Re: NANFA-- River Reef Report 7/21

kahley (kahley7_at_ptd.net)
Mon, 22 Jul 2002 07:56:24 -0500

Moontanman_at_aol.com wrote: I

> would float in the shallows and sometimes bass would slide up under my chest
> and wait there like I was a big log or something.

Isn't that a hoot! My husband doesn't snorkel so when he isn't kayaking,
he's snoozing on the floating beanbag chair. There are always fish under
him...totally cool <g>.

> I don't think I have ever
> seen an inflatable dam.

http://www.visitcentralpa.org/OUTDOORS/fabridam2.jpg
It raises the level 8 feet at the breast of the dam but up where
we are, the effect is marginal.....maybe six inxhes...a foot in normal
flow periods but because the river is so low, (two thirds of normal
flow right now) I think the effect is more like two foot.
We hiked in to a point across the river, a couple years ago,
but it was on a lark and we didn't bring binoculars so I
couldn't see much but it did "seem" low so I dredged out the
area between the inner and middle reefs (actually, at that
time there were only two) to an extra 18 inches. I doubt my dredging
was sufficient to maintain much of a flow during the droughts of the
last years. As I cleaned out the debris this year, I found a much higher
concentration of leaves and sticks at a certain level which indicates
(or at least could indicate) that the water level could have been as
low as a foot in parts of the area at some time during the "dam down"
period. This is why there is often soooo much damage done to the
reef structures. since it is made from logs and rocks, exposed logs
dry out and become more buoyant and will wash away with high
water. Normal seasonal flooding raises the level by five feet and
exceptional flooding can raise it close to 15.
To retain good lumber and stumps, which are very useful and hard
to come by, I dismantle some parts of the structure to make sure
the wood lies on the bottom and stays wet. Or load it with as many
rocks as I can to keep it in place. Another source of damage,
devastating damage, is ice. If the river freezes solidly and then we
get a freak rain or flash snow melt, and the ice breaks up, rather than
melting in place, huge chunks of foot thick ice jam around the island
and can plow the reef flat. there are still rocks a hundred feet
downstream that were pushed there by the last ice jamming episode.
It's heart breaking. It has happened twice and I don't know how
many times I'll have the heart to start from scratch again.

> Is your reef above the lake water or does the water
> level change on your reef change with the seasons? It would be cool to get a
> wet suit and dive there in the winter and see who is there when the water is
> cold.

I'd like one in May and September!. But the thought of my bod in a wet
suit? I don't think so <g>.

> A wet suit might solve the twigs sticking to your shirt too.
>
> Moon
> /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
> / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
> / Association"
> / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
> / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
> / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
> / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
> / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
> / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
/ nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org