Cumberland Trout Limits Raised Due to Water’s Warmth

By Art Lander Jr., The Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky.

Jun. 15–The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has issued a Wildlife Disaster Contingency Measure for brown and rainbow trout in the lower 40 miles of the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam.

The trout are in danger of dying from prolonged exposure to warm water.

The contingency measure, authorized yesterday afternoon by Commissioner Jon Gassett, creates a 10-fish aggregate daily creel limit on trout, with no size limits, in the area 100 yards above the boat ramp in Burkesville, downstream to the Tennessee line, east of Tompkinsville.

It takes effect at midnight tonight. Although the survival of some striped bass is also a concern, this measure applies strictly to trout.

"We want people to be able to catch these fish rather than let them die on the water," said Benjy Kinman, the department’s director of fisheries. "All indications are that these fish aren’t going to survive long term."

The 75-mile tailwaters, which flow through parts of Russell, Cumberland and Monroe counties, is the state’s premier trout fishery, supported by discharges of cool water from the depths of Lake Cumberland.

A spring drought, unseasonably hot weather and the lowering of Lake Cumberland to elevation 680 feet above sea level to repair leaks in Wolf Creek Dam, have resulted in less cool water discharged into the river, and much lower river levels.

Normally, water temperatures in the tailwaters during June are in the mid-50s, but this week water temperatures reached the mid-70s at several locations in Cumberland and Monroe counties.

At water temperatures of 75 degrees or above, trout will die.

Burkesville is about 35 river miles below Wolf Creek Dam. "We think the upper river is secure, and we hope that it will become a refuge for our trophy trout," said Kinman.

Anglers are reminded that they must have a valid fishing license and trout permit to fish.

"We ask that anglers keep the fish they catch, and stop fishing after they have reached their daily limit of 10 trout," said Kinman. "Trout in warm water become stressed easily and may not survive being released."

Starting today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will modify water discharges through Wolf Creek Dam in an attempt to maintain a steady flow of cool, oxygenated water into the river.

One sluice gate will be opened for three hours, then closed for three hours, around the clock.

"It’s a seven-day trial, and we’ll be monitoring water temperatures," said Kinman. "By having less time between the opening of the gates, we hope it redistributes the cool water better."

Opening the sluice gates causes cold water from near the lake bed to flow into a concrete basin and spray into the tailwaters.

The Corps is unable to increase the amount of water flowing through the dam each day because of a lack of rain in the headwaters, and the lake can’t be lowered much more (below 680 feet) without affecting water intakes for local communities.

The contingency measure authorized yesterday is expected to be rescinded when water conditions improve in the fall.

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Revised trout limits

Starting at midnight tonight.

Lower Cumberland river

In the 40 miles between Burkesville and the Tennessee border, each angler may keep a total of 10 brown and rainbow trout per day of any size.

Upper Cumberland river

In the 35 miles between Wolfe Creek Dam and Burkesville, existing limits do not change. These include:

Brown trout: Each angler may keep one per day, but it must be at least 20 inches long.

Rainbow trout: Each angler may keep five per day, but only one can be larger than 20 inches. Any between 15 and 20 inches must be released.

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky.

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