The Once Mighty Housatonic....
I had gotten a couple of emails over the last few days about the Housatonic and the low flow and just had to see for myself what was going on. My 5 year old son and I hopped into the Explorer and made the ride up 7 to see what was going on. I didn't bring a fishing rod, just a camera to take some shots of what we might see.
This sign sums up my thoughts on the river right now...
http://troutpredator.info/MGalleryItem.php?id=894
I know some folks fish for smallies...but this water level is ridiculous. I will say, of the folks we saw fishing today, none were near the refuges at all...and one guy I ran into made it a point to say he was fishing for bass.
http://troutpredator.info/MGalleryItem.php?id=896
Then of course there was the obligatory photo of the covered bridge.
http://troutpredator.info/MGalleryItem.php?id=895
Some shots from River Road...
http://troutpredator.info/MGalleryItem.php?id=897
http://troutpredator.info/MGalleryItem.php?id=893
As I type this...the rain is coming down steady here on the banks of the Pootatuck. I hope they are getting a solid soaking up north. We did not see any dead fish, but I didn't see any herons or mergansers either while there....
Photo credits belong to my son Nathan.
Re: The Once Mighty Housatonic....
No Mergansers or Herons may not be a good sign. They might be there if thier prey was.
Re: The Once Mighty Housatonic....
That was what I was thinking on the ride home yesterday....
The river will bounce back...I just hope it is sooner rather than later.
Seeing the river that low ought to make people think more about their use or misuse of water. I know it isn't a cause and effect per se...but it was in my mind this am when I took a quicker shower.
Re: The Once Mighty Housatonic....
Evidently the State has little concern for the welfare of the river system and its value to those who fish it, a sorry state of affairs.
I have one question here. How is water released, if it is, to maintain both adequate cfs flow and temerature values. Or is the river dependant on rainfall, as any other freestone system would be.
Re: The Once Mighty Housatonic....
Davy-
My timing might be off, but I believe when we last went through DPUC/FERC relicensing for the dam...in 04 or 05? Folks feel free to correct me if I am wrong, the ruling was to move to Run of River...
It has been exceptionally hot and dry...the tribs to the river in some cases are nearly bone dry as well.
