Efforts Underway to Improve Water Quality at the Illinois River Trout Fishery

By Oklahoma Dept of Wildlife Conservation

07-15-2009

Summer water temperatures on the Lower Illinois River have been higher than normal the past two years. Wildlife Department officials are working jointly with Southwest Power Administration (SWPA) and the Corps of Engineers (COE) to develop a strategy to allow the continued stocking of trout throughout the summer.

“Both the Corps and Southwest Power have been very open to our suggestions and have accommodated our request whenever possible,” said Jim Burroughs east-central region fisheries supervisor. “We can’t rule out that stockings may have to be halted later this summer but we’re hoping for the best. If not for the cooperation of both COE and SWPA, stocking schedules would likely have at best been altered and at worst postponed already.”

The waters released through SWPA turbines used for hydropower generation flow directly into the Lower Illinois River trout stream. In normal years hydropower generation supplemented with releases from the Corps is sufficient to support the trout fishery. However, because of abnormally high flood releases the last two years, the supply of cold water near the bottom of the lake has been depleted. Fisheries officials hope that a cold winter followed by a spring without much floodwater in the Tenkiller drainage will result in pre-2008 water conditions.

“The good news is that trout stockings will continue for now, but stocking locations may vary depending on the water conditions on individual stocking days. Stockings will focus on upstream sites and sites with flowing water as these typically will have cooler water than downstream locations and those with only pooled water”, said Burroughs. “Our goal is to continue stocking all summer but we will have to evaluate conditions on a week by week and even a day by day basis.”

Stockings have also been adjusted from mornings to evenings to coincide with water releases by the SWPA.

The Illinois River is one of only two year round trout fisheries in the state. Trout fishing has been excellent this spring with some anglers reporting the best fishing ever. Officials hope to be able to continue stocking and keep angler success and satisfaction high.