1,104 minnows collected. In the 1951 sampling biomass from the river was 45 pounds per acre, but in 1996 it has dropped to 29.3 pounds per acre. And the more specialized fish, like catfish and minnows, are getting hammered. Referring to a fistful of pictures taken in a 1951 fishing trip, Irwin points out the large size of the two dozen bass caught. Bass sampled in September were not half the size of those pictured.
Researchers plan to study the fishes' ear bon es, or otolists, to determine the age of the fish.
This data will then be compared against the size and weight data collected at the site to determine if Irwin's hypothesis is correct and the fish are indeed stunted in growth. We're going to study the data and evaluate the need for additional flow. We need a minimum flow. Currently, water flow is erratic because it is determined by fluctuations in the demand for power. The flow can go from zero cubic feet per second to 16,000 feet per second and back to zero cfs in a day's time.