Savage River, Western Md.
- This topic has 16 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated Oct 28, 2009 at 8:13 pm by
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Dave,
Keep us posted. I love that river (As if I hadn’t mentioned that before).
Mark, next year…. we will make that trip.
The best way to find out what is going on with the Savage River Dam is to view the Maryland Department of Natural Resources web site.
Dave,
Keep us posted. I love that river (As if I hadn’t mentioned that before).
Mark, next year…. we will make that trip.
Mark Who? Too small and not enough frog water for his “forked stick”…
The installation is not scheduled until mid March.
If spring rains do not come to refill the reservoir once work is complete the population of fish in the tailwater is going to be near nonexistent by the end of next summer. There is not enough natural cold water refuges in the form of feeders, springs, etc. without coldwater releases from the dam to support many fish in the tailwater section.
Even if all the fish die, the river will eventually come back in a few years. Besides, it isnt like it would be the loss of a natural and native fishery. Lets hope for the best.
The brookies are native to this stream as Dave said. The DNR people feel confident that there will be enough water to hold the fish in the Savage. Personally, I would be happy if the Savage only held brookies and the other native fish. Sculpins, etc. I have a feeling I will be flogged for this comment. Just the way I feel.
Even if all the fish die, the river will eventually come back in a few years. Besides, it isnt like it would be the loss of a natural and native fishery. Lets hope for the best. [/quote]
I love that river and have been fishing it for as long as anyone. She will pull through, the creation finds a way…
Mike L – See title – “Brook Trout”, by Nick Karas and another study of the mitochondrial DNA of the the brook trout of the Savage drainage – they date back to the recession of the Wisconson Glacier. Basically, those brookies have been there a real long time – natural and native.KB,
You’re getting dangerously close to getting “over your tips ” there buddy.
I understand those brookies are native and have been there a long time, but that does not make that fishery natural in any way. It is an artificial fishery created by the coldwater release of a dam where introduced (though wild) brown trout outnumber and outcompete an ever decreasing population of native brook trout.
The loss of the brookies in that 5 mile stretch of tailwater will be a far, far lesser tragedy than the loss of the brookie populations in the headwaters above the reservoir and in its feeders.
I stand by my assertion that though the loss of the fishery for a few years would suck, there are much better things to worry about. Lets do our rain dance this spring and hope for the best, but should the worst happen the river will bounce back within a few years.
Edit: Like Dave, I would be happy if the Savage tailwater held only brookies and other historically native species. While I still would not call it a natural fishery, it would be pretty cool fishing a tailwater full of nothing but brookies that are 3-4″ larger on average than the fish in the headwaters. There are enough wild brown trout streams around as it is…
Perhaps I am off topic here but I am confused by some of the language folks are using – Seems to me the terms “natural” and “native” when refering to the Brookies of the lower savage are being used interchangably? Of course there is nothing “natural” about a huge rez and a dam – but the Brookies of the Savage River are very native and very natural.
Timbits –
I sited my first source – Nick Karas, the DNA study was done by Matthew Hall and Roy Danzmann of the University of Maryland. Good course, your should check it out… 😉Yep, the brook trout are native and reproducing. The browns were,
of course, introduced and are reproducing. The lower Savage is considered a “trophy trout stream.” To keep a brookie, it must be 12″ in length. Browns must be 18 or better. Rainbows may be kept, are not stocked and are not wanted. Most everyone practices C & R.
Also, this river was running at 800 CFS several years ago when olympic kayak try outs were held on it. The fish survived. I did not fly fish at the time, but did attend the try outs. A friend of mine reminded me of the kayak events at a TU Meeting last night. I think he knows more about the history of the river as anyone.
I believe everything will be okay.
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