11-8-2008 Reelfoot Lake News
Due to the cool weather over the last few days -- we have new flights of waterfowl coming in nightly from the north - large numbers of puddle ducks along with coots. Reelfoot Lake is full of ducks in most areas due to low water levels in West Tennessee. All areas on the lake that normally have 2 feet of water are dry. But all open water areas are holding ducks and other waterfowl.
Lots of Gray Ducks, Mallards, Teal, Pintails along with divers are on the lake now -- Thousands of ducks are in the Grassey Unit of the Reelfoot Lake National Wildlife Refuge along the Bayou Du Chien River Basin.
Today, Reelfoot Lake water level is at 10.40 feet on the USGS gauge which makes it 280.60' feet mean sea level.
News note to everyone -- The USFWS has stated to Cong. John Tanner in a letter that when the water level gets around 281.2' feet mean sea level again - they and TWRA staff will use the cookie cutter again to open up all boat trails. This is good news for duck hunters. Due to low water levels some of duck blind areas are dry at this time and may be dry on Nov. 15 & 16. - maybe before the second opening date of Nov 29th we will get some rain.
Thanks to Joe Denton of Samburg -- he got up a local petition along with writing letters to Cong. John Tanner for this to happen, this year. USFWS is waiting on rain to do the work.
Due to the cool weather over the last few days -- we have new flights of waterfowl coming in nightly from the north - large numbers of puddle ducks along with coots. Reelfoot Lake is full of ducks in most areas due to low water levels in West Tennessee. All areas on the lake that normally have 2 feet of water are dry. But all open water areas are holding ducks and other waterfowl.
Lots of Gray Ducks, Mallards, Teal, Pintails along with divers are on the lake now -- Thousands of ducks are in the Grassey Unit of the Reelfoot Lake National Wildlife Refuge along the Bayou Du Chien River Basin.
Today, Reelfoot Lake water level is at 10.40 feet on the USGS gauge which makes it 280.60' feet mean sea level.
News note to everyone -- The USFWS has stated to Cong. John Tanner in a letter that when the water level gets around 281.2' feet mean sea level again - they and TWRA staff will use the cookie cutter again to open up all boat trails. This is good news for duck hunters. Due to low water levels some of duck blind areas are dry at this time and may be dry on Nov. 15 & 16. - maybe before the second opening date of Nov 29th we will get some rain.
Thanks to Joe Denton of Samburg -- he got up a local petition along with writing letters to Cong. John Tanner for this to happen, this year. USFWS is waiting on rain to do the work.