FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — There’s been plenty of response to my piece earlier this week regarding gripes about Gauley Season. Some anglers who enjoy Summersville Lake for fall fishing groused about the annual drawdown in September. They believe the drop of the level so early, as opposed to other West Virginia lakes where the winter drawdown happens later, kills good fishing.
However, Dave Arnold at Adventures on the Gorge reminded me the early drawdown wasn’t created to benefit the whitewater rafting industry. The drawdown pre-dates Gauley Season and even pre-dates the whitewater industry.
Since the lake and dam were dedicated in 1966, with then first lady Ladybird Johnson on hand for the ribbon cutting, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has prescribed the early drawdown as measure of pollution abatement and preservation of aquatic life downstream. Although much cleaner now, the Kanawha River was lined with chemical plants and raw sewage discharges in 1966. The early water release was aimed at mitigating the level of pollution on the Kanawha and reducing the chance of a massive fish kill from water that could have stemmed from stagnation in times of low flow.
The whitewater industry recognized the opportunity in the early to mid 1970’s and took advantage of the release. It wasn’t until 1984 legislation passed which authorized the rafting industry as a priority in the release. Despite the legislation, downstream pollution augmentation and flood control remain the dam’s top priorities.
The history of the trout stocking downstream is also a twisted tale. Initially the helicopter stocking was paid for by the Division of Natural Resources. However, they later discontinued the program and the Professional River Outfitters picked it up and paid for the program as an appeasement for use of the river. The aerial stockings stopped this year.
“Outfitters do a per-head contribution to the Whitewater Commission, but at every level of government there’s been budget trouble,” said Bobby Bower, Executive Director of the Professional River Outfitters.” The helicopter price is way up and trout price was huge. We just didn’t have the money to do the helicopter this year, but we did two separate stockings at the base of the dam.”
However, some like Bower are questioning whether to continue the put and take trout program on the Gauley. The water temperatures on the river are less than ideal for sustaining trout. Bower and others raised an interesting idea of how to use the money more effectively. They suggest, Instead of trout, use the money to develop the Gauley into a walleye fishery.
“The Gauley is so awesome downstream. There’s great access. It’s remote,but you can drive right to it. It’s a neat place. We’re hoping the Whitewater Commission can try to establish a more sufficient fishery.” Bower said.
The idea makes sense. The Division of Natural Resources has already seen success with the reintroduction of a native strain of walleye on the New River. Discovered by researchers at Virginia Tech, the genetic strain is starkly different from the walleyes found in the Great Lakes. The New River strain tends to grow larger, be more aggressive, and is more hearty and suited to the the harsher environment of the mountain river system.
“We’ve talked with the DNR and have been working on that to see if we can’t come up with a more sustainable program.” Bower told me. “It would be nice to take an indigenous species that’s reproducing and create a world class fishery. The walleye and Gauley go hand in hand.”