Quote:
Originally Posted by MathGeek
Thanks for the clarification. I'll try and have a closer look next time I'm there.
I tend to think about the lake/marsh exchange as a percentage of the maximum possible on any given day. 100% on a given day would be all weirs having all their gates open. Then the percentage is lowered from there according to the proportion of the maximal cross sectional area that is actually opened and for what portion of the 24 hour day.
I know the focus is often on Lambert's and Grand Bayou weirs, but the West Cove weirs are also important from the viewpoint of feeding the lake via exchange with the marsh. The weirs over on that side have mechanical gates that can close and cover the slats.
I know 5% of the total area open is better than zero, but it's still a small fraction of the maximum possible exchange, and I bet whatever remains open at Lambert when all the gates are closed is less than 5%.
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MG, the slideshow that CRPA did covers all of the weir operation. I found it very informative.
If I remember correctly, 2 of the 5 East side weirs only have upper gates and their fish slots are underwater where the lower gates would normally be. The other 3 weirs have fish slots on the sides and he said those lower gates are usually opened on lunar cycles even if the upper gates remain closed. Sometimes only the upper gates are opened. Sometimes all gates are opened.