12-01-2012, 06:35 PM
I did a bit of searching on the myths and busters of the artificial reefs. Couple snippets below:
I believe it was Mike4Cobra who posted the scan pictures.
Where is the island
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...efs;#16197
from Kentofnls
As promised I did some research about the island -- and it is definitely not made of tires; however, there are several sunken tires in Willard. Below is a response that I just received from Tom Pettengill: "I don't have any good information on what it actually is. Some one with the Bureau of Reclamation in SLC may be able to check their files and see for sure. It isn't made of tires. I can remember one year when the top was out of water and we did some electrofishing around it in the spring to see if the walleyes were using it for spawning but we didn't find any. The south side was quite jagged rock and it drops off more rapidly on the south side. I have heard that some of the humps and ridges in Willard were built as test dike sections to see how they would hold up and/or settle into the ground in the area but I don't know for sure if that is the case with the island. It did appear to have some pretty big rocks on that south shore (if my old memory is still accurate). We have put in some artificial reefs made of tires, cable and Christmas trees. About all that is left of the old ones is the tires and cable. One of those is in the area called "Mud Bay" south of the North Marina in some deep water behind that submerged island.. Another is down near the SE corner off Nerva Lane. Another that I have gotten snagged on in close to shore in the SW dogleg corner between the South Marina and the West Dike. Also out off the light pole is a bunch of tires and cables that you can lose lots of tackle on. I hope this helps. I'd be interested in the real history of the island if you find out about it. I did just check the file on Willard to see if we had any old documents and I found a small copy of an old map showing they did some ground penetration studies out near where the island is but it didn't show any test sites for dike sections or rock piles, etc. I couldn't see any obvious natural humps in the area either."
Thomas D. Pettengill
Sport Fisheries and Aquatic Education Coordinator
State of Utah
Department of Natural Resources
Division of Wildlife Resources
1594 W. North Temple, Suite 2110
P.O. Box 146301
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-6301
801-538-4814
801-538-4745 (Fax)
tompettengill@utah.gov
string structure
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...fs;#720732
from Therapist
Artificial structure has been a big topic in Utah in the past. The Willard Bay project was started by the Northern Utah Bass Anglers ( NUBA) back in the 80's. The reefs are made of old tires, cabled together with concrete and christmas trees added for flavor. They were built on the Dikes then lifted into place by National Guard choppers.
Another major project took place on Yuba in the late 80's. Charlie Thompson, then the Central Region DWR Biologist obtained several different artificial structures to test. They were placed in various locations around the lower portion of the reservoir. About two years after they were put in, the pond was lowered to work on the dam and before Charlie could get out there and retrieve them, some of our more conservation conscious individuals burned them. They also burned the Christmas tree reefs that were built on the exposed shoreline to be flooded when the lake came back up. Those were the last attempts to add structure in the Northern part of the State.
At Lake Powell, the Utah BASS Federation and the College of Eastern Utah Engineering Dept. were working on a floating structure that could be moved as the lake fell and rose. A prototype was built and placed at Powell, but there were several design flaws and it rolled over and sank. Several attempts were made to retrieve it, but I don't think that they were successful. The status of that project is still on hold, the design is workable, they just need to be able to build one that stays upright.
Regarding the use of artificial structures. Most of the literature on the subject reports that most artificial habitats are in use within 24 to 48 hours after being placed. The fishing docks at Wahweep have string type structures on them and they were attracting fish as they were being placed.
Several attempts to put habitat in other waters in the state have mostly been met with NO or HELL NO !! responses. Mainly, water users are afraid that such things will clog intakes or become hazards. No attempt to look at what happens in other areas of the country is made, just "get out of here and don't bother us".
Willard bay map
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...fs;#652242
fly_borg
Man -made brushpiles/Legal?
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...fs;#396748
I believe it was Mike4Cobra who posted the scan pictures.
Where is the island
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...efs;#16197
from Kentofnls
As promised I did some research about the island -- and it is definitely not made of tires; however, there are several sunken tires in Willard. Below is a response that I just received from Tom Pettengill: "I don't have any good information on what it actually is. Some one with the Bureau of Reclamation in SLC may be able to check their files and see for sure. It isn't made of tires. I can remember one year when the top was out of water and we did some electrofishing around it in the spring to see if the walleyes were using it for spawning but we didn't find any. The south side was quite jagged rock and it drops off more rapidly on the south side. I have heard that some of the humps and ridges in Willard were built as test dike sections to see how they would hold up and/or settle into the ground in the area but I don't know for sure if that is the case with the island. It did appear to have some pretty big rocks on that south shore (if my old memory is still accurate). We have put in some artificial reefs made of tires, cable and Christmas trees. About all that is left of the old ones is the tires and cable. One of those is in the area called "Mud Bay" south of the North Marina in some deep water behind that submerged island.. Another is down near the SE corner off Nerva Lane. Another that I have gotten snagged on in close to shore in the SW dogleg corner between the South Marina and the West Dike. Also out off the light pole is a bunch of tires and cables that you can lose lots of tackle on. I hope this helps. I'd be interested in the real history of the island if you find out about it. I did just check the file on Willard to see if we had any old documents and I found a small copy of an old map showing they did some ground penetration studies out near where the island is but it didn't show any test sites for dike sections or rock piles, etc. I couldn't see any obvious natural humps in the area either."
Thomas D. Pettengill
Sport Fisheries and Aquatic Education Coordinator
State of Utah
Department of Natural Resources
Division of Wildlife Resources
1594 W. North Temple, Suite 2110
P.O. Box 146301
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-6301
801-538-4814
801-538-4745 (Fax)
tompettengill@utah.gov
string structure
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...fs;#720732
from Therapist
Artificial structure has been a big topic in Utah in the past. The Willard Bay project was started by the Northern Utah Bass Anglers ( NUBA) back in the 80's. The reefs are made of old tires, cabled together with concrete and christmas trees added for flavor. They were built on the Dikes then lifted into place by National Guard choppers.
Another major project took place on Yuba in the late 80's. Charlie Thompson, then the Central Region DWR Biologist obtained several different artificial structures to test. They were placed in various locations around the lower portion of the reservoir. About two years after they were put in, the pond was lowered to work on the dam and before Charlie could get out there and retrieve them, some of our more conservation conscious individuals burned them. They also burned the Christmas tree reefs that were built on the exposed shoreline to be flooded when the lake came back up. Those were the last attempts to add structure in the Northern part of the State.
At Lake Powell, the Utah BASS Federation and the College of Eastern Utah Engineering Dept. were working on a floating structure that could be moved as the lake fell and rose. A prototype was built and placed at Powell, but there were several design flaws and it rolled over and sank. Several attempts were made to retrieve it, but I don't think that they were successful. The status of that project is still on hold, the design is workable, they just need to be able to build one that stays upright.
Regarding the use of artificial structures. Most of the literature on the subject reports that most artificial habitats are in use within 24 to 48 hours after being placed. The fishing docks at Wahweep have string type structures on them and they were attracting fish as they were being placed.
Several attempts to put habitat in other waters in the state have mostly been met with NO or HELL NO !! responses. Mainly, water users are afraid that such things will clog intakes or become hazards. No attempt to look at what happens in other areas of the country is made, just "get out of here and don't bother us".
Willard bay map
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...fs;#652242
fly_borg
Man -made brushpiles/Legal?
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...fs;#396748