LO veggie growth outta control

[The Steady Foot]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... ?track=rss

[Bakoguy]

I don't see a problem excepting the high bass bluegill count spreading but that's not likely to far up river. Any regeneration appears good to me. Looks like you figure a way to float and throw poppers.

[beachbum]

We drove by there last week. It's different to see green down there.

[sschung]

Looks like mighty fine bass fishing. Unless the tulles and cattails are so choking the water system that it turns into a marsh bog, then I don't see a problem. Sometimes easy access spells problems. The idea of pioneering to a inaccessible spot just adds to the allure of the whole experience. Let the water flow let the plants grow and let the bass get big. Nothing wrong with a little bush wacking.

Shane

[BobK]

sschung: Obviously you have never been in that area. The river bed is choked out by tules and moss for a majority of the 68 mile course. You can walk on the tules and not sink in in many areas. If some people (you're the only one I've heard mention it) want to leave some areas alone ok, but that section from the aquaduct intake(below Tinnemaha res.) to Lone Pine was rewatered for recreation, including fishing, hunting canoeing bird watching and other activities. BobK

[Bakoguy]

Nonetheless you can't fault that it was rewatered. That's a positive. Would you have said forget it if the DWP comeback report suggested high weed growth as a deterrent to implementing this plan. The DFG and DWP can't control mother nature.
Any rewatering of a stream is a positive and should be encouraged even if it doesn't reach the conclusion we wish.

[BobK]

bakoguy: I did not say that they should have left it dry. Most all of us up here wanted that section re watered. Actually, it was never dry below Independence anyway. I am saying that one main reason for rewatering was for all types of recreation, not just fishing for the adventurous few. There are people that would have liked to see the area used for bird watching, Kayaking and not allow hunters or other multi use people use the area. DWP did us a great service to rewater the river but it does need continued maintenance, whether by them or volunteers as was the case with Buckley ponds in the 90's. They were drained burned and dug out for all users. They, along with Cal. Waterfoul, DFG, Blm and volunteer crews from several companies are starting a 2 year project to clean the ponds starting next spring. They are draining the 1st 2 as we speak. Hopefully this will encourage others to do the same on the lower Owens. BobK

[RiverRat]

I caught a SMB in the Wild Trout secion last sumer so maybe the fish are moving up. No bid deal since the browns aren't native anyways. Should make things more interesting for future CBD lawsuits though

Can the DWP guys shut down access due to the high cost of maintenance?

shane

[Wildman]

They can shut it down anytime they please.....just look at Haiwee lakes. Closed due to national security.....not that the rest of the several hundred miles is any safer.

[fflutterffly]

So you want it both ways. You want the water, but you are unhappy that the Tule have taken a natural path to growth. Or do you think they were planted? You ride your kayak...fishing and catching small mouth bass, but complain that this is not the aqua-paradise you expected. Make up your mind. Embrace the new waterway, embrace a chance to toss flies and lures into a river that's been dry for much too long. Sorry your paradise is different from mother natures.

[Bakoguy]

Bob K

I didn't mean to come off as combative. Sorry if you read it that way. I have lots of opinions. Most carry no more weight than anothers. I understand what you are saying about how they "sold" the notion. Like many govt. exercises the results were different than expected.
Still I say go with it. It's a good trend. Don't let them use this or provide ammunition to prevent the next rewatering.

Jim

[John Harper]

I'm guessing the water flows are insufficient to provide navigable results, just enough for marsh dwelling species to gain an advantage. Sounds like maybe pushing more water could help. Think DWP will do that for us????

John

[Sierra Fred]

John,

Your dead on. Not enough water to make it the fishery-water way it once was. Now there are lots of tules lining the shores of the river. In many places the tules are so thick that nothing can penetrate them and are blocking the water ways from passage from land and water. Increased flows would help, but DWP has negotiated minimum flows to re-water the river. Higher flows will not benefit DWP's water intake.

Tight Lines ... Fred

[John Harper]

On the flip side, there was no fishery until we created it with planting. The Owens had no fish to speak of until we brought over the west side rainbows (and goldens), and brought the brookies from the northeast, and the browns from Europe(?).

Owens Lake used to be the home of thousands, maybe millions of migratory birds and a lush valley, amazing what 100 years can do. The anniversary of the opening of the aqueduct is November 2013.

I think that's what happened, from my limited research. I wish I knew more about the history of the area.

John

[Trootfisher]

On the flip side, there was no fishery until we created it with planting. The Owens had no fish to speak of until we brought over the west side rainbows (and goldens), and brought the brookies from the northeast, and the browns from Europe(?).

John

there were quite a few native fish in the owens river before it was dammed, diverted, and filled with non-native browns and rainbows. They include:

owens tui chub
owens pupfish
toikona tui chub
owens speckled dace
owens sucker