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	Name:	MartiniMan -
	Subject:	Question for someone smart
	Date:	9/5/2007 10:36:49 AM

I am not sure you need someone smart but how about educated enough to be dangerous? I am in the environmental business and we regularly deal with ecological issues associated with surface water bodies, wetlands, etc. My view is the new growth around landscaped areas may be a function of fertilizers but also it stands to reason that there will be dormant seeds of lawn grasses near the shore and when the water recedes in the summer they will sprout. It is usually not something you observe because the water level drops in the winter when the seeds would remain dormant.

The presence of these grasses is likely not a big issue. Remember that this was all uplands surrounding the Tallapoosa and its tributaries until they built the dam. Nature has a strong tendency to return to its normal state when conditions allow.

Of greater concern would be aquatic invasive species that have gotten into a number of inland lakes. I am not aware of this being an issue with Lake Martin but that is a much greater concern than temporary growth caused by the drought. As water levels return to normal (God willing!) these grasses will eventually die and decay as they are not aquatic species. There could be some localized problems with lower than normal oxygen content in some sloughs that don't have a lot of flow as these grasses decay but that should only be a temporary problem.

Not sure this was helpful but I am guessing that claiming ecological disaster as a result of the lower lake levels won't pass scientific scrutiny. The only exception to this might be the cypress trees that occupy some of the undeveloped sloughs. These are protected species (i.e., don't get caught cutting them down!). I don't know enough about them to know if one summer of drought conditions will cause them permanent harm.

Other messages in this thread:

View Entire Thread

Question for someone smart - rainbow slough - 9/4/2007 3:47:18 PM

Not sure I'm qualified - MythBuster - 9/4/2007 4:12:54 PM

Question for someone smart - Aardvark - 9/4/2007 6:36:48 PM

definitely unqualified - Carnac - 9/4/2007 7:13:49 PM

definitely unqualified - BayPineYankee - 9/4/2007 7:25:13 PM

Question for someone smart - Feb - 9/4/2007 8:09:47 PM

Question for someone smart - BayPineYankee - 9/4/2007 8:20:12 PM

Question for someone smart - Osms - 9/4/2007 8:26:23 PM

Question for someone smart - MartiniMan - 9/5/2007 10:36:49 AM

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