that have occurred during the first half of 2017 in D-2. If you would like to be added to the newsletter email list, feel free to email me at Jeremy.Risley@agfc.ar.gov

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. Feel free to contact us with any questions.

Thank you for fishing Norfork Lake!!!

Thanks,

Jeremy

[Kramr]

Jeremy,

Looks like you guys did a great job on clean up. And the numbers of fish is very encouraging. Good to see that there is such a good population especially the walleye! I noticed that the lake levels aren't dropping and have even come back up the last week. Is flooding still such an issue that they can't drop the lake any faster?

[Quillback]

Thanks for the link.  I am hoping your division 1 buddies publish a newsletter also. 

[mojorig]

Kramr, 

The USACE is following this water management plan (Click here). I suspect generation will ramp back up now that the Newport Guage is finally below 12 feet.  It finally fell below 12 yesterday (7/13). As of today (7/14  9 am), the level at Newport is 11.95 ft and 4 lake system is at 63% full.

Excerpt from the plan under the Newport gauge: "8 May – 30 November: Regulate to 12 feet except, regulate to 14 feet from 15 May through 30 November if the 4-lake system flood storage exceeds 70% full."

[Kramr]

Barring any unforeseen rain, what is the max daily amount that can now be released? And by max daily amount I mean in inches/feet that the lake can drop.

[mojorig]

During normal generation, it appears the lake can drop 0.10 to 0.20 feet per day. The USACE is forecasting Norfork Lake to be back to normal on October 14th. 

On a side note, we realize that the high water makes it difficult for users to get on Norfork and for anglers to fish it. However, our data has shown that high water past the end of August significantly benefits the sport fish populations in the lake (except for larger striped bass).