Weirs Closed

[mr crab]

Originally Posted by Smalls

Sabine lake is a different system. Major differences between the two.

For one, there are two freshwater inflows into the Sabine, the Neches and Sabine Rivers. Big Lake has one, that also happens to be disrupted by a saltwater barrier.

It has nothing to do with discrediting fishermen. Fishermen see fish, and crabs, and shrimp and say the marsh is fine. A wetland scientist looks at the plant community and sees rapid changes occurring. Changes that, if left unchecked, will result in massive expanses of open water where marsh once existed. It has happened, there is proof.

Sabine and Big Lake are different systems. You can't compare the two without considering the major differences. There is definitely more freshwater flowing into Sabine than there is into Big Lake.

BTW, back in 2002, plans were put in motion to install water control structures on the east bank of Sabine.

saltwater barriers on the neches and the sabine. Also the main determining factor for the freshwater flowing into Sabine is he dams on Rayburn and Toledo. When they ain't generating power at those dams, the water don't flow. And the gulf pours directly into sabine...straight shot. It doesn't sit off to the side of the channel like B.L. does, so if anything, I would say Sabine receives more of a direct saltwater influx from the gulf?

[Smalls]

Originally Posted by mr crab

saltwater barriers on the neches and the sabine. Also the main determining factor for the freshwater flowing into Sabine is he dams on Rayburn and Toledo. When they ain't generating power at those dams, the water don't flow. And the gulf pours directly into sabine...straight shot. It doesn't sit off to the side of the channel like B.L. does, so if anything, I would say Sabine receives more of a direct saltwater influx from the gulf?

But freshwater inflows are still greater when they occur. You have a much larger drainage area for the Sabine and Neches rivers than the Calcasieu.

I admit, I did miss the Neches SWB though.

For whatever reason saltwater has had a greater effect to this point on Big Lake than on Sabine.

[mr crab]

Originally Posted by Smalls

But freshwater inflows are still greater when they occur. You have a much larger drainage area for the Sabine and Neches rivers than the Calcasieu.

I admit, I did miss the Neches SWB though.

For whatever reason saltwater has had a greater effect to this point on Big Lake than on Sabine.

It may be what some have said before.."not all marsh is created equal"..idk..maybe the vegetation, soil make-up, or elevation makes the Sabine marsh more salt tolerant? or maybe its dying off too, and nobody has noticed? Heck IDK

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by Smalls

But freshwater inflows are still greater when they occur. You have a much larger drainage area for the Sabine and Neches rivers than the Calcasieu.

I admit, I did miss the Neches SWB though.

For whatever reason saltwater has had a greater effect to this point on Big Lake than on Sabine.

Sabine has a much smaller (narrower) coupling between the lake and channel at the southern end. Most of the salt water coming into the channel flows up and around and actually enters the lake at the northern end because the coupling at the N end is the full channel depth (40 ft) whereas the coupling at the S end is shallow (5 ft). There are many times when Sabine Lake is actually saltier at the N end than the S end.

Big Lake has a wide open coupling between the lake and channel at the S end that is about 15 times longer than the coupling between the channel and S end of Sabine. The salt water coupling from the Gulf to the lake is much stronger on Big Lake. The wide open gap between channel and lake at the S end of Big Lake is the place to stop the salt.

[Natural Light Kid]

Originally Posted by mr crab

saltwater barriers on the neches and the sabine. Also the main determining factor for the freshwater flowing into Sabine is he dams on Rayburn and Toledo. When they ain't generating power at those dams, the water don't flow. And the gulf pours directly into sabine...straight shot. It doesn't sit off to the side of the channel like B.L. does, so if anything, I would say Sabine receives more of a direct saltwater influx from the gulf?

It may see a more direct influx of saltwater but it probably sees more influx of freshwater too. I used to fish Sabine quite a bit before Rita and my father-n-law used to guide in it. My personal opinion (no scientific backing like the rest of my thoughts) is that Sabine gets "turned over" more often than Calcasieau does. There are times when it's fresh and times when it's salty. More like the way Mother nature intended.