August 2010 Browning Creek Phenomenon
Browning Creek is a subdivision in the community of Oktoc, located in the superb of Starkville, MS with a 160 acre lake. The following is a video link that shows the beauty of this area. After watching this video, one can only imagine the devastating impact on the residents of this beautiful community from the phenomenon that recently occurred.
Video: http://www.browningcreek.com/wp-content/themes/browning_creek/video.php
The following are pictures taken by a landowner:
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According to Martin W. Brunson, Ph.D. Extension:
This can occur any time conditions are right, and may occur again before summer temperatures subside. Here are my observations at this point:
· The kill is a result of what we commonly call “destratification” or “pond turnover” resulting from a unique combination of weather, water temperature and physical condition of the lake.
· This is an unavoidable and unpredictable event that may never occur in a body of water, may occur only once, or can occur many times.
· Preventive aeration in a lake the size of Browning Creek is not economically feasible.
· The extent of the kill appears severe, but can only be adequately assessed once temperatures subside.
· We will conduct a thorough fish stock assessment within the next month or so once water temperatures are low enough for fish to move into the shoreline areas, allowing us to obtain a good sample.
· No corrective measures are warranted at this time; once we assess the fish stock, we will determine if any corrective stocking is necessary.
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Also, click here for link to a Pond Management excerpt regarding such "turnovers" that explains the phenomenon that occurred.