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Is Drought Still Effecting Your Fishing?
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November 12, 2009
Is Drought Still Effecting Your Fishing?
Our friend Marshall Cutchin broaches an interesting topic over at midcurrent.com today regarding the state of the nationwide drought that has devastated both farming and fisheries over the last decade. One that I hadn't thought of in quite some time.
A USAToday piece quoted in his report states that, "Last week, about 75% of the country showed no drought, the largest since the U.S. Drought Monitor was created in 1999. At the drought's peak in July 2002, about 72% of the country was in drought, according to the Drought Monitor."
Here in Colorado, 2002 was horrendous with the hayman fire and many rivers feeling the effects of multiple years of low water. This continued on and off until about three years ago, when things got back to normal and in most cases way above normal.
Curious, what's it like in your part of the country? Is the drought over for you or are you still feeling the effects today?
Speaking of fish and drought, I thought this video by RA Beattie was...
a perfect accompaniment to the discussion above. A little desert bass fishing.
Enjoy,
TR
Desert Bass from ra beattie on Vimeo.
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Comments (14)
Here in Arkansas we had " the wetest Oct. on record ever".
We've had more than our share here in Alabama, and it was welcomed for the most part. It upset some fall gardens and threw a hitch in some logging operations, but the streams are all bank full and the reservoirs are topped off. We weren't in nearly as bad shape as our neighbors to the east and north, and I'm glad to see that they got their share.
Great Lakes are at their highest levels in years. Very wet spring was bad for nesting birds. Stream levels went way down this summer. But seemed to be coolest summmer since Mt. St. Helens erupted. Led to best flyfishing I can recall. Streams are way up now. Moist fall ground has been excellent for the woodcock (was stone dry last year). Starting off with a slightly warmer winter than expected but we'll see. So much depends on the snowfall over the winter.
The drought broke to some extent in 2006 but the last couple years have been a dropping back down. Add to that our state government is almost completely useless for managing things plus our governor knows the southern part of the state didn't vote for him so he basically ignores what we want, and you end up with some rough fishing in southern New Mexico.
The waters around here in Boise got real high then they all dropped low.They need a new turbine in the Arrowrock dam,so it'll fill up,the fishing will turn less productive and Lucky Peak reservoir will get lower because if it stops letting out water,God knows how low the Boise river will get,but they'll be conservitive and let it out steadily,so the river will get low,Ironically after planting steelhead.Hurry with that turbine!!!
I live in what is called a semi-arid region; Southern California. We have been 'borrowing water' from not only the northern portion, but from our neighbors. I've lived here my whole life and during that time 1/3 of it has been spent in drought. The last long hard rain I remember was in the 80's. I'm not saying we haven't had heavy rain since, but not as long a duration of steady rain. Our snow pack has become a major issue and the lakes at the upper altitudes are suffering, ergo the fish population is also. The Sierra Nevada range is the backbone of our state and when the snows are shallow our valley rivers suffer as well, water has to be drained from the storage facilities for crops and cities, little is considered for the wildlife.
However, it is not only Global Warming, but the natural flow of climate the world has experienced. The people of California should have imposed self restrictions on water, but they don't. Once it will be time for manditory rationing it's to late.
I'm sorry I forgot one thought. Fires. Arsonist seem to abound. Southern California is not a 'green' landscape. It is mostly wild grass, chapparel pines holding on for dear life. The amount of water used to fight these fires must come from local supplies, purchased form distant sources and rivers and lakes raided by scoop copters. When the Kern River saw a large fire many hears ago the copters used the river for a great deal of water to fight wilderness blazes. Those scoops can't discriminate between water and fish, so a large population might have been evacuated from the river. Of course the water taken is absorbed into the ground water and evenutally makes it way down to the source, well hopefully.
So Cal evolved to burn regularly. Species like creosote bush require burn-offs for germination. People are nuts to live there what with the earthquakes, the fires And the Friekin' Californians!
No drought here in home sweet home New England, we had a whole extra month of rain this year and some of us were wondering if the North East were turning into Seattle!
During the late summer; what should have been prime time for smallmouth on the rivers of Wisconsin there was rarely enough water to float. Northern tier of the state was 8 inches behing this year on top of several "down" years. Spent far to much time pulling the boat and not enough rowing. Recent rains have shown improved levels but need snow to sustain the flows for next year.
we had a cooler summer than normal and more rain. this winter looks to be a good one considering that last january i was wearing a t-shirt and there was no snow anywhere.
Bella send me some water!!!!!! Now!!!! It's almost the end of November, it's 80˚ out, clear skies and I'm fishing every day of the year. Oh and this crazy Californian loves you crazy New Englanders.!
no drought here, more like the wettest 2 years back to back in a very long time...
fflutterffly, I only wish I could.
In Ohio the lack of water has hurt some but it still pales in comparison to the pollution and silt problems.
As for Southern Californians , I've been in San Diego all week and the folks here are just fine. I can't find any place to fish though.
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Here in Arkansas we had " the wetest Oct. on record ever".
We've had more than our share here in Alabama, and it was welcomed for the most part. It upset some fall gardens and threw a hitch in some logging operations, but the streams are all bank full and the reservoirs are topped off. We weren't in nearly as bad shape as our neighbors to the east and north, and I'm glad to see that they got their share.
Great Lakes are at their highest levels in years. Very wet spring was bad for nesting birds. Stream levels went way down this summer. But seemed to be coolest summmer since Mt. St. Helens erupted. Led to best flyfishing I can recall. Streams are way up now. Moist fall ground has been excellent for the woodcock (was stone dry last year). Starting off with a slightly warmer winter than expected but we'll see. So much depends on the snowfall over the winter.
no drought here, more like the wettest 2 years back to back in a very long time...
The drought broke to some extent in 2006 but the last couple years have been a dropping back down. Add to that our state government is almost completely useless for managing things plus our governor knows the southern part of the state didn't vote for him so he basically ignores what we want, and you end up with some rough fishing in southern New Mexico.
The waters around here in Boise got real high then they all dropped low.They need a new turbine in the Arrowrock dam,so it'll fill up,the fishing will turn less productive and Lucky Peak reservoir will get lower because if it stops letting out water,God knows how low the Boise river will get,but they'll be conservitive and let it out steadily,so the river will get low,Ironically after planting steelhead.Hurry with that turbine!!!
I live in what is called a semi-arid region; Southern California. We have been 'borrowing water' from not only the northern portion, but from our neighbors. I've lived here my whole life and during that time 1/3 of it has been spent in drought. The last long hard rain I remember was in the 80's. I'm not saying we haven't had heavy rain since, but not as long a duration of steady rain. Our snow pack has become a major issue and the lakes at the upper altitudes are suffering, ergo the fish population is also. The Sierra Nevada range is the backbone of our state and when the snows are shallow our valley rivers suffer as well, water has to be drained from the storage facilities for crops and cities, little is considered for the wildlife.
However, it is not only Global Warming, but the natural flow of climate the world has experienced. The people of California should have imposed self restrictions on water, but they don't. Once it will be time for manditory rationing it's to late.
I'm sorry I forgot one thought. Fires. Arsonist seem to abound. Southern California is not a 'green' landscape. It is mostly wild grass, chapparel pines holding on for dear life. The amount of water used to fight these fires must come from local supplies, purchased form distant sources and rivers and lakes raided by scoop copters. When the Kern River saw a large fire many hears ago the copters used the river for a great deal of water to fight wilderness blazes. Those scoops can't discriminate between water and fish, so a large population might have been evacuated from the river. Of course the water taken is absorbed into the ground water and evenutally makes it way down to the source, well hopefully.
So Cal evolved to burn regularly. Species like creosote bush require burn-offs for germination. People are nuts to live there what with the earthquakes, the fires And the Friekin' Californians!
No drought here in home sweet home New England, we had a whole extra month of rain this year and some of us were wondering if the North East were turning into Seattle!
During the late summer; what should have been prime time for smallmouth on the rivers of Wisconsin there was rarely enough water to float. Northern tier of the state was 8 inches behing this year on top of several "down" years. Spent far to much time pulling the boat and not enough rowing. Recent rains have shown improved levels but need snow to sustain the flows for next year.
we had a cooler summer than normal and more rain. this winter looks to be a good one considering that last january i was wearing a t-shirt and there was no snow anywhere.
Bella send me some water!!!!!! Now!!!! It's almost the end of November, it's 80˚ out, clear skies and I'm fishing every day of the year. Oh and this crazy Californian loves you crazy New Englanders.!
fflutterffly, I only wish I could.
In Ohio the lack of water has hurt some but it still pales in comparison to the pollution and silt problems.
As for Southern Californians , I've been in San Diego all week and the folks here are just fine. I can't find any place to fish though.
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