WHEN NATURE CALLS : Flooding rains can be beneficial, especially in the long term
Posted on Sunday, April 20, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Sports/64348/
On the human side of
the equation,
flooding rains rarely get a positive spin, especially when two major events occur within weeks of each other. For better or worse, Mother Nature does things her way. Always has. Always will. We pesky humans are mere nuisances and while we might harness the old woman from time to time, we’ll never tame her. Folks with damaged homes and businesses can attest to the unforgiving force of our natural world. Drivers on Arkansas 16 now negotiate half a highway on a small stretch between Crosses and Combs.
Yes, floods can be tragic, destructive and expensive and I won’t insult your intelligence by suggesting otherwise.
Having said that, flooding rains aren’t all bad if one’s rose-colored glasses are fitting properly. This is especially true for the lovers of everything outdoors.
Thinking long term, I see a beautiful, clear Beaver Lake filled to capacity and awaiting the hordes of Memorial Day visitors. The unofficial summer season kicks off with plenty of water and plenty of recreational enthusiasts. A deep blue lake surrounded by lush vegetation is certainly more aesthetically pleasing than the dirt shorelines exposed by drought the last year or two.
Biologists still refer to the high-water year of 2004 as helping Beaver Lake — and other waterways — immensely. The spawn was excellent then and we’re staring down at another banner year here in 2008. Flooded shorelines and cloudy water will protect newly hatched fry and anglers will reap the benefits in coming years.
Also, floods have a way of cleansing and revitalizing a body of water. In the case of streams and river systems, gravel bottoms are washed free of built-up sediment as a seemingly new river replaces the old. The White River, War Eagle Creek and Kings River will be new adventures once canoeing and wade-fishing time hits this summer.
And lest we forget about the coming fall, our deer hunting benefits from spring’s deluges. Sure, we may have a very dry summer but at least all the creeks and other waterholes are full right now, which gives them a good head start. A wet spring usually bodes well for good acorn crops. Speaking of acorns, last week’s frosty mornings scared me as I recalled last year’s devastating April freeze. But they’ll be OK... I think.
In the short term, well, all this water stinks. Beaver Lake is muddy and 10-feet high, making it a tough nut to crack for area fishermen. The white bass run, while not dead, has passed most of us by as the White and War Eagle rolled like waters in a canyon during the snowmelt.
Bass and crappie will hide in the new cover and us anglers will struggle to maneuver through the tangled trees where dry ground used to be. The prime months of March and April have been lost causes for many of us and another big rain will put early May in doubt. Thursday night’s rain wasn’t too bad although it muddied the creeks again. More rain is forecast for midweek. Oh well, things aren’t perfect but my advice is to get outdoors anyway. Blue skies, green grass, budding trees, and blooming wildflowers are currently repainting the Ozarks. No, we can’t control Mother Nature so it’s time to make lemonade out of lemons. Que sera, sera !
• • • And now, from the something-you-don’t-see-everyday department. I took my eldest son to Ramay Junior High for a little learning Thursday morning when blue lights caught my eye. Thankfully, they were in front of me instead of in my rearview mirror but nevertheless, the situation prompted me to gawk and rubberneck like any good American would.
The police cruiser, parked in the right-hand lane near the university, forced westbound traffic on Sixth St. to veer left. For the life of me I couldn’t make out what the ruckus was about because he didn’t have anyone stopped. Was it a flat ? Was it engine trouble ? Was he crazy ?
I had to laugh a bit as the problem became clear. One of the biggest possums (or Opossum for the highfalutin’ types ) I’d ever seen was locked into a battle of wills with one of Fayetteville P. D. ’s finest. I could tell our man in blue wanted to protect the possum by getting it off the street or sidewalk but I also noticed the possum didn’t like the goodwill gesture... or being prodded with a stick.
Maybe the varmint was injured. Maybe it just liked to hang out on busy streets during rush-hour traffic. Maybe it was crazy. Whatever the reason, kudos to the officer for showing a little compassion for an unwilling — and very ugly — suspect.
Bobby Hill is the outdoors columnist for the Times and lives in Fayetteville.