Black Hills Flyfishers
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Home > Newsletters > January 2007 > Is there hope for Spring Creek?
| Is There Hope for Spring Creek? |
A well-attended public meeting on Sheridan Lake and Spring Creek was held at the Rimrock
Community Center at Johnson Siding, on November 28th.
This meeting was sponsored by the USFS, and conducted by Frank Carroll of the Forest Service and
Ron Koth of the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department. In addition to the Forest Service and
GF&P representatives, the meeting was attended by representatives of Forest Recreation
Management, Sheridan Lake Marina, the Black Hills Fly Fishers, and other members of the general
public.
As many of you know, Sheridan Lake has a new valve that allows for a cold-water release into Spring
Creek below the reservoir. The Forest Service is exploring the possibility of dedicating a very small
portion of the water stored in Sheridan Lake for the benefit of the downstream fishery.
Frank Carroll kicked off the meeting with an introduction to the concept, and an overview of what
happened at other meetings on this subject. Ron Koth then gave a Powerpoint presentation, which
included a clarification that the “project” is not in the planning stages at this time. As a result, the
purpose of the meeting was not to outline a plan, but rather to hear all parties’ concerns about
releasing water into Spring Creek to create and maintain a viable stream fishery.
A series of questions and answers followed. As one that attended the meeting, I was struck by two
things:
1) Once Hill City completes their new sewer system, additional water will flow into the lake. It is
estimated that this additional water will be roughly equivalent to the amount of water that would be
reserved for the downstream fishery.
2) An aerial-view map of the lake showed how little effect a two-foot draw-down would have on the
lake. In most cases, the shoreline would be within a foot or two of where it was prior to the draw-down.
In other areas, such as the marina and the beaches, the draw-down would be more significant, and
remedial measures would need to be taken.
Of the meeting attendees, some people wanted the project to take place, some people were open-
minded about the project but did not want to harm Sheridan Lake, and others (in my opinion) were not
open-minded about the project, and would be opposed even if there was no “harm” whatsoever to
lake recreation.
Personally, I have some concern about the effect an additional 1.5 cfs of “Hill City sewer water” might
do to the various creatures that inhabit the lake. I mean, look what a small amount of Japanese
radioacte waste can do!
Need I say more?
Community Center at Johnson Siding, on November 28th.
This meeting was sponsored by the USFS, and conducted by Frank Carroll of the Forest Service and
Ron Koth of the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department. In addition to the Forest Service and
GF&P representatives, the meeting was attended by representatives of Forest Recreation
Management, Sheridan Lake Marina, the Black Hills Fly Fishers, and other members of the general
public.
As many of you know, Sheridan Lake has a new valve that allows for a cold-water release into Spring
Creek below the reservoir. The Forest Service is exploring the possibility of dedicating a very small
portion of the water stored in Sheridan Lake for the benefit of the downstream fishery.
Frank Carroll kicked off the meeting with an introduction to the concept, and an overview of what
happened at other meetings on this subject. Ron Koth then gave a Powerpoint presentation, which
included a clarification that the “project” is not in the planning stages at this time. As a result, the
purpose of the meeting was not to outline a plan, but rather to hear all parties’ concerns about
releasing water into Spring Creek to create and maintain a viable stream fishery.
A series of questions and answers followed. As one that attended the meeting, I was struck by two
things:
1) Once Hill City completes their new sewer system, additional water will flow into the lake. It is
estimated that this additional water will be roughly equivalent to the amount of water that would be
reserved for the downstream fishery.
2) An aerial-view map of the lake showed how little effect a two-foot draw-down would have on the
lake. In most cases, the shoreline would be within a foot or two of where it was prior to the draw-down.
In other areas, such as the marina and the beaches, the draw-down would be more significant, and
remedial measures would need to be taken.
Of the meeting attendees, some people wanted the project to take place, some people were open-
minded about the project but did not want to harm Sheridan Lake, and others (in my opinion) were not
open-minded about the project, and would be opposed even if there was no “harm” whatsoever to
lake recreation.
Personally, I have some concern about the effect an additional 1.5 cfs of “Hill City sewer water” might
do to the various creatures that inhabit the lake. I mean, look what a small amount of Japanese
radioacte waste can do!
Need I say more?
Oh no! There goes Tokyo!
Go-go-Godzilla!Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa. Stay tuned.
Go-go-Godzilla!Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa. Stay tuned.