Oahe water

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...

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.

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.

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.

"Control the things that you can control and just go fishing."

perfectly said permo...

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.

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!

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. 

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. 

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.

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.