Tailwater Improvement

[snagged in outlet 3]

What about the article in the news leader? Didn't it mention and 02 diffuser?

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...EWS01/710120424

Instead of a study just spend the money on the difusser.

SIO3

[Phil Lilley]

Didn't see the article- thanks for posting it.

I've heard of the difussers but alike you said, this issue has already been studied and I'd think difussers would have been looked at. But evidently not if they're studying it again.

I think it would be great but all efforts up to now have been stymied by a lack of ongoing "maintenance funding" of any proposed project.

[flyman]

I completely agree with the comments on number 2 outlet, it's a problem. Would creating more "chutes" or swift areas kind of like around rebar, would that be a problem for generation? Is, it even possible? Everyone on here knows those fish like the moving current where the water is oxygenated so any way of creating some places where the water narrows and becomes faster moving would probably be beneficial. Just a thought, what do I know?

[DeepDiver75]

I really like the way they have added mid-stream structure to the Beaver tailwater. I'm sure some of the boaters would not be crazy about this but it creates new holding areas therefore spreading people out more. From the numbers and quality of fish I see in Taney I don't think it needs too much improvement on the fish's behalf. I just hope that we can maintain this great fishery for years to come. The best thing you could do for this fishery in my eyes is make shuffling and outlet fishing illegal. I would not be against closing down the trophy area for a period during the spawn if it was determined that the pressure was limiting the natural reproduction. Although being such a short tailwater I know this could be detrimental to local businesses which rely on fisherman to make their living. Limiting fishing around the outlets at least during the spawn would be a simpler fix.Just my two cents.

[John Smoot]

This looks like 2 large issues and several smaller ones. Small first. Dredging out a few deep...like 10' deep...holes would be great. A stepped bottom (concrete) flowing into those holes would be good. Structure could be added where appropriate using concrete to set up smaller holes.

The larger issues are the DO and the outlet "shooting fish in a barrel" thing. The DO I know little about, other than they can open suction valves near the turbines to add air to the water.

The outlet fishing thing....hmmm. They could divert the flows from the hatchery through a piping system or chutes that dump into the newly constructed deeper holes, near the bottom. This would not slow the flow from the hatchery, but, it would slow the flow where it meets the river. And, if the outlet dumps were 8' - 10' under water, it would discourage the so-called fishermen abusing the outlets for snagging...both purposely and inadverently. The fish could, and likely would to a lesser degree than currently, still congregate at these points. But, they'd be much harder to get at for a snagging incident.

And the fact that the flows would be slowed would also not create such a attractive location to fish.

[Danoinark]

I know that J Vanes were installed at Beaver Tailwater, but I am not sure what this does to flow. Its possible they would funnel the flow away from the banks. I am under the impression that the J vanes were installed primarily to help control erosion but it looks like it would help low water flow. Another idea would be to build shoals for riffles in that naturally increases the O2.

Dano

[Ryno]

How much has the DO improved since the hatchery's remodeling, with their new liquid O2 injection system? I know they only use it when they have to but I don’t know if it affects the lake any? Also what about encouraging plant growth in certain areas (CO2 + Water + Sunlight -> Oxygen + Sugar + Water

[jscheetz]

I know it's the same thing I always say - but a moratorium on keeping fish over say 20 inches during the fall would make this a much better fishery. I know what you are saying Phil, that even the accidental snagging of the fish will stress them out and may kill some - but from what I have seen, putting a 26 inch brown on your stringer to take it home and put it on your wall kills 'em every time. So if we could stop that in the fall when they are so easy to target - it would at least keep more in there. And while it is sometimes hard to accuse a guy of "snagging" a big brown on purpose - if he is walking him to the truck there is no question.

Anyway, all comments on the structure and habitat sound groovy, but it will never be the fishery it could be if we keep letting jugheads come here in the fall and take out all the big fish.

JS

[Phil Lilley]

Deep- MDC doesn't recognize any natural reproduction on Taney so they aren't going to close any season to protect something that doesn't happen. And the Corp isn't going to let anyone put boulders in the stream anywhere close to the dam face. They may down further but I don't know what that magic distance is.

ryno- the hatchery improvements didn't change any water flow nor Do levels into the lake, I don't think. I'll check. The Corp injects O2 into the turbines, before or after (?) before water enters the tailwater. Nothing has changed there. They try to keep the O2 levels about 4-5 part per million which is nominal levels for survival.

I seriously doubt the MDC is considering changing any regulations. But what they are ready to do is change the habitat.

[Indiana Trout]

Some habitat improvements to make some more riffles (didn't there used to be more in the late 90's ?) would be nice because at normal flow there really aren't any other than above reabar. Putting the ouflow pipes from the outlets farther out or into a deep hole is a great idea! One thing that hasn't been addressed is bank erosion. With more boats on the water during moderate to full generation, it is something that needs to be looked at before it becomes a major problem...Just my .02 cents...