Saw this thread in another subtopic:
http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/1833727/page/1/gonew/1#UNREAD
Don, any info?

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20060828f

Doesn't make much sense but stranger things have happened.
Amount of $ TPW pours into both of the lakes with redfish stockings and ramp grants this year.
But it is SA power and that's their primary purpose not recreation. We'll see, wouldn't bet on any closing happening anytime soon.

I have written my contacts at SARA and CPS...let's see if they respond. My $$$ is on the fishery continuing to be kept open with less bank space. I asked a few months ago about the environmental changes coming up, but they assured me that the water temperature will remain about the same. We'll see.

Thanks guys!

From Dale Bransford, Parks Manager. still awaiting CPS.

Don -

I would agree with your title line pondering that a rumor is afloat. In our relationship with CPS Energy, every indication is that they plan to keep both Braunig and Calaveras Lakes open for public use, and SARA plans to continue our operating agreement with them, as we have for over 30 years. In today's world almost anything is possible, but we at SARA would be suprised if the rumor was true.

Thank your for your comments about the parks being cleaner. Staff is really working hard in that regard. Our goal is to provide safe, clean, and enjoyable parks! However, we can't take credit for the fishing; the fishermen themselves are due that credit, along with Mother Nature.

Happy New Year!

Dale Bransford, CPRP
Park Services Manager
San Antonio River Authority
dbransford@sara-tx.org

I doubt that the fishing will end at Calaveras, but I have been wondering how the additional discharge of hot water is going to affect the fishing. I assume that they will use the same discharge infrastructure that exists. I would have to think that the public shoreline should not be affected (plant is located on west side of the lake) The hot water pond, which is beyond the orange buoys, will be hotter, but the main part of the lake should remain the same or slightly warmer. Is my assumption correct or is there more to it ? Comments ?
Roger

This is just a guess, but it could be that they don't know the effect of letting hotter water into the lake, and there could possibly be a large fish kill when it does happen, and they want to deflect critics when it happens, by having that option on the table.

To be honest, I don't see how those fish survive as of now, as hot as I've seen that water.

I've had concerns running up that west end, that my motor was going to overheat, but looks like that could be another possibility, so would CPS be liable for replacing a few outboard motors, if they allowed fishing?

I could see them maybe bouying off a large part of that west end of the lake where the water gets super hot, but to close the lake altogether would be a stretch in my opinion!

Look for some kind of compromise in the months to come, is what I see happening.

Something to think about!

I have sent TP&W an e-mail inquiring if an impact study was conducted concerning the additional discharge of hot water. I'll post it if I get a reply. Jimbo..I know you have been fishing Calaveras a long time, but I remember before they closed off the hot water discharge pond. During the summer months, the water was hot to the touch. During the winter months, it was about 70 degrees...great fishing ! The main part of the lake was normal during that time. I always thought that the fish were migrating up toward the warmer water during the colder months. Your thoughts ?
Roger

They did migrate up into the "hot pond," and we caught some good stringers of fish in the coldest months out there, but that was back before the plant began to grow along with the demand placed on it, by us customers.

Those were in the early days before most of the renovations, and increased demands on the output of the plant accured, and over the years the discharge waters have become increasingly hotter, and now with more planned expansion, the summer fishing may really get tough if the lake literally becomes what the old hot pond used to be!

Throw in the fact that the old lake is probably silted in pretty good in the upper stretches meaning less water volume, and shallower water it's easy to see that the fishery would suffer!

How bad that would be just remains to be seen!

That would be interesting to see if there was a study.

I'm no bioligist and no expert as to the long term effects that hot water has on certain species, but I have to have some suspicions as just one old fisherman, who has seen both, the good and the bad, and the fact that the crappie, and bass fishing have fallen off dramatically since the early seventies, or shortly there after when the increases started taking place in the volume of output at the power plant, and the addition of the non-native species seemed to be all in the plan, to help salvage the fishery as we knew it!

Just an observation, and I'm probably way off base, but there seems to be a pattern there, and a lot of unanswered questions.

I think we are all trying to figure out the puzzle. I noticed that the water temp last Dec. averaged around 70 degrees at the orange buoys (entrance to hot water pond). I haven't checked it this year. I wonder what the water temp was averaging at those buoys say around this July or Aug ? I have a feeling that we are going to see very little difference in the fishing after the new plant comes on line. Hope I am not wrong. Those that do a lot of guiding on Calaveras should be able to shed some light on the situation.
Roger

Last week the temp at the buoys was between 73-74. Last summer is was about 97 peak when I was there. I am still awaiting a comment from CPS Environmental division. Verbally, they have assured me that there will be no impact, but they are not fishermen.

As a way of comparison, I have fished at Fayette during the summer and have caught black bass at the hot water discharge when the water temp was 102 degrees on the fishfinder. The air temp was mid 90's. I think the fish will adapt when the new power plant comes on line.

For what it is worth, I have had an informal discussion with CPS and was assured that there are no plans to discontinue the fishing at Calaveras. The concern is about the ability of SARA to perform their duties at a breakeven or even a profitable margin.

The reminder that I was left with is that the lakes were built for the cooling of the power plants, not for the recreational use. They want to provide an area for recreation, but the bottom line is that CPS built the lakes for the supply of electricity for the city and need the water to turn the turbines.

Since those fish would be running a temp. of 102 I wonder if they will have chills, and convulsions if it goes higher.

Seriously though, how much is too much?

How much could even a catfish tolerate before going bellie up?

Curious!