river levels

I was just checking out the forcasted river levels and saw that LaCrosse is supposed to be down below 5′ by the middle of July. How low did they have the drawdown last year? That has to really push a ton of fish out toward the main channel.

Where do you find forecasts that go out a month or more?

Thanks.

I believe the drawdowns for the backwater habitat regeneration is only a foot and a half. Not positive but that does sound right. I don’t know if they are doing another one this year or not. Anyone know if they are? Thanks, Bill

i thought that it was like a 5 year study they were doing, although i’m not positive. this would only be the 3rd or 4th year that they’ve done it, so i’m thinking they’ll do it again this year.

From what I have read in our local paper here in LaCrosse, the draw down is for pool 9 this year, not here on pool 8. The river level is normally between 5 and 5.5 for the summer. John

It will be interesting to see how it works with pool 9. The reports were good for pool 8. Allowing habitat a chance to come back can help a fishery alot. Please keep us posted on anything you hear from that area as once the year comes to a closing some data should start to appear. Thanks, Bill

I was surprised by it too, but the river watch site had it up for a couple of days. It is gone now. http://www.crh.noaa.gov/arx/lacw3.html

I think they are drawing down Pools 6 and 9. anyone know for sure about 8?

On a side note, for the guys that fished 8 alot last year, did the drawdown effect the fishing alot? For the better or worse?

Those poor smallmouth took a beating. It was nothing to find big schools of them once all the backwaters were drawn down and the main river windgams were easily fishable.
jc

Maybe someday they will do a draw down on pool 7…………then again, let’s hope not.

Yea, The would have to refer to it as the marsh instead of the lake.
jc

Pool 13 will be drawn down 1 (one) foot this summer. The area that will be affected the most is the lower 1/3 of the pool, from Lock and Dam 13 to around Sabula. Farther upriver the drawdown will not be noticed. The idea is to allow vegetation to germinate and begin growing before gradually raising the waterlevel back to normal. And- vegetation is good for fish, especially young fish that need some cover during their first year of life.

Thanks for the info John

Holy mud flats, Savanna is already a shallow pool. This will make things interesting this summer.
Jc

Pool 6 is slated to be drawn down. I have heard it should only be a foot lower…Lower than what though? I also heard it was suppose to start June18?
Props BEWARE! Those wing’ees may jump out and get you.

Here’s a link about the water level drawn down that appeared in the May-June, 2003 issue of the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine.

Backwater Revival Article by Jason Abraham