Water Clarity: May 22, 2012 and field report

Water clarity continues to be good for Lake Pucakaway, and essentially the same at all sampling sites.  Water is still stained likely from passing through wetlands.  Water temperatures 18 inches bellow waters surface are running 70 degrees during midday.

In shallow areas protected by aquatic plants, or flooded grass are millions of tiny fish about a half inch long.  I'm assuming they are some sort of baitfish.  In the same area is their food, billions of water fleas (I'll have to dig out the microscope to positively identify them) feeding on algae and even smaller animals, they don't bite.  This is the base of the food chain that drives the sport fishery for the lake.

"Minnow" fry 3/8 of an inch long.  Dots in photo are zooplankton.
These tiny animals will eventually feed the walleye that feeds you.

Aquatic plants are fairing well considering the flood, likely bolstered by the March low water and heatwave, seasonal temperatures since then, fairly clear water, and reduction in the carp population.