25 September 2025 “ the good, the bad and the ugly “

[HEN]

It was on the schedule to generate yesterday, they didn't! It wasn't on the schedule to generate today, they did!  When they did the river was ugly and stank like methane. I think they opened the gate on the third generator for the first time in over 2 years and all the crap came pouring out into the river. You may think that's the bad, no, that's good because the river can now start to heal before it's time to restock fish. Also means they have the trash racks repaired on the other intake tube. Again, I think this to be true. The river has smelled really bad for the past few weeks since the lake turned over, the smell today was different and the water was really ugly looking. The bad is that there are no fish in the river but I plan on going fishing tomorrow 🤣🤣, just to see if we have any more dead crawfish in the river. Not sure there were any left in the park area to kill.

Like I said, if all the above is true, the river can be on the road to healing and we don't have to worry about them stocking and then the Corp opening the repaired gate and killing the fish again. That's the best good news lately!!! 

[Kosmo]

Good lord willing,  thank you sir,

[Flyfish]

Thanks Hen!  Boy hidey, I sure do need my fishing fix in...soon!

[Ugly Flies]

It was on the schedule to generate yesterday, they didn't! It wasn't on the schedule to generate today, they did!  When they did the river was ugly and stank like methane. I think they opened the gate on the third generator for the first time in over 2 years and all the crap came pouring out into the river. You may think that's the bad, no, that's good because the river can now start to heal before it's time to restock fish. Also means they have the trash racks repaired on the other intake tube. Again, I think this to be true. The river has smelled really bad for the past few weeks since the lake turned over, the smell today was different and the water was really ugly looking. The bad is that there are no fish in the river but I plan on going fishing tomorrow 🤣🤣, just to see if we have any more dead crawfish in the river. Not sure there were any left in the park area to kill.

Like I said, if all the above is true, the river can be on the road to healing and we don't have to worry about them stocking and then the Corp opening the repaired gate and killing the fish again. That's the best good news lately!!! 

Mike have they been generating as the schedule shows, if so is the water temperature down in the middle to lower 60's. He you check the low water crossing water temperature.?
Look at the stocking form last year, the first stocking was on the 23rd.
Thanks again for keeping us posted on what going on.

[Jeff Guerin]

Hey Dennis, best I can discern from the CORPS Rivergages site they've been releasing water every day around 5:00, but not for very long! 🤔

That's not all that of an unusual summer/fall generation pattern...

[Jeff Guerin]

According to the SWEPCO charts it's supposed to be at 6:00. But that's about right with running just two generators.

[HEN]

They are waiting every day until the workers quit working on the dam to generate.  The Underwater Construction Company is back working on the third generator trash rack.

[Jeff Guerin]

That explains the 16 kwh's (instead of 24) on the schedule. Still just running the other two. 😏

[Jeff Guerin]

Hey Mike, did you ever find out exactly what they've been doing all this time???

[HEN]

They did run the third generator for about a week while the construction crew was gone, apparently they had it fixed enough to do that. Now they are back to finish the job. They have brought in a lot of big iron!! I beams, crossbeams, V channels etc. and rebuilt the trash racks that keeps the debris from getting into the intake tubes and then into the generator itself. Lots of welding supplies and big nuts and bolts. It's big heavy stuff so should last the rest of my lifetime!!🤣🤣🤣.

Checked the water temperature a couple of days ago and it was 66 degreese at midday at River Ridge and Hinds bluff we are having some nights in the fifty's now so hopefully the temperature starts dropping in the river. The smell from the lake turning over has improved some but still has a little methane smell. Water is clear and the bottom is cleaning up some. Still very little sign of life from the meat hole to the dam and no vegetation there at all in the water.

Only 4 days until trout season starts on the Lil'Mo' if you go by the AGFC trout handbook. That's when you can start keeping trout again. This year there are NO trout (or other fish) in the river to keep. At least none in the upper one mile of river. The bait chunkers that always hit the wall at Riverside on opening day to harvest all the good carryover fish are really gonna be disappointed!! 

The "Arkansas Wildlife" magazine has another article on the conditions at the Spring River hatchery in the September/October issue. It's worth reading.  Don't think we will be getting any big fish from there this year!!😞☹️. Will be interesting to see where our fish come from and what size they are. Break out your attractor flies, it will be all new fish in the river, WHENEVER a they decide to stock!??

[hobiegates]

Thanks for the update Mike