Overall, the late summer and fall water quality conditions of the Cumberland River storage reservoirs this year were a little better than conditions in 2007, ironically, due to the drought. Dissolved oxygen (DO) depletion was slower and not as severe, which favored healthy habitat for aquatic wildlife. On the mainstem, projects experienced conditions roughly the same as last year. The main issues were low flows and stratification with accompanying oxygen depletion. Lake Barkley fared better this year with cooler water temperatures including those around the Cumberland City Power Plant which heated water temperatures into the 90’s last year.
With grout work at Wolf Creek Dam completed, contractors will soon begin construction of the seepage wall. Although that is positive progress, there is still no way to predict when the Corps will be able to store additional water at Wolf Creek. Winter rains are badly needed to relieve low tailwater conditions as well as to fill Dale Hollow Lake, which has been the source of flow needed for downstream uses. Water conservation is always a positive practice but in the coming months if adequate rains fail to arrive, increasing water conservation, efficiency, and reuse will become increasingly important.
In regard to significant actions related to sport fishing, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency just completed trap net samples on lakes in middle Tennessee - J. Percy Priest, Old Hickory, and Cheatham Reservoirs. Trap net samples are used to determine the success of a given year’s crappie spawn. This information allows biologists to determine which reservoirs will be stocked with crappie produced at hatcheries. A reservoir with a weak year-class spawning is a strong candidate for supplemental stocking. Trap net data also allows managers to predict future fishing success. On average, it takes 2.5 years for crappie to reach harvestable size (10”). Therefore, crappie spawned in spring 2008 will start impacting angler harvest rates in the fall of 2010 and spring 2011.
With the status of crappie populations determined, staff began harvesting hatchery ponds in November to supplement those reservoirs with fewer young fish. Hatchery crews loaded the crappie fingerlings, which range from 3 – 6 inches, into hauling trucks and distributed them to designated lakes with the ultimate goal of improving fishing success.
After harvesting hatchery ponds, fisheries crews will start concentrating on habitat improvements, the construction of fish attractors and enhancing bank fishing opportunities. Habitat improvement projects include planting bald cypress trees which provide fish spawning habitat, prevent bank erosion, and attract fish for anglers. Spawning benches are also constructed in areas lacking the structure needed to improve spawning success. Fish attractors include stake beds, suspended cedar trees, and artificial structures constructed of PVC materials. All fish attractor sites are marked by either a buoy or PVC pole with a TWRA sticker at the top.
Know what the major Cumberland River pollutant is? Well, it is the DIRT and
the other "stuff" from our yards, our roofs and our driveways that runs off
every time we have a good rain.
If we all kept our dirt in our own yards, the river would be a lot healthier
and safer for everyone.
Visit the Sediment page to learn more about Muddy Waters and what YOU can do
to keep your dirt at home.
