03-22-2004, 05:15 PM
PBH is right on this one. The real problem with most fisheries in Utah that have problems boils down to two things:
-Lack of sufficient water (or sufficient clean water)
-Lack of good habitat
If we work on improving habitat and water conditions in our fisheries, we will see a comparable improvement in both native (endangered) species and sportfish species, as well as forage fish species. The entire ecosystem will be healthier and better off.
As for Utah Lake, it was ALWAYS a shallow lake. Yes, it used to be deeper than it is now, and used to have a lot more vegetation especially along the shoreline, but it wasn't 50 feet deep. It is shallow enough that it's not only the carp that churn up the mud. Anyone who has been out on Utah Lake on a nice day and suddenly a mediocre breeze kicks up knows that the lake can produce whitecaps within minutes. That's one reason why it was so dangerous for the ironman competition--it changes so fast. The lake is so shallow, and has such a large surface area that the winds can quickly and easily start to churn up the water and mud. Yes, the carp are also at fault because at least near the shoreline there would be a lot more vegetation to help hold down the mud and silt and keep the wind from picking it up.
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-Lack of sufficient water (or sufficient clean water)
-Lack of good habitat
If we work on improving habitat and water conditions in our fisheries, we will see a comparable improvement in both native (endangered) species and sportfish species, as well as forage fish species. The entire ecosystem will be healthier and better off.
As for Utah Lake, it was ALWAYS a shallow lake. Yes, it used to be deeper than it is now, and used to have a lot more vegetation especially along the shoreline, but it wasn't 50 feet deep. It is shallow enough that it's not only the carp that churn up the mud. Anyone who has been out on Utah Lake on a nice day and suddenly a mediocre breeze kicks up knows that the lake can produce whitecaps within minutes. That's one reason why it was so dangerous for the ironman competition--it changes so fast. The lake is so shallow, and has such a large surface area that the winds can quickly and easily start to churn up the water and mud. Yes, the carp are also at fault because at least near the shoreline there would be a lot more vegetation to help hold down the mud and silt and keep the wind from picking it up.
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