WATER WOES

Not that it's any big secret...but drought sucks!  Just ask anglers, hunters, city water supplies, farmers and numerous species of fish and wildlife.  The last couple years have been a struggle for anything or anyone that utilizes or relies on adequate precipitation.  Although recent snows and precipitation have helped, the state of Kansas as a whole has a long way to go.

Reservoirs in Kansas have suffered dramatically over the last few years.  Inadequate rainfall and record-setting heat throughout the summer have dropped them many feet due to evaporation.  Others have multiple users with city water supplies and irrigation removing even more water.  Throw all of it into the mix and you've got a recipe for the worst water conditions we've seen in some time in parts of Kansas.

Boat ramps are high and dry.  Low water levels in the winter and summer can cause massive fish kills.  And if you can access some reservoirs getting from point A to point B can be an adventure, and not always an excellent one as it's treacherous at times. 

But as hard as it is to say, drought isn't ALL bad.  Wetland managers have had ample time to control cattails and disc pools to encourage moist soil plant growth.  Dense stands of smartweed and millet provide tons of seeds which are like M&M's to migrating waterfowl.  Fisheries biologists can create and place brushpiles in areas accessible to both bank and boat anglers.  Park staff have been busy removing years of silt from some boat ramps and around loading docks.  Low water levels have allowed much work similar to this and more in some places. 

Drought it nothing new as history can attest.  And as always, there's an end in sight, maybe even something to look forward to.  Some of the best years of fishing have followed extended drought conditions in reservoirs.  Exposed shorelines have erupted in woody and shrubby vegetation and when the lakes fill up again this habitat will provide excellent spawning areas for various sportfish species.  More, young-of-the-year fish will survive with adequate escape cover and places to hide from predators.  Drought-stricken lakes recently filled are much like new ones first impounded and the fishing that follows can be phenomenal. 

And one of these days we will get rains again and lakes and reservoirs will return to conservation pool.  I've been doing a rain dance most days in recent weeks with hopes I can soon launch my boat on some of my favorite waters.  But as my wife can tell you, I can't dance and got married so I wouldn't have to anymore.  Here's hoping Mother Nature takes pity on those of us who are rhythmically-challenged and takes care of it herself.