Today, The Earth Stood Still...

[Gil Dobie]

They can't...

...this is the point when Douche and Kalm try to make funny or go personal...

...once they recognize their gonna get another ass whuppin.

Enviro-whacko fail.

Again.

Depends on the size of the stream, the type of fish, and the overall ecosystem. For instance, Grand Coulee Dam forever halted the run of pacific salmon and steelhead that swam up 100's of miles of the Upper Columbia River System including the Spokane River to their native creeks to spawn, but it also created habitat for transplanted species of fish like Walleye and Large Mouth Bass.

The BLM has reintroduced beavers in a number of areas out west specifically to rehabilitate riparian habitat zones. In these instances, the beaver dams broaden and slow down the creek in certain places which encourages the growth of streamside grasses, trees, and underbrush and creates larger deep pools of open water. In other places where the water poors over the dams it creates narrow, highly oxygenated runs. Trout and other critters can thrive in both of these scenarios and it also helps with bank erosion and lessens sediment load during times of runoff.

In larger river systems like the Sacremento or Columbia that have runs of anadramous fish, the main rivers are of course too large for beavers to dam. However beaver dams in the smaller tributaries where the fish spawn can prevent passage. However, mother nature has a tendency to self correct by occassionally wiping out the dams during years of exceptionally high runoff. This creates a balance and helps keep the beavers employed. In any event, there was a hell of lot better fishing for native species back when the beavers were the only dam builders.

There you go, T. "make funny free".

Nothing that a man-made dam or spillway could not do. My question was better than man made............
Your last statement about better fishing for native species when beavers were the only dam builders sounds like an opinion. You also mentioned transplanted species, how do they get transplanted?

[kalm]

Depends on the size of the stream, the type of fish, and the overall ecosystem. For instance, Grand Coulee Dam forever halted the run of pacific salmon and steelhead that swam up 100's of miles of the Upper Columbia River System including the Spokane River to their native creeks to spawn, but it also created habitat for transplanted species of fish like Walleye and Large Mouth Bass.

The BLM has reintroduced beavers in a number of areas out west specifically to rehabilitate riparian habitat zones. In these instances, the beaver dams broaden and slow down the creek in certain places which encourages the growth of streamside grasses, trees, and underbrush and creates larger deep pools of open water. In other places where the water poors over the dams it creates narrow, highly oxygenated runs. Trout and other critters can thrive in both of these scenarios and it also helps with bank erosion and lessens sediment load during times of runoff.

In larger river systems like the Sacremento or Columbia that have runs of anadramous fish, the main rivers are of course too large for beavers to dam. However beaver dams in the smaller tributaries where the fish spawn can prevent passage. However, mother nature has a tendency to self correct by occassionally wiping out the dams during years of exceptionally high runoff. This creates a balance and helps keep the beavers employed. In any event, there was a hell of lot better fishing for native species back when the beavers were the only dam builders.

There you go, T. "make funny free".

Nothing that a man-made dam or spillway could not do. My question was better than man made............
Your last statement about better fishing for native species when beavers were the only dam builders sounds like an opinion. You also mentioned transplanted species, how do they get transplanted?

Yes, in flyfishing lingo they are called tailwaters and can provide excellent habitat for trout. But there are still other problems associated with man made dams that you don't see from beaver dams.

I was being somewhat flippant with my whole argument, but I guarantee that the salmon and steelhead fishing in the upper Columbia was far better than now as the runs no longer exist thanks to the Grand Coulee.

Transplanted species have been introduced for good or bad in a variety of ways. For instance, German Browns made yoyages across the Atlantic by steamship and across the North American continent via covered wagon.