Dry summer means wild game is searching for water
Staff reporter
Dry conditions affect more than crops and livestock.
According to Marvin Peterson, resource officer of Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, drought conditions have affected water fowl the most.
"There's not as much effect on pheasants and quail," he said, because there still is water available for game — it's a matter of locating water sources.
"The pheasant population doesn't look real strong anyway," Peterson added. Quail is more plentiful.
The drought influenced dove season, Peterson said, because the birds had to travel to find water which changed the birds' habits.
Deer season should not be significantly affected, even though the deer also is searching for a water supply. Peterson said the deer population has been sustained from last hunting season, so deer should be plentiful.
The other side of the drought issue is safety shown by hunters while in the field.
"Hunters need to be very careful with fire," Peterson said. Extra care should be shown with camp fires, open flames, and even discarding of cigarettes.
"It's going to take several inches of rain before there is enough water to cause a major runoff in Marion Reservoir," Peterson said, which will attract migrating fowl.
Terry Holt, of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of Marion Reservoir, said the water level at the reservoir is three feet lower than usual.
"A more significant drought occurred from 1989 to 1993 when the water was eight feet low," Holt said.
There is sufficient available for those cities who rely on the reservoir for its water supply. However some ramps aren't useable right now because of the lower water levels, but Holt said he was not aware of it curtailing fishing.
There is some good news. The algae bloom this past summer was not as significant as in previous years.
Holt did not say dry conditions influenced the algae bloom which is the main reason for supporting a comprehensive study of the reservoir.
"This emphasizes why we're trying to obtain more information of what causes the blue-green algae," he said.
At Marion County Lake, superintendent Dale Snelling said the lake level was down about 28 inches.
"We haven't had any 'run in' (water) since August 2005," Snelling said. During the summer months, the water level was dropping an inch per day. The cooler weather should keep the water level constant.
Part of a boat ramp near the swimming area was closed during the summer because of the low water conditions. A load of gravel remedied the situation and the entire ramp now is accessible.
"Attendance was significantly lower this past summer at the lake overall," Snelling said, but he didn't attribute that to water conditions.
"I think the high price of gasoline affected that," he said.
Lower water levels have been a hindrance for boats in cove areas but a blessing for fishermen with lake banks more accessible.
The amount of fish being caught doesn't seem to have changed.
Snelling noted the usual migration of various water fowl has not been influenced.
"We've got about the normal amount," he said.
Improvements
Holt said new vault toilets in Hillsboro Cove and French Creek Cove are the most significant improvements fall campers and sportsmen will notice.
A black plastic panel on the back of the toilets is heated by the sun which draws odors from the bathroom.
Although still considered an "out house," Holt said this is a modern kind.
"It's the next best thing to a toilet with running water," he said.
Another improvement is a new courtesy boat dock in Hillsboro Cove but is not useable right now with the lake level being low.
At Marion County Lake, the old courtesy boat dock has been removed and the dock was being installed at press time.
The dock was paid with some county funds but mostly from a grant Snelling had applied for and received.
