Im not sure about what everyone else thinks about Alum Creek and Delaware Lake but I wish I could do something about the overall quality of the two bodies of water. I grew up on the banks of Pymatuning Lake in Ashtabula County and I guess i took for granted its clarity and cleanliness. I know the central Ohio lakes are close to bigger cities which means more people to screw things up but damn...I love being on the water but it sucks to see garbage floating bye or an abundance of oil in the water. Passing banks filled with the debris of lazy so-called fisherman that cant clean up after themselves really gets to me. Some species of fish seem to be unhealthy in a lot of areas. This is where we live and where we fish....Something needs to be done before it gets worse. I dont think I have to mention the rivers, we all know they're horrible. From outboard regulations, spawning regulations, to more wildlife officer enforcement...things need to change. Words can bring change....so start talkin...what do you guys think?
Easy to get spoiled coming from a place like Pymatuning. Rural villages, no urban sprawl, minimal runoff from tilled fields. Lots of natural sand, gravel and stone lining the shore. Weed beds (what's left of them) to help filter the water.
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Agricultural runoff is the #1 reason for the turbidity of the water bodies in central Ohio. I agree with you on all the trash left behind by people who just don't care. I bring a trash bag along with me when i go out and try to take out what I can. Maybe you could organize a clean up I think FOSR does clean ups sometimes on the river.
I am going to commit to volunteering if you form an advocacy group or even a trash pickup day. I am also a garbage man on my way out. Hell, we often times take away more trash than fish from places. One of the things that we need are trash cans in obvious fishing areas. If there are picnic tables then there should also be trash cans.
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I've said this in other threads - several times when we've done a litter cleanup at Greenlawn, someone would come up and say something like "I've been fishing here for 40 years" and I ask how the river compares now against then. They always say it's better than it used to be.
I'm preaching to the choir, you people care more about the streams than anyone else. I would guess that half the population of Columbus does not believe that it's even possible to catch fish from the Scioto.
I've said this in other threads - several times when we've done a litter cleanup at Greenlawn, someone would come up and say something like "I've been fishing here for 40 years" and I ask how the river compares now against then. They always say it's better than it used to be.
You're doing good work, sir! This is awesome to hear.
OP, doing something like what FOSR does for the Scioto (as far as picking up trash) for Alum could only help. I know I have been fishing at Hoover before when there was a group cleaning up the area around Baldridge.
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To the original poster, I'm surprised, due to your major, that you're focused on trash, and engine oil, etc...
I'd prefer to hear about the actual water quality, how the bugs look, or more specifics on how "some of the fish seem unhealthy in some areas".
But if you're looking for solutions, it aint about outboard restrictions and more wildlife personnel, it's more about looking at the entire watershed and where that water actually comes from.
At least those reservoirs are deep enough that we won't have the blue algae problem like other shallow lakes.
BTW, it's blue algae season. On which lake do you think we'll see the first article?
To the original poster, I'm surprised, due to your major, that you're focused on trash, and engine oil, etc...
I'd prefer to hear about the actual water quality, how the bugs look, or more specifics on how "some of the fish seem unhealthy in some areas".
But if you're looking for solutions, it aint about outboard restrictions and more wildlife personnel, it's more about looking at the entire watershed and where that water actually comes from.
At least those reservoirs are deep enough that we won't have the blue algae problem like other shallow lakes.
BTW, it's blue algae season. On which lake do you think we'll see the first article?
Yeah, one good gully washer off of a good sized strip mall parking lot probably puts more fuel residue in the system than all of the boating in a year combined. If you are by one of our local CS outlets during a good summer shower on a day like today, the water is literally hot--gotta be around 100 degrees...And why does the Darby take so long to clear up after a rain?
I know that GSM, Erie, and Indian usually lead the pack, but I'll go with Buckeye this year on the bg algae. We haven't seen it yet because there hasn't a big enough rain to flush fertilizer and sewage into the runoff.
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"You get what you tolerate." Ditka
I would guess that half the population of Columbus does not believe that it's even possible to catch fish from the Scioto.
To this day people are still like "you actually fish there". And to that I usually reply "well i've sampled streams throughout the midwest into Minnesota and Wisconsin and the strech of Scioto from Oshay to downtown is right up there with the best those states have to offer in terms of species and habitat" (at least as it pertains to Rivers in close proximity to a Major City). Then I go on to explain all the improvements that have been made to the river over the past decade, along with the improvements that are currently underway. By the time im finished people are almost always looking at me like
I dont think I have to mention the rivers, we all know they're horrible.
And that's one of the biggest issues facing Columbus. The rivers (at least the Scioto) are NOT horrible, heck you should have seen how trashed it was back in the 90's, then go down and take a look today, it's more or less pristine. Yet everyone just goes rambling on about what a sewer the Scioto is when it is so far off from the truth it's not even funny. Your average Joe overhears this talk and immediately writes the river off as a craphole, "ahh who cares if I flush my motor oil down the sewer, that river is crap anyway" and then makes the problem worse.
I'd prefer to hear about the actual water quality, how the bugs look, or more specifics on how "some of the fish seem unhealthy in some areas".
None of that info would support his claims that the rivers are Horrible. Infact if you look at the fish/species counts from the Scioto/Olentangy over the past decade they're right up there with the best rivers in the State.
And that's one of the biggest issues facing Columbus. The rivers (at least the Scioto) are NOT horrible, heck you should have seen how trashed it was back in the 90's, then go down and take a look today, it's more or less pristine. Yet everyone just goes rambling on about what a sewer the Scioto is when it is so far off from the truth it's not even funny. Your average Joe overhears this talk and immediately writes the river off as a craphole, "ahh who cares if I flush my motor oil down the sewer, that river is crap anyway" and then makes the problem worse.
I dont know alot about water quality but have learned a little from my uncle.... 10-12 yrs ago my uncle wouldnt be caught dead fishing the sciota in downtown, or griggs or osheanesy. he now says he wouldnt have a problem in the world eating fish from these areas now..
He builds water treatment plants and other similar things. He said a few yrs back the city of columbus really started cracking down on the amount of sewage being pumped into the sciota,and the amount dumped in now(if any) is low enough to be filtered out by rocks/bubbles/bugs. and that the river has come a LONG way in the last decade.....
I dont know alot about water quality but have learned a little from my uncle.... 10-12 yrs ago my uncle wouldnt be caught dead fishing the sciota in downtown, or griggs or osheanesy. he now says he wouldnt have a problem in the world eating fish from these areas now..
He builds water treatment plants and other similar things. He said a few yrs back the city of columbus really started cracking down on the amount of sewage being pumped into the sciota,and the amount dumped in now(if any) is low enough to be filtered out by rocks/bubbles/bugs. and that the river has come a LONG way in the last decade.....
Ur uncle is on to something. It is only going to get better with the current improvements being made. They will almost completely eliminate sewer overflows.
Ur uncle is on to something. It is only going to get better with the current improvements being made. They will almost completely eliminate sewer overflows.
Also important to note that Sewage overflows have been eliminated from the middle Scioto (anything North of Grandview Ave.) for nearly 20 years now, alot of people don't realize that
Also important to note that Sewage overflows have been eliminated from the middle Scioto (anything North of Grandview Ave.) for nearly 20 years now, alot of people don't realize that
I'm referring to the area Downtown south....ur area is fine, quit complainin
When was the notorious "dublin sewage overflow" fixed?
The Future of Central Ohio Fisheries
The Future of Central Ohio Fisheries
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