Home Resorts and Lodging
Camping
Guides
Boat
Sales and Storage
Sporting
Goods, Bait and Tackle
Restaurants
Hunting Stories and
Information
Fishing Report
Fishing
Stories
and Information
Other
Stories and Information
Tennessee
Fishing Records
Weather
Lake Levels
Land
Between
the Lakes
Upcoming
Events
Kentucky Lake Map
Seasons and regulations
Links
Advertising
Contact
Us
|
WILL
AQUATIC WEEDS RETURN TO
KENTUCKY LAKE?
by
Steve McCadams
(From Summer 2002)
www.stevemccadams.com
Noticed any weeds on
Kentucky Lake lately? The answer for most lake dwellers is "yes".
Lake levels have been falling slowly since early July on both Kentucky and
Barkley lakes. It's all part of TVA's annual draw-down program that lowers
the reservoir throughout the late summer and fall months in preparation
for storage capacity when late fall and winter rains occur.
This year, lake users are noticing more and more aquatic vegetation as the
lower lake stages expose carpets of grass that have been growing in the
clear waters all spring and summer.
A lot of anglers, especially bass fishermen, knew the grass was there.
When spinnerbaits and worms were fished around islands, main lake flats,
and sandbars the submerged salad could be felt on the line and retrieved
on the lure.
Fragments of various forms have been seen floating along the main river
all summer. Slow moving currents have taken the grasses all over the
reservoir, helped now and then by changing winds.
It's a similar scenario to the late 1980's when the TVA valley fell under
an extended drought period and waters of the reservoirs began to clear due
to lack of flow and runoff. The clear conditions allowed sun to penetrate
further down into the water and the stage was set for weed growth.
Such aquatic plants as spiny leaf naiad, northern naiad, pondweed,
coon-tail moss, and the ever popular Eurasian water milfoil began showing
up in colonies all across the lake. No hydrilla, the deep green plant
known to choke off lake acreage in the Deep South, was ever documented.
After a few years of grass infestation, especially along the Tennessee
River, the non-native plants began to disappear. A combination of factors
contributed, say biologists, such as a return to normal rainfall in the
valley. Stained water returned to many lakes filtering light and robbing
the plants of the aquarium-like water clarity that had stimulated the
plant growth in the first place.
There were other factors involved too. Once thought to have no real
natural enemy, the milfoil began dying off on its own in many TVA lakes.
The agency got the blame, or the credit; depending on which side you were
on, as to the demise of the aquatic encroachment.
Spraying was always a popular subject at the time. Back then; TVA would
treat some high-use areas such as boat ramps, swimming beaches, and
marinas with chemicals applied by trained personnel who used airboats. The
chemicals were FDA approved and weren't supposed to harm fish and wildlife
or humans.
Some liked the grass; others hated it.
Bass fishermen saw quick improvements in the fishing as the younger fish
thrived in the new structure and were able to survive and hide from
predators. Populations of largemouth exploded and suddenly, Kentucky Lake
went from a so-so bass fishery to one of the best in the country.
On the other side of the coin were waterfront property owners who had a
problem with the thick grass taking over their boathouses and ramps.
Access to and from a shallow cove or bay became difficult, often choking
off an area altogether in late summer and fall.
Many lakers are asking themselves if this is another return to the grass
era? All the signs point that way as long strips of various plants are now
showing up in shallow areas throughout the reservoir.
Things might be different this time around too. If the lake stays clear,
odds are the grass will thrive.
How will TVA approach the infestation this time? That's a good question as
application regulations have changed dramatically since the 1980's and
90's in Tennessee. And, the federal agency lost a lot of its budget and
personnel that was in place back during the war on weeds era.
Some reservoirs like Alabama's Guntersville, located upstream on the
Tennessee River, saw a weed decline in the 90's as well but has since seen
a massive return of aquatics. Kentucky Lake could be in the same boat.
Next week's column will visit with TVA biologists and address the present
and future status of aquatic weeds here on Kentucky Lake.
(Part one of a two-part story on the return of aquatic weeds in Kentucky
Lake.) For part two...click here.
Steve McCadams
is a professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing
area and host of The Outdoor Channel's television series IN-PURSUIT. |
|
