The connection between limestone and trout

How Missouri geology helps to make a great trout stream

You may know that Missouri has been blessed with an abundant amount limestone. Missouri produces more than 18% of the U.S. lime production and has the largest cement kiln in the world.  Due to its unique characteristics limestone can be used for many different purposes ranging from the manufacturing of paper, plastics and steel to the treating of air emissions. It is even used in several food products and as a stomach antacid. However, did you know Missouri’s underlying limestone bedrock and highly weathered karst landscape has produced some of the largest springs and best trout stream habitat in the Midwest?

Yelton Spring, Phelps County, Missouri

One of the characteristics of limestone chemistry is its ability naturally buffer acids, including acidic rainwater. This is important to fish and aquatic life because it helps protect against rapid changes in pH. As rainwater infiltrates into the ground and becomes groundwater, the limestone and slightly acidic rainwater react. The result is an increase in the alkalinity of the water while at the same time small amounts of limestone are dissolved away. This results in the karst landscape and large springs of which Missouri is famous. In addition to the benefits of the buffered water, springs and the spring creeks below them have a much more consistent year-round water temperature ranging from 58 to 61 degrees. This temperature consistency allows for a steady growing cycle of vegetation as well as the trout’s food species such as macro invertebrates and other smaller fish.

Small Wild Rainbow Trout

The relatively consistent discharge/flow rates of the springs and temperature consistencies make Missouri a great place to fish for trout during the winter months. Most spring creeks seldom freeze so they are accessible to fishermen year round and since it is winter the crowd of paddlers, swimmers and other fair weather fishermen seem to stay away. During the winter months it is not uncommon to fish all day and never see another fisherman.

To read more about Missouri limestone, Missouri caves or Missouri karst landscapes check out a Geologic Column of Missouri at http://dnr.mo.gov/geology/geocolumn.htm.  For more information on spring discharges and spring locations visit http://dnr.mo.gov/env/wrc/springsandcaves.htm#Springs.

Insect Threat to Missouri’s Ash Trees Expanding, Survey Underway

I know posting a news brief from MDC is kind of cheating when it comes to blogging, but this is something that is pretty important. I'll have something more original soon.

Boot

New populations found in Platte and Reynolds Counties

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – One of the top threats to Missouri’s hundreds of thousands of ash trees has extended its reach beyond the existing quarantine area. The Emerald Ash Borer has killed more than 50 million U.S. ash trees in the last 10 years and researchers have now found signs of the invasive insect near Kansas City as well as signs of an expanding population in southern Missouri. 

A single Emerald Ash Borer was identified in the Kansas City area last week by an alert aborist, near Parkville.  Staff from the Missouri departments of Agriculture and Conservation and the USDA immediately joined that individual at the site.  Emerald Ash Borers were also identified in Reynolds County last week through routine surveillance, adjacent to the known population in Wayne County.  The Wayne County population was first identified in 2008.

The Missouri departments of Agriculture and Conservation work with federal staff from USDA Plant Protection and Quarantine and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as researchers at the University of Missouri to monitor Missouri’s forests and urban areas for signs of the insect, as well as to inspect incoming shipments of nursery stock which may harbor the borers.

Representatives from those organizations, as well as other members of Missouri’s Invasive Forest Pest Council, will be collaborating on possible changes to Missouri’s Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine as a result of finding the insect in two new locations within the state this month.  The group has already begun work on a survey to determine the extent of infestation in Platte and Reynolds counties.  Those surveys will be ongoing throughout the summer and fall in a cooperative effort by local, state and federal agencies.

Wayne County is currently under federal and state quarantines, which prohibit moving hardwood firewood and living or cut ash trees and ash wood to prevent the accidental spread of the borer.   

Although the Emerald Ash Borer can fly short distances on its own, much of its spread is due to humans transporting it burrowed under the bark of firewood, logs and tree debris.  Consumers are encouraged to use other native tree species, rather than Ash trees, in their landscape plantings and to purchase firewood harvested near their destination when traveling and camping.  Individuals can also check their trees for signs of the Emerald Ash Borer using the online guide available at eab.missouri.edu and report concerns about their trees by calling (866) 716-9974.

Researchers have not been able to determine exactly how or when the Emerald Ash Borer came into Missouri, but it’s believed the insect hitch-hiked into the state in a load of firewood carried by a vacationer from another area, as signs of the insects were first found at a campground in Wayne County near Wappapello Lake. The Emerald Ash Borer was first discovered in the U.S. in 2002, in Michigan.  It has since spread to more than 15 states, including Missouri and Illinois, and Canada. 

For more information about the Emerald Ash Borer, as well as the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s other programs, visit mda.mo.gov.

No one left out

I didn't have a photograph of Ken fishing that could put in yesterdays post so I thought I would add this one today.

Ken - killing time in the hot afternoons.

Tribute to the Camp Cook...and a few fishing photos too.

Ever notice that when you go on a fishing trip for the weekend it seems like you have to come back home just to let your system get back to normal. NO, I am not talking about alcohol. Although the bottle of 18-year old scotch was really smooth, but that is not something you drink much of. You just drink it slow to enjoy it. The CLS' were incredibly tasty as well.

Tim's first Masterpiece...Deer Brats and potatoes

There is just something about camp cooking that seems to make everything better. That is double so when you have camp cooks along like my friends Tim and Jerry. Tim shows up on the first night with a Dutch oven and proceeds to cook some of the greatest meals. He started with deer brats and fried potatoes with peach cobbler, eggs, pancakes, and finally biscuits and gravy. 

Tim's second masterpiece Peach Cobbler and homemade ice cream

Jerry arrives a day later with a smoker and cooks the best fall-off-the-bone pork loin. Now I had boycotted pork for several months, but pulled pork is one of the greatest foods ever invented. I had to try some. Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm good.

Smoked Pork Loin...Paradise

Oh did I mention that we also fished pretty hard too while we were there. We spent most of the time on the river either stripping leeches or trying to match the morning TRICO hatch close enough to land some fish. 

River Rainbow landed on a Leech

Dad with a nice River rainbow

Jerry with another river rainbow

The biggest fish of the weekend was a 18 inch Brown Trout landed on a bead head nymph. I was so proud of Tim. He let the lunker go back into the stream. That is quite a feat for someone who is categorically apposed to the whole "Catch and Release" concept. I guess I am wearing off on him.

Tim's Big fish for the weekend - 18 inch brown

And last but not least one afternoon on the river the doe decided to hang out in the creek and eat water grass as we fished on by. A bit surreal for her to be so relaxed while we just fished along. 

Note the doe standing in the stream feeding on the water grass.

Nothing beats a weekend spent on the creek and camping with great friends and family. Not to mention we had two of the best camp cooks around. I am still trying to recover from the gluttony of it all.

Missouri Record Brook Trout

As Promised...

Here is a photograph of the new Missouri State Record Brook Trout. It was 14.8 inches long and weighed 1 pound 13.92 ounces. Amazing thing to me is that the kid doesn't seem to look real happy. Congratulations to him.

1 pound 13.9 ounce Missouri State Record Brook Trout

Missouri State Parks ban open fires

This was just downloaded from the Missouri State Park webpage. I am not sure how the recent thunderstorms will affect this, but I know the rains haven't been statewide so I am sure it is still in effect in some areas.

...Due to dry and excessively hot weather, Missouri State Parks has issued an OPEN FIRE BAN on all state parks and historic sites. The open fire ban includes prohibiting campfires and other open fires. Contained charcoal fires used for cooking as well as gas and cook top stoves are allowed under the open fire ban. For more information and the latest fire ban statue go to http://mostateparks.com/ .