Minersville rumor???

[utahfishman]

Heard today they are "draining" Minersville to fix a "pumping Issue". Anyone hear anything or are they just pulling the regular irrigation water out that they always do?
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[Fishrmn]

From the UDWR website:

Minersville Reservoir
2013-06-21
Good Fishing is good to excellent, and the success is drawing a lot of angler pressure on the weekends. Trolling for rainbows is producing good results. Smallmouth bass are active and are also providing good fishing. A few wipers are being picked up by trollers and bass anglers. Fly fishing is producing some good success during morning and evening hours. There have been rumors circulating about the reservoir being drained and the fishing regulations being lifted. While the dam does need some repair work this year, it is not clear right now whether the reservoir needs to be drained. There haven't been any changes made to the regulations.

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[castnshoot]

There is a problem with the gate that releases the water at the dam. That gate is at the bottom of the lake and controlled by hydraulics. They have not been able to close it like they want.

Divers were down to check it last week. Word is the divers think they can make the repairs needed to a ram.

If they can't fix it the word is all size limits,number of fish limits, and bait restrictions will be lifted some time in Aug.[]

Pray for the divers.
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[Fish4Fun2]

castnshoot is correct - the other issue is the price tag to fix it. It costs more to have the divers fix it versus draining it. I know local authorities like the county are looking at helping fund it. I know Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW) has expressed interest in helping as well. Bottom line, if Minersville means something to you pick up the phone or email the county. Draining the lake would cost them in tourism that Minersville brings with gas and groceries. It is a very popular lake. Let's hope they can get the funding and the divers can fix it!
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[PBH]

There is an issue with the gate. Whether or not it is an issue that warrants draining the reservoir is a huge question that has yet to be answered.

Keep in mind, SPORTSMEN paid for the UDWR to purchase a conservation pool at Minersville. Irrigation users are looking at our current water situation and they can see the writing on the wall. We're in a drought, and their 3rd cut of alfalfa is in jeopardy. How could they possible assure themselves of getting a 3rd cut? Well, they can come up with an excuse to drain the reservoir and utilize SPORTSMEN'S water!

The Blue Ribbon Fisheries Council suggested to contact divers to see if they could possible fix the problem without draining the reservoir. Money is a concern -- but it very well may be worth the money to stop the irrigation users from draining the reservoir!

Surprisingly to me, Beaver County has been in contact with the DWR in support of NOT draining the reservoir. The County has figured out what the State Parks failed to see years ago: when there is water in the reservoir, it is a money maker!! The park has been extremely busy this year, and the last thing the county wants is to see the reservoir drained, and the park empty.

As suggested, if you enjoy Minersville and do not wish to see it drained, you have a couple options. One -- talk with the DWR and support their efforts in fighting the irrigation users. Support them in spending money to try to fix the problem without draining. Two -- contact the Beaver County Commisioners and plead with them to support the DWR and attempt to fix the problem without draining. Three -- support the Blue Ribbon Fisheries Council, and plead with them to utilize money to fix the problem without draining the reservoir. Four -- any other group that you think may possible help (SFW, TU, fishing clubs, etc.) in donations to help prevent the lake from being drained.


Remeber -- those were YOUR dollars that purchased the conservation pool. That water is valuable to all of us. The irrigation users, those same users who offered to sell the conservatio pool to US, now want it back for NOTHING. We cannot sit back and allow it.
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[bk1]

Yeah theres not a problem with the dam, its just those GREEDY Farmers[crazy]!!! They should look at everything available to keep from draining it, it is a special place. But blaming the farmers does not hold water.
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[PBH]

[quote bk1]Y But blaming the farmers does not hold water.[/quote]

Sure it does.

Every hydraulic gate system is going to leak a little -- most of them do. So, how severe is the problem? Does it warrant draining the reservoir?

Irrigation users at Minersville have fought for years to use the conservation pool for irrigation use. They'll come up with any excuse available to use it.

They were very upset when the DWR proposed using divers to fix the problem without draining. They want it drained. They want the water. Water is gold -- and we're in a drought!
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[chickscanfish2]

DAM(n) GATE!!!! Praying those divers can fix it without having to drain the lake. Such a fun fishery. Would be a shame to lose it. [frown]
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[castnshoot]

I don't know about the greedy farmers. As far as I know most of them down there are fine folks just trying to make a living. The same way their grand dads did when "they" put the dam in to hold some water to make it through the summer. "They did not put the dam in to have a place to go fishing.

I believe there are more water management problems above the lake than below. Not so much caused by greed, but out dated controls and lack of oversight. Next time you drive from the lake to Beaver just look at some of the boggs, so soggy a cow does not even want to walk across it.

Believe me I understand not wanting to loose Minersville just as it is starting to kick out some great fishing.

What is the conservation pool, 2500 acre feet. If Minersville did get down to 2500 acre feet, the trout would not survive a week of the weather we are having right now. That has always been the problem with a way too small conservation pool.

If the DWR could get another 2500 acre feet of "first rights" water from the upper Beaver River then you might have a real working conservation pool. Th


If it gets to the point that it looks like the whole lake is going to go belly up. Then I say yes drop all the regs and let every body take what they want.

Even though it was . It was still fun to watch all the kids line the bank and yank out one toad after another on power bait last time they dropped the regs.

Minersville has always lived on the edge as a trout fishery. It has gone from boom to bust many times. If it does survive the summer it is going to be as good as it has ever been come next spring.

Keep your fingers crossed.
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[Liprippa]

Minersville has water concerns....Yawn, nothing new here move on. As has been pointed out already Minersville has always had water issues. They also seem to coincide with coming on just about the time the fishing gets good again. Anybody that is familiar with Minersville's past knows this is a recurring problem. Have to wonder if Panguitch Lake wouldn't be more of a logical choice to develop a trophy trout fishery with special regulations and leave Minersville as a boom and bust warmwater fishery.
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[Fishrmn]

Panguitch has special regs. We were given the choice. Let Minersville be nothing but a warm water fishery or try to keep trout in it. The overwhelming majority wants it to be a trout fishery. Some of them survive with the conservation pool. But the hayseeds want all of the water. Yep. Their pappys and grandpappys paid for PART of the dam. The UDWR paid for some of it too. In doing so, they BOUGHT a conservation pool. The irony is that the Beaver River drainage had the best snowpack in the state the last two years.
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[brookieguy1]

[quote PBH]There is an issue with the gate. Whether or not it is an issue that warrants draining the reservoir is a huge question that has yet to be answered.

Keep in mind, SPORTSMEN paid for the UDWR to purchase a conservation pool at Minersville. Irrigation users are looking at our current water situation and they can see the writing on the wall. We're in a drought, and their 3rd cut of alfalfa is in jeopardy. How could they possible assure themselves of getting a 3rd cut? Well, they can come up with an excuse to drain the reservoir and utilize SPORTSMEN'S water!

The Blue Ribbon Fisheries Council suggested to contact divers to see if they could possible fix the problem without draining the reservoir. Money is a concern -- but it very well may be worth the money to stop the irrigation users from draining the reservoir!

Surprisingly to me, Beaver County has been in contact with the DWR in support of NOT draining the reservoir. The County has figured out what the State Parks failed to see years ago: when there is water in the reservoir, it is a money maker!! The park has been extremely busy this year, and the last thing the county wants is to see the reservoir drained, and the park empty.

As suggested, if you enjoy Minersville and do not wish to see it drained, you have a couple options. One -- talk with the DWR and support their efforts in fighting the irrigation users. Support them in spending money to try to fix the problem without draining. Two -- contact the Beaver County Commisioners and plead with them to support the DWR and attempt to fix the problem without draining. Three -- support the Blue Ribbon Fisheries Council, and plead with them to utilize money to fix the problem without draining the reservoir. Four -- any other group that you think may possible help (SFW, TU, fishing clubs, etc.) in donations to help prevent the lake from being drained.


Remeber -- those were YOUR dollars that purchased the conservation pool. That water is valuable to all of us. The irrigation users, those same users who offered to sell the conservatio pool to US, now want it back for NOTHING. We cannot sit back and allow it.[/quote] Very well put, PBH. Just how much good compared to trout damage could the farmers get out of taking OUR payed for water anyway? Isn't two crops enough? Just gotta have three or four huh? Wish I could get all I wanted, all the time. Free.
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