joefromchicago
Steelhead
I stand corrected on the water supply. In fact, a 1997 study attributed the main source of phosphorous to that aquifer and that the hatcheries contributed a negligible amount to that and were consistently monitored at the hatchery for water quality. Rocky Ford has always been nutrient rich and as such prone to possible overgrowth.
Interestingly, it also mentioned that rooted macrophytes (large submersed plants) do not get their nutrients from the water but through sediments, although the coontail is an unrooted plant and does get it from the water. It was suggested elsewhere that waterfowl excrement may be a contributing factor. Increased water flow rather than increased nutrients was considered to be the main culprit in those days. Also learned that phosphorus and potassium are not generally found in natural water flows.
That said, I stand by my statement that global warming and the increased growing season is a major factor currently and is readily observable in our lakes where algae blooms are more persistent than ever before and was not a factor in that study. My misjudgement came from my, admittedly limited, knowledge of waters like the Metolius and Silver Creek.
This has been interesting for me, I hope it has been for you.
To those interested, the report came from the Washington State Department of Ecology, September 1998, Publication# 98-326
Interestingly, it also mentioned that rooted macrophytes (large submersed plants) do not get their nutrients from the water but through sediments, although the coontail is an unrooted plant and does get it from the water. It was suggested elsewhere that waterfowl excrement may be a contributing factor. Increased water flow rather than increased nutrients was considered to be the main culprit in those days. Also learned that phosphorus and potassium are not generally found in natural water flows.
That said, I stand by my statement that global warming and the increased growing season is a major factor currently and is readily observable in our lakes where algae blooms are more persistent than ever before and was not a factor in that study. My misjudgement came from my, admittedly limited, knowledge of waters like the Metolius and Silver Creek.
This has been interesting for me, I hope it has been for you.
To those interested, the report came from the Washington State Department of Ecology, September 1998, Publication# 98-326
