Following the announcement from TVA that Boone Lake levels will remain lower than normal into the spring and summer, TWRA fisheries biologists are preparing for the potential impact on fish populations in the reservoir and tailwaters.
The primary goal is to keep the fishery as stable as possible during the drawdown period and biologists will be monitoring conditions closely in order to adjust reservoir and tailwater fishery management. Tailwater temperature and conditions may be a concern in the summer months and in order to monitor potential changes, temperature loggers will be deployed providing real-time information allowing management strategies to be adjusted. For example, trout stocking in the tailwater may have to be redistributed to cooler months if water temperatures reach maximum tolerance levels for trout during the summer months. Fortunately, Boone Lake is fed by two cold-water rivers, which may lessen the impact to tailwater temperatures.
Another concern for biologists is the reduction of reservoir habitat as surface acreage is expected to be half of normal full-pool elevation. To address this issue, TWRA will best utilize hatchery production while maintaining fish populations in the reservoir at a level supported by the available habitat and angling pressure.
Biologists are also taking into consideration that there will be a reduction of available spawning habitat for sport fish species, but say that Boone is a very productive reservoir and fish species should recover and may also benefit from shoreline vegetative growth once normal reservoir-levels return. In the event that fish populations are greatly reduced, an increase in sport-fish stocking may be warranted and biologists have years of population data to gauge the effects of the draw down.
The public can also expect a reduction in boating access to the reservoir due to inaccessibly of the water from public boat ramps.