Water Levels

[cwc87]

As most of us fisherman know water levels are not the same as 15-25 years ago. Here are some of my ideas on what I think is happening to our water table.

I believe the landscape in Missouri has changed and with it has come man and machine. Every landowner, if feasible would like to have a Lake or Pond made. These bodies of water hold runoff that would eventually increase our water in rivers and lakes. For example, when we get a 2-3 inch rain it fills up these ponds(lakes).

Another, idea is that more livestock are on our landscape that require more gallons of water.

I lived on the banks of Huzzah creek since 1979 and each year I see holes filling up with gravel. However, a thought that crossed my mind was that the Viburnum trend (lead mine) is the largest lead producer in the world may have water that belongs in numerous rivers in south Missouri. I know they pump water out to mine lead. These lead mines are at the headwaters of Huzzah, Courtois, Meramec, Current, Black, and Big rivers.

These are some of my ideas but, the real concern is how to fix this problem or should I say "How are we going to retain future water".

On my own property I've cut 200 cedar trees(an invasive species to Missouri) to put along the creek bank. And I am contacting people about getting started on native plants that can be planted to retain moisture. Missouri is blessed with awesome water compared to many other states. But, what will our water table be like in 10-50 years. I think our battle is now to retain our moisture when it comes.

P.S. Excuse my grammar skills are a little rusty.

[Chief Grey Bear]

All good points corey. I would like to add that there are many more house holds that live off of well water outside of city municipalities. And then there again the population in Mo as a whole has grown in that same amount of time also contributing to larger water usage by municipalities.

Missouri is(or was the last time I knew) #2 in beef production. There goes another 25+ gallons per head. Poultry and hog production has also been on a steady increase not to mention all of the processing of such. Missouri farmers also use large amounts of water for irrigation. Alot of them quietly sucking water by the millions of gallons quietly out of rivers and steams. I will say in their defense though that some have converted over to dribble type system that dramaticly reduces the water usesage and accutally improves per acre production through reduced evaporation.

[jdmidwest]

Many years ago, MO was covered in a shallow ocean. Earth cooled and polar ice formed. Activity formed under the crust and uplifting occurred to form the St Francois mtns and the Viburnum trend. Earth cooled further and formed the Ice Ages that came down to the Missouri River or further. Ice melted and gouged our rivers and streams and filled aquifers.

Good news is that the sun is entering a cycle that will result in cooling and maybe more ice will form, I have noticed it alot this week as a matter of fact.

Population has increased in the last 200 years and somebody had to raise the crops and animals to feed the people. This uses more resources. MDC sells Eastern Red Cedars as cover/erosion protection in the wildlife bundles to prevent erosion of our poor soils and enhance our wildlife which supplements our nutrition needs.

Solution, less people. Who wants to leave this earth to save it from ourselves? Lets quit eating cows, pigs, chickens, crops and wearing cotton clothes and burning Ethanol gas and using computers that have large amounts of lead solder in them and cutting trees to make our houses to fix the problem.................