Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists continue to evaluate some different strains of rainbows to complement their current stocking strategy. Recently, some McConaughy rainbow fingerlings were stocked in both the Little Red and the White Rivers. According to trout biologist Jeff Williams, “The fingerlings averaged about 3.5 inches in length and were marked with an adipose fin clip.”

The McConaughy rainbows (pronounced mih-KAH-nuh-hay) originate from the North Plate River Valley above Lake McConaughy in western Nebraska. There the rainbows make a natural spawning run out of the lake into the groundwater tributary streams in the winter and reproduce. The smolts then migrate into the lake for a period of 2-3 years before returning to the streams to spawn as 3-4 pound rainbows.

Williams says the trout biologists here have been investigating using other strains of rainbows in the White River tailwaters since data suggests the typical stocked rainbow is not getting the growth rate desired in the catch and release areas which have recently been studied. Williams thinks a “wilder” strain such as the McConaughy bows might be better foragers in the tailwaters. In 2008, AGFC stocked a small number of McConaughy’s in the Little Red. The high water that year foiled attempts to sample and evaluate those efforts.  A few were recaptured and those had seemed to grow extremely well.

This summer AGFC stocked about 12,500 fingerlings in the Bull Shoals Catch & Release area and an equal amount at Rim Shoals. These were stocked the end of July.  About 25,000 fingerlings were stocked in the Little Red about the same time as well. 

An initial sample was conducted last week and monthly samples in the coming year will be taken to monitor growth and survival.  The first sample at Bull Shoals dam found a pretty good number of the fingerlings, which were concentrated around the cedar trees that the AGFC habitat program had put in last year.  At Rim Shoals far fewer fingerlings were found. 

AGFC has received a verbal agreement from the Norfork National Fish hatchery to raise some McConaughy’s for the Norfork Tailwater, and Williams anticipates those to be ready within the year. 

© 2010, Scott Branyan

Corrective measures are needed early again this year and probably point to another bad low DO season. Vents on turbines at Bull Shoals and Norfork dams were opened on July 14th this summer as dissolved oxygen readings fell below the state standard of 6.0 parts per million for trout waters. This is an annual occurrence, although it is typically a more severe problem during high water years. This is the third back-to-back high water year for the White River reservoirs, which is historically rare. The Corps started taking corrective action about the same time the previous two summers.

As the lakes stratify in the summer months, decaying matter in the water on the bottom of the lake uses up oxygen through microbial action. As it becomes depleted of O2, and as the powerhouse runs heavy to meet hydropower demands, that dead water gets pulled through the turbines and into the tailwaters endangering trout and other fish and aquatic life. This has resulted in numerous fish kills over the years. And it is particularly troublesome as the low DO condition worsens into the late fall of the year just as brown trout are attempting to migrate to gravel beds to spawn below the dams.

Even though a dissolved oxygen committee was formed by Governor Bill Clinton in the early 1990s to correct the problem, a decision on a remedy has been elusive and no money has come forward to fix it. The state argues this is a continued mitigation problem endemic to the building of the dams, and the Corps of Engineers counters the dams were authorized by Congress for flood control and hydropower, and the fishery is mitigated through the federally funded hatchery system which is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Corps says it can’t be held responsible for the fact that low DO, which falls below the state water quality standards for trout of 6.0 ppm, limits successful spawning of trout in the river system and occasionally results in fish kills. The low DO is a problem with watershed quality, it argues. 

If the trout tailwaters were only a put-and-take fishery, then occasion fish kills might be acceptable. But impacting as it does just at the time of the brown trout spawn makes this a worse case scenario. The smallmouth fishery that was here before the construction of the dams was a natural, not a put-and-take fishery. Further, the tailwater trout fisheries have proven they can successfully compete with well established wild trout fisheries as far as producing several trout species which grow to rival trout in their native ranges and even produce world record fish. That successful natural reproduction of brown trout in the tailwater system is not only possible but likely is now without question.

The biology textbook I have states a DO level of 8.0 ppm is necessary for healthy naturally reproducing trout and in order to have a successful spawn. A DO level of 6.0 falls short of this, although Game and Fish biologists say it is a realistic number to strive for given the annual problem with the anoxic water from the dams. The Corps would like to see the state drop the water quality standard for trout to 5.0 ppm as corrective measures are expensive.

According to readings from USGS gages today, DO below Norfork dam today dropped to 4.3 milligrams per liter (this is the same as parts per million or ppm) under full generation. When this happens, the Corps usually implements a maximum load restriction which helps keep the DO level higher. As the problem worsens maximum load restrictions are further reduced, since heavy generation pulls more anoxic water off the bottom of the lake and the vents on the turbines which siphon air into the system become less effective at higher generation loads. The Corps has yet to implement those restrictions this summer. But I would look for it to happen soon.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists started using stocking restrictions on Norfork and Bull Shoals tailwaters a few years ago when DO readings consistently stay low. As the reading worsens look for these measures to be put into effect this fall. It looks to be another bad DO season on the tailwaters. The DO problem goes away as soon as the lakes finish turning over usually by December 15th.

© 2010, Scott Branyan

Dr. Russell Rhodes, a phycologist at Missouri State University and the one who identified the invasive algae didymo in Beaver tailwater in 2003, has been awarded a grant to conclude a study began in 2009 on Beaver Reservoir.

According to a news release today by MSU:

Dr. Russell Rhodes, emeritus professor of biology, recently received a grant from the U.S. Geological Survey for his project entitled “Phytoplankton Analysis of Beaver Lake Reservoir, Arkansas” for $8,370.

“The project is designed to continue the evaluation of water quality at various locations in Beaver Lake, which is the main water source for much of northwest Arkansas, including Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Benton,” said Rhodes.

By analyzing water samples from Beaver Lake, Rhodes is studying the nutrient level fluctuations and the presence of diatoms, blue green algae and other algae that comprise phytoplankton. Samples collected from 2009 and 2010 will be analyzed and the results finalized by the end of 2010.

 “Diatoms and blue green algae can have harmful effects in domestic water supplies that include taste and odor problems,” said Rhodes. “By understanding the dynamics of phytoplankton, better water treatment and control of the reservoir can be attained.”

The study of phytoplankton on Beaver Lake is the first I know of since very early studies were done as the lake was forming or shortly after.

© 2010, Scott Branyan

I received this great photo from my friend Bob Waldeck over at Cotter. He had autopsied one trout he recently caught and found this mixture of snails, red ants, beetles, mayfly nymphs and some midge shucks in the contents. This trout obviously was interested in eating a variety of foods. But the photo also shows how ready it was to pick up on an opportunity for terrestrials. I remember Gary Borger in one of his videos calling ants the “pièce de résistance” of a trout’s terrestrial meal. This photo seems to bear that out.

Stomach contents of trout from Bull Shoals tailwater. Photo by Bob Waldeck

Terrestrial season is here. Hoppers are growing and will be ready in August, but there’s so much more to try. There’s some great foam and traditional ant and beetle patterns out there, and with daily generation coming up into the grasses along the bank, you know a lot of bugs get put in the water.

Digital cameras make it easy to document such samples.

Summer dog days are here too. Water is great. Y’all come on in .

© 2010, Scott Branyan

It’s taken this long for the reservoirs to all get back to conservation pools. Greers Ferry reservoir has been around pool for some time and so generation there has been relatively light, mostly in the late afternoon and evening for a brief few hours.

Wade anglers will be happy to see some shut down at the other powerhouses too. Drift boat anglers will be happy to have the daily peak hydroelectric releases for several hours which will keep temperatures down and flows from bottoming out downriver. Great nymphing and some dry fly action ought to make every angler happy. About the only thing in the weather pattern that may monkey with lake levels will be a big rain event from a hurricane from now until the first end of summer cold front.

Don’t rush the hopper fishing. They aren’t ready yet and are still very small in my yard. Although, there seems to be a good crop of them. They should become a factor in late August. Until then any hopper you fish should be small and very impressionistic. Forget the large, hard bodied patterns. Madam-X style patterns work just fine. A Dave’s Hopper can be good, but keep it small. Don’t forget ants, beetles and some secret terrestrial patterns I tend to like. Use your imagination.

This hopper camouflages into the bark of the tree.

Algae and trash will still be a factor on Bull Shoals tailwater when generation starts up hard. Stay in the tailout window and you should be fine.

Enjoy the Independence Day weekend and our hard fought for freedoms. Thank a vet!

See you on the river.

© 2010, Scott Branyan

I had a chance to talk to Ron Moore this morning. Ron is the AGFC district biologist in Rogers and probably knows more about Beaver Lake and warm water species than any other guy around. He’s been doing sampling and studies for about 25 years. He says the lake is in as good a shape as he’s seen as far as a forage fish base and larger fish being produced. Walleye which were introduced just a few years ago are doing especially well.

AGFC trout biologists went out on Beaver tailwater Monday night to do a monthly sampling. Table Rock is backed up to the dam, and Ron said they had problems electoshocking fish with the deep water. He did indicate they saw several 5 foot long gar and lots of other warmer water species such as walleye. They also shocked out one or two hybrids.

Ron noted this is the third high water year in a row, and he cannot remember another string of 3 high water years in his career. Back-to-years are common, but not 3-in-a-row.

He suggested climate change is responsible. There’s another possibility. Perhaps I can talk about it sometime, but it’s related to research I’m doing on my book. For now, climate change is as good a guess as any I suppose.

© 2010, Scott Branyan

I spent four days fishing Bull Shoals tailwater this past week. We saw the heaviest caddis hatches I can remember in some time. The hatch was late, but I will take them when we get them. There were lots of dry fly fishing opportunities, and the nymphing and streamer fishing was good also. We boated a couple of quality browns and a lot of smaller ones.

Hatch cooled Friday with the weather change. The first of the cream mayflies came off downriver below Norfork confluence also. I think they were cahills, but I just saw a few and couldn’t get a sample. Sulphurs should be starting. If they are like the caddis this year, we may not see a good hatch until mid-May or later.

Moss was heavy Tuesday and Wednesday, and high wind was a pain Thursday and Friday, but it didn’t slow the fishing much.

Fish are feeding heavily on the caddis and are fat. Browns will move into the riffles this time of year to take advantage of the hatches.

Caddis have primarily been two types at Rim Shoals: the large brachycentrus size 14 green bodied caddis and a size small darker bodied caddis with mottled wings. For dries, a darker natural deer hair caddis with a dark green body in a size 16 has been working quite well.

Straight from the stomach pump, this shows how heavy the fish are gulping these down. Separated with a little water you can see two species and a pupa shuck in the foreground. A lot of shucks in the sample indicates the fish prefer the caddis just subsurface. But the preference changes as the hatch progresses.

Good fishing!

© 2010, Scott Branyan

The Joplin Globe reports on a regional water conference held at Crowder College Monday and sponsored by the Multi-Basin Regional Water Council. The article warns of an impending water crisis and drought for the four state area.

© 2010, Scott Branyan

Bryan Hendricks in Sunday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette suggests Chesapeake Energy has lost interest in building a gas pipe line across the Little Red River at Cow Shoals and realizes it was a public relations disaster. The kicker to his article is mention of the conservation easement the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission holds across from the AGFC land Chesapeake wanted to lease. The easement prohibts such activity and would require legislative action and a waiver from Gov. Beebe to proceed. It’s fortunate ANHC held this property.

Thanks to all of you who got involved with this. Your vigilance saved another stream disaster potentially affecting White River tailwaters.

I attended the Arkansas Water Resources Center research conference this past week.

Doug Melton with Southwest Energy Company (Arkansas Western Gas) which drilled the first well in the Fayetteville Shale spoke from the industry perspective on Shale Gas Drilling and Production on Water Resources. He showed a video available on Southwest Energy’s website. A few important questions people had for him, e.g. on estimated future water use, he couldn’t or wouldn’t answer. He said his attorneys had gone through his PowerPoint and deleted stuff which they considered forward looking statements prohibited by the SEC. Most of the attendees were professional biologists/chemists/geologists/engineers. It became rather apparent to all he had nothing of significance he could say to address concerns.

Chris Davidson with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gave the regulatory perspective. He didn’t spend any time on groundwater withdrawal or disposal of waste water, but said the major problem right now in the industry is with major storm water runoff. The industry has had one reserve pit spill in the Barnett shale in Texas which resulted in a major fish kill. Because of the rapidly increasing number of drilling sites, the Corps has become involved and is doing cumulative effects analysis on its jurisdictional waters in Arkansas’ Fayetteville Shale area.

The adverse effects of the drilling sites are:

• Reduced stream flow
• Alteration of biota and aquatic habitats
• Aquifer depletion
• Stream flow disruption
• Seeps (channel formation in the right of way)
• Fertility (excessive algae growth in the streams because of removal of overhead canopy)
• Channel incision below hanging outlets
• Slopes without vegetation
• Contaminants from well pads
• Well pads in karst areas with no erosion controls
• Well pads constructed on ephemeral streams and fill slopes which result in recut-rechannelized streams
• Sediment intrusion into the forest floor down to the perennial streams

The roads to the well pad are a major source of sediment and there are few sufficient erosion controls on the projects. Pipelines present the biggest erosion problem of all. Cadron Creek was spoiled by sediment, and this caused the USFWS to get involved in 2007. Wet open cut trenching has also ruined the middle fork of the Little Red River where Davidson says it is 100 percent embedded with sand which flowed out of the Indian Creek watershed due to drilling impacts.

Sometime ago I spoke with a gas industry executive. He confirmed to me the problems mentioned here and said the only way to keep the industry in check with regard to these problems is through constant, careful monitoring.

Please contact your state legislators and congressmen and ask that they increase monitoring efforts on the industry. Without continued vigilance, our streams will continue to be degraded. Thanks!

© 2010, Scott Branyan

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s regulation stage at Newport dropped to 14 feet from 21 feet on April 15th. This is an annual change. Newport is a downstream control point for Bull Shoals and Norfork dams. The regulating stage will drop again to 12 feet May 8th and will remain at that level until November 30th. The reason for the change is to allow a narrowing of the channel of the White River downriver of Newport so farmers can get their crops in. There are extenuating circumstances when the Corps can exceed these stages during flood conditions.

Three of the five White River reservoirs including Bull Shoals and Norfork are currently well into flood pools. Newport river stage today was over 16 feet and expected to reach the 14 foot regulating stage by Sunday.

Don’t look for a lot of reduction in flood storage from Bull Shoals and Norfork through the rest of the spring. With the lower regulating stage, those two powerhouses will have to run as steady as they can to bring the lake levels down, but limit generation because of the downstream constraints. Any big rains will be stored in the reservoirs until Newport drops below the regulating stage later in the summer. High water on those two tailwaters looks likely for a while. If seasonal heavy rains are lacking through June, all the lake levels will continue to fall faster.

© 2010, Scott Branyan