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flooding and high water affecting fish?


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#1 LepomisAuritus

LepomisAuritus
  • NANFA Guest
  • SE PA

Posted 08 June 2019 - 04:29 PM

The extended pattern has been very wet in the mid-Atlantic recently. Last year was the wettest ever by a large margin in southeast PA and the moist trend has continued this year. I am concerned that I may not get any river snorkeling in after almost none last year and little the year before. That said, my greater concern is the prolonged high flow levels and turbidity may be affecting native fish, especially in spawning season. Is this concern justified? I know that increased turbidity from development has caused many extinctions, but I would imagine that wet cycles like this have occurred before naturally. I know many across the east are facing similar issues, so I would be interested to here some perspective from more experienced native fish enthusiasts. 

Thanks!



#2 JasonL

JasonL
  • NANFA Member
  • Kentucky

Posted 09 June 2019 - 07:51 PM

We've had extensive flooding here in western KY this spring, to the point that some of my favorite spots have been inaccessible until recently. That said, I have seen YOY darters, catfish, Lepomis, and bass all within the last several weeks. So I guess the fish have figured it out, at least in my neck of the woods.

#3 TheNonEuclidean

TheNonEuclidean
  • NANFA Guest
  • Aiken, SC

Posted 24 June 2019 - 12:09 PM

Many fish around here rely on high water for spawning. It washes all kinds of food into the river and provides new cover.

#4 gerald

gerald
  • Global Moderator
  • Wake Forest, North Carolina

Posted 25 June 2019 - 08:26 AM

Occasional extreme events are nothing new -- species deal with those -- but changes in the long-term patterns of flow, temperature, etc will shift the ecological balance, causing some species to prosper and others to decline.  Another factor is the increasing frequency and severity of pollution events from flooded sewers, septic, fuel stations, farms, etc.


Gerald Pottern
-----------------------
Hangin' on the Neuse
"Taxonomy is the diaper used to organize the mess of evolution into discrete packages" - M.Sandel


#5 don212

don212
  • NANFA Member

Posted 26 June 2019 - 04:10 PM

in  florida we get of the rivers all the time, it's flat here and when it rains it pours, the heavy rains push stagnant low oxygen water out into the channels and cause local fish kills.






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