Lakeguy, Sorry for the delayed responce, I have been VERY busy lately. Lake at full pool Lake Back in June (I think, will post a new shot later (it's about 6 feet lower now). I know this looks like a canal, but it is just a cove with low water. Bottom line on the drought is that we've had them before and we will have them again. But NOW, we have news reporters with nothing to do and no current horror stories to cover so we are front and center. It's amazing, you'd think the world was coming to an end and that the center of global warming was directly over Georgia, Alabama and Tennesse. We have a US Army Corp mangaged lake and the reality is they have to let water out of the lake to generate electricity and make money for the South Eastern Power Assoication (SEPA). They generate a certain amount of power evey year and have done so since the lake was made. Our lake levels have little to do with Atlanta's usage (really in news) or endangered species downstream. Atlanta used 1.5 billion gallons of water from the lake last week, and the Corp released 10.5 billion that went downstream straight into the gulf of Mexico. Why?? Because if they don't they don't make enough money to keep SEPA in exisitance. Endangered Species??? Without the resevoirs, they had survived for the sevearal thousand years, through much worst droughts. Lot's of politics involved here. For me the impact is a chance to clean the shore, and a chance for some true peace and quiet in the area. The news media has put the fear of god into boaters, so they are gone, although the average lake depth is still over 80 feet, you just have to slow down and pay attention to avoid new islands that are popping up. This is probably a lot more than you wanted to know. Droughts come, droughts go, but the news media is here to stay and looking to do anything to get you to watch the evening news. And the political grand standing!!! I just turn the news off these days.

The commercially viable species of catfish, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Black Catfish and Brown Catfish, are all classed as an Invasive Species in BC. Right now, there is a $20,000 reward for evidence leading to the prosecution and conviction of anyone caught stocking these fish, along with perch, bass, crappies, bluegills, pike, pickerel and muskies in any of our lakes, ponds or rivers. You will need a permit from BC Fish and Wildlife, a self contained farm pond with no permanent or seasonal overflow, and will be required to post several remediation bonds to raise an invasive species. In most of BC, our waters are too cold year round, for catfish, bass, etc for sucessful commercial catfish rearing. If you have a self contained pond with no overflow, consider instead (Rainbow Trout), marketed as steelhead, if the pond temp stays below 70F in the heat of late summer. You will have to feed the fish, for the operation to be commercially sucessfull, and the feed will have to contain either the chemical Astaxanthin, or natural sources of Astaxanthin stereoisomers such as ground shrimp or lobster shells to produce the red flesh required for a marketable product. Keep in mind as well that the cycle for the pond in commercial production will be 6 years or less, with up to three harvests, before the waste from the fish will render the pond little more than a septic tank. Most commercial operations use above ground concrete tanks, as they can be cleaned and flushed between plantings. If the goal is the production of a few fish for the home table and an evenings sport after work, talk to BC Fish and Wildlife as dependant on area and location, Coastal Cutthroat, Westslope Cutthroat, Brook Trout, Redside Rainbow Trout, Kootenay Rainbow Trout, Coastal Rainbow Trout and Steelhead are just some of the species that may be suitable, and only a few fingerlings will be needed.

Yeah the erroneous Park info is odd, since the Reptiles and Amphibians Guide to Yellowstone is pretty definitive about the presence of dens there. (We found an actual den site complete with wiring that was used to trap snakes back in the 1930s). It is true that 99% of Park visitors however probably will not traverse the area of the park where rattlesnakes can be found (unless perhaps they cross marginal rattlesnake range in a 1/2 mile stretch of the road near Gardiner). In the very small area of the park where rattlesnakes are present, they are far from rare and can be found in concentration.

That's funny I just saw this AD in a Colorado forum "After 19 years here, we're moving on, going to where there are no winters. Our house went on the market last night and as soon as it sells, we'll pack up and head south east to Florida. The cold, the snow, the snowbirds, the garden maintenance, and did I mention the crazy winter cold? have all gotten to me. Add to that the extreme level of stupidity that's rampant in our state government and I can't justify staying here any longer." Best of luck Ricky, I am a longtime "lurker" and very rare poster and have enjoyed your many posts and have learned from your experience... Thank you I completely understand your desire to leave as I have left South Florida 3 years ago as well (after 32 years) due to the heat, the traffic, people congestion and need for more open space. I could not drag my wife too far away from number one grandson, so we opted for north florida. I take my cold spells one week at a time when I go skiing.... toodles...