Nanih Waiya drained. DW and DU's compared responses:

[rustypjr]

Oh and by the way. For any of you internet scouters as you can see nanih waiya has no water so no need in coming back this weekend. thanks.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Nature seems to have a way of creating pooled waters for waterfowl, providing little paradises for sportsmen. And the Corps of Engineers just cannot stand pooled waters anywhere. The Corp. just seems to have a way of undoing what mother nature creates and ruining such little paradises. If something can be dredged and drained, then by God they will be a dredging. Its what they do. Full steam ahead, damned the torpedoes.

I suppose the one positive to this story is that there is finally evidence of the existence of a Corps mitigation project. Such projects are often referenced in Envionmental Impact statements pertaining to Corp. projects, but rarely ever completed as planned. Most often, they are myths.

One big question that I would have is this: is the Corps going to install a water control structure in the newly dredged ditch that drains this beautiful swamp? If not, why not? Wouldn't seasonal flooding be ok for the trees, and consistent with continuing to provide waterfowl habitat for waterfowl and hunting opportunities for hunters? If they break it, they need to fix it.

[sunnylab]

Nature seems to have a way of creating pooled waters for waterfowl, providing little paradises for sportsmen. And the Corps of Engineers just cannot stand pooled waters anywhere. The Corp. just seems to have a way of undoing what mother nature creates and ruining such little paradises. If something can be dredged and drained, then by God they will be a dredging. Its what they do. Full steam ahead, damned the torpedoes.

I suppose the one positive to this story is that there is finally evidence of the existence of a Corps mitigation project. Such projects are often referenced in Envionmental Impact statements pertaining to Corp. projects, but rarely ever completed as planned. Most often, they are myths.

One big question that I would have is this: is the Corps going to install a water control structure in the newly dredged ditch that drains this beautiful swamp? If not, why not? Wouldn't seasonal flooding be ok for the trees, and consistent with continuing to provide waterfowl habitat for waterfowl and hunting opportunities for hunters? If they break it, they need to fix it.

Great input!!! That was the same question i had. Is there EVER going to be water in there again???
Seasonal flooding would seem to be a great idea... i do not know how many years down the road the newly planted trees could sustain much water, but i would like an answer of the future of the project...not just what they are going to plant there. So far all we have is they drained the water and are going to plant hardwood trees. What next???

[mudsucker]

ACOE=The Anti-Beaver! No pools allowed. Damn the Corps!

[greenheadgrimreaper]

Mud, how come when anyone has any feelings other than loving ones toward DU or DW or COE you get your panties in a wad? Unbeknownst to you, you have completely missed the point. Again. BTW a formal complaint to the COE has been filed by yours truly. Just as expected, I have yet to hear anything back.

[hntrpat1]

Dang mud you ain't greenheadreapers hero!

[Unkljohn]

Can anyone tell me how long the COE has owned the place?

[mudsucker]

Mud, how come when anyone has any feelings other than loving ones toward DU or DW or COE you get your panties in a wad? Unbeknownst to you, you have completely missed the point. Again. BTW a formal complaint to the COE has been filed by yours truly. Just as expected, I have yet to hear anything back.

My post about the ACOE(on other occasions as well) is meant as sarcasam or humor as many on here know I work for the Corps and have for 24 years and counting. See that ship looking thing in my avatar? I drive that and it is owned by the ACOE and we do dredging(hence the name). My manpanties remain unwaded on this.

[greenheadgrimreaper]

Mud, I know exactly what you do and I know your good at it. I can understand the bias. You old ornary bastich.

[booger]

I would be very careful about stirring up any chit.

Before you can say "rut-roh shaggy", it won't be wide open to hunt any more. First there will be the "sanctuary" that ALWAYS has water, the sanctuary boundary will consume about 1/4 to 1/3 of the area and it will be the best part of the area, then hunting will only be on certain days at certain times on the remaining part, two access points closed for no reason, then there will be a special NannyWay permit on top of everything else, god forbid a draw?

I think we've all seen this happen before. The beavers and silt never sleep, never need extra funding and always work holidays. They may win in the long run and in 5-10 years business as usual if we leave it alone?

[greenheadgrimreaper]

Good point booger. My counter point is this: It's not about hunting it. The hunting isn't all that great, unless you roost shoot. It's about the fact. It's about losing the habitat. It's about knowing that that wetland won't be there tomorrow. I will agree that the beavers have officially freaked out. I guess what I am trying to say is stirring the poop pile up is worth it if it helps save a place this beautiful.

[SilverSurfer]

Here's a suggestion. Shoot the beavers. The siltation will happen, but by thinning out those industrious rodents some of the problem will be helped.
I am not condoning "Wanton Waste" of the critters, but you can utilise them. I have eaten a few over the years and to be honest, they a'int bad table fair. I wouldn't want to live off them but as an occasional treat they are pretty good. They beat Coyote! BTW when the water is gone the beavers will seek other opportunities, i.e. your farm ponds and drainage ditches. They are a catalist, not the source of the problem. By culling them it will slow down the COE's need to drain and dredge.

[booger]

For what it's worth, today I talked face to face with their part-time beaver trapper (retired Federal Refuge fella) who actually lives in Arkansas but he is originally from Neshoba county. He said they have lost about 1,000 acres of timber since the acquisition. He is on it though, said DU had come through lately to check it out.

I asked him if he knew Benny "Da Beaver" "Da Benny Burger" Manascalco (sp?) from the Delta, he had never heard of him. That fella must not have a computer. hehehe.

[greenheadgrimreaper]

Beavers are definitely THE problem. I tried to convey this message to the department. The drainage ditch hasn't silted over entirely, but combined with the beavers the damage is non stop. I could take you to a labyrinth of beaver dams that would make the civil engineering dept at MSU jealous. It really is unreal the number of beavers in that place that are constantly, year to year, directing and redirecting water to new places.

[JDgator]

Alright, DU. You are saying the buck doesn't stop on your desk. Fine. You don't want to take any ownership in this issue and come up with a strategy for saving a couple hundred acres of wetland habitat in Mississippi, is that right? You have too much work to do at Howard Miller. Is that what it is? You don't want to take up the fight for these guys and lobby for them and see if you can sway some of the decision makers? You don't have the cout? Is that right?

Great.

Just don't ask us for money if you won't do anything for us in return. All the work you claim to do up north is of little value to us if we don't have a place to hunt at home.