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WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS BATTLE HIGH WATER
by Steve McCadams
www.stevemccadams.com
May 16th, 2008

It has been a wet spring and several local wildlife management areas such as West Sandy, Big Sandy, Gin Creek, Camden bottoms, and Barkley units have been victims of high lake levels.

While some anglers benefit from the additional water and increased acreage for fishing in the backwater, winter waterfowl will find the scenario less appealing when no crops are planted.

Pumping is now underway at Springville pump house which will lower West Sandy and Big Sandy is pumping too.

Heavy and continuous rains earlier this spring in the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee River systems have resulted in extreme flooding that is effecting crop production on several of TWRA’s West Tennessee WMAs.

“The pumping process takes approximately four weeks to get the water off the waterfowl food areas of the WMAs,” said TWRA’s Dan Fuqua. “It takes an additional two weeks of drying time before TWRA can begin planting food plots. Additional rain will prolong the drying time.

TWRA will strive to provide food for waterfowl, but if the water remains on these areas past June 15^th, the probability of having descent food plots for this winter will not be good.”

Steve McCadams is a professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing area. He has also contributed many outdoor oriented articles to various national publications.

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