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Oahe water

by bowtech06 , Posted to Fishing Buddy on 07/03/2009 06:05 AM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
bowtech06
Joined: 07/03/2009
Location: ND
With all the talk of Sak lake levels, has anyone noticed the forecast for Oahe water levels for the remainder of the year?  Looks like the Corps is anticipating another flood next year as they are going to drop the levels about 10ft.  Obviously they haven't learned anything from the past.

Re: Oahe water
by Tim Sandstrom on 07/03/2009 07:27 AM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Tim Sandstrom
Joined: 07/14/2003
Location: ND
bowtech,

it looks like you guys will lose around 6 to 10 feet depending on which model the Corp believes in.  I am giving the Corp the benefit of the doubt that they will manage accordingly.  Do they really want to do what the did in years past?  They have a chance to right the ship.  Obviously, the reservoirs will always (well most of the time) drop as Feb approaches.  Just a question of by how much.  Hopefully, the gates will remain checked so we do not lose all the water we have gained.  In one year we gained it almost all back but as we've learned, it can disappear very, very fast if not managed fairly.  To be determined, as they say...




 
Kirsch's Outdoor Products | Fargo, ND | 701-261-9017 | koutdoorproducts.com
Risovi Taxidermy Studio | New Rockford, ND | 701-947-2048 | risovitaxidermystudio.com
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Re: Oahe water
by Allen on 07/03/2009 2:53 PM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Allen
Joined: 01/09/2002
Location: ND
I suppose everyone just drives around in their vehicles with the gas tank always above 7/8 full as well?

Point being, these are reservoirs.  Whether you like it or not, the fishermen did not pay the cost of building them and they are not managed for the fishermen.

Perhaps the Corps is now of the opinion that with 93, 97, and now 2009 it is best to not have the reservoirs full to start off the year.  I am not 100% sure that if all reservoirs were full this year we wouldn't have lost a couple of dams in ND.  Of course, the Missouri River dams are built to a higher standard than rancher John's stock dam, but nobody with a lick of knowledge about dams likes to see water going over the emergency spillways.
“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” ~ Mark Twain
Re: Oahe water
by Tim Sandstrom on 07/07/2009 12:36 PM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Tim Sandstrom
Joined: 07/14/2003
Location: ND
Recreation is listed as a project purpose.  As a tax payer, I think we all helped pay for the dam.

They had their years, it is our turn.  When I say "our" I mean everyone...barge boys included.




 
Kirsch's Outdoor Products | Fargo, ND | 701-261-9017 | koutdoorproducts.com
Risovi Taxidermy Studio | New Rockford, ND | 701-947-2048 | risovitaxidermystudio.com
Jig-em-Up Guide Service | Grand Forks, ND | 701-739-9198 | jig-em-up-guide-service.com

 
Re: Oahe water
by Farnorth on 07/07/2009 1:28 PM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Farnorth
Joined: 05/23/2002
Location: ND
I think what Allen is trying to say is that maybe some of the "experts" should give the Corp some credit (FYI, not aimed at you, Tim).  I have read a constant stream of bashing about their "mismanagement" of the reservoirs.  I remember people saying that it might take decades to get water levels back to full pool.  This is at least the second time that it has happened in a year.  I don't hear those complainers admitting that they were wrong with their predictions of gloom and doom.  That's the problem with predictions, they are usually wrong.

I see the opposite mistake being made with Ashtabula.  Bald Hill was built primarily for flood control.  Now, they don't ever draw it down near enough and they end up releasing water during flooding in the Valley.  They did it in 1997 and they did it again this year.
Re: Oahe water
by permo on 07/07/2009 1:36 PM | Reply #5 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
permo
Joined: 12/16/2001
Location: ND
Too be honest with you I think the cyclic nature of the resivoir keeps thigns exciting and also creates a great fishery.  It is kind of like how a forrest comes back after it burns down.  After a long period of drought, all that brush and small trees grows. Then the water comes back and productivity, and fertility go through the roof.   Fishing is different and fun during low water, and also fun during high water.  Control the things that you can control and just go fishing.
Re: Oahe water
by espringers on 07/07/2009 2:14 PM | Reply #6 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
espringers
Joined: 07/25/2007
Location: ND
"Control the things that you can control and just go fishing."

perfectly said permo...
Re: Oahe water
by ggenthusiast on 07/07/2009 3:39 PM | Reply #7 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
ggenthusiast
Joined: 09/11/2002
Location: ND
Allen Said:
Whether you like it or not, the fishermen did not pay the cost of building them and they are not managed for the fishermen.
 

Did the barge industry pay for the dam construction?  I don't know, maybe they did.  Its not just fisherman that benefit from high water.  I'll make a short list here for you..

Municipalities don't have to spend $$$ for intake modifications.  Travel and tourism increase sales acrosss the board.  That creates tax revenue for our state.  Small businesses around the lake remain open...more ND jobs to fill.  Dealerships sell more boats, skis, etc....more tax revenue. 

Name one good thing low water does for our state.  The son-of-a was and still is built with ND soil.  ND citizens have just as much right to that water as any citizen downstream.

I say to hell with that pot o' gold.
Re: Oahe water
by sdwxman on 07/07/2009 4:02 PM | Reply #8 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
sdwxman
Joined: 04/06/2007
Location: SD
ggenthusiast Said:
Allen Said:
Whether you like it or not, the fishermen did not pay the cost of building them and they are not managed for the fishermen.
 

Name one good thing low water does for our state. 
One thing? We can store water for the next flood... ;-) What if the resevoirs were plumb full this spring before the flooding. Oh boy...

Managed properly, and everyone wins. I think both Tim and Allen were trying to say that, but from different perspectives.

Like permo says, control the things you can , and just go fishing!

Re: Oahe water
by ggenthusiast on 07/07/2009 4:23 PM | Reply #9 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
ggenthusiast
Joined: 09/11/2002
Location: ND
I think we're still aways from "plumb full".  We can have adequate floor storage and still have recreational access to the lake.  the west end didnt have for years up until last fall.  Believe it or not, there are businesses on that end of lake as well. 

I say to hell with that pot o' gold.
Re: Oahe water
by sdwxman on 07/07/2009 4:26 PM | Reply #10 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
sdwxman
Joined: 04/06/2007
Location: SD
Have you been to Mobridge lately? Oahe is pretty damn close to plumb full if you ask me. If you are referring to Sak, you are in the wrong thread. The thread is titled OAHE Water.
ggenthusiast Said:
I think we're still aways from "plumb full".  We can have adequate floor storage and still have recreational access to the lake.  the west end didnt have for years up until last fall.  Believe it or not, there are businesses on that end of lake as well. 

Re: Oahe water
by ggenthusiast on 07/07/2009 4:40 PM | Reply #11 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
ggenthusiast
Joined: 09/11/2002
Location: ND
oops.  Sak is upstream from Oahe, so unless there is a lot of mountain snowpack in the Ft. Yates country, we can hold it up here until you can make room for it.

I say to hell with that pot o' gold.
Re: Oahe water
by Rowdie on 07/07/2009 5:45 PM | Reply #12 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Rowdie
Joined: 01/14/2002
Location: ND
Has anyone seen the levels of the river below Sioux City to St. Louis during any droughts?  They keep it bank to bank, and drain the lakes above Pierre, even the ones below Pierre aren't that low.  So then it floods in Iowa and Missouri, and the river is already bank to bank full....hmmm.  At least in the big lakes, if they are all ready at average, fill them up and let the rest of the spring flows go trough the dam.  I think they can let out huge amounts if they choose.   They should NEVER get as low low low as they did.

Oh yeah just go fishing .....when the water is that low, I have to drive 50 miles to a ramp to get in to some fish, and gas just happened to be over $3 to $4 a gallon...vs...the 0.75 mile trip I have to the ramp now.   I can't afford too many $60 a day fishing trips. 
12 Replies | Page 1 of 11 | Top of Page | Bottom of Page
Posted By: bowtech06
Posted On: 07/03/2009 06:05 AM
751 Views, 12 Comments

Tags: oahe, water, levels, year, sak, looks, corps, lake, forecast, noticed
More Tags: Natural Disaster, Sak lake, Environment
Region: North Dakota

Categories: Fishing > Walleye Fishing
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