Pottsy and Others,
You are correct that there is ample vegetation in the drainage area around lake Fork, Texas � but absolutely no contribution from the dairy farmers as to lake management.I have fished the lake many times and observed cattle grazing at lakeside.
I find this subject most interesting because of the number of trophy bass produced each year. This lake has produced 202 trophy bass over 13#�s since inception of the �Bud Share a Lunker� program began in the 1980�s, in cooperation with Texas parks and Wildlife Department. The bass are donated for their hatchery program.
16 of these bass have been over 16#�s � 18.18# being the largest, and the LMB record for the state of Texas.
This total represents 58.72% of the all entries for the state � so there is something going on here. To my knowledge, this has not been studied.
There are of course, many differing ecological zones, geographical as well as geological, causing many differing soil types and water chemistries. However, one dominant fact stands out in my mind, and that is the dairy industry on the Lake Fork watershed.
In contrast, Cooper Lake approx. 30 miles to the north, has produced only 4 entries to the program, and has little or no dairy industry on its watershed. It is however in a different eco zone, being primarily Blackland Prairie watershed, with Lake Fork being Post Oak Savannah and Piney Woods sand and clay watershed.
Maybe Bob Lusk, Nick Smith and others will weigh in on this. I believe it merits some serious thought, in particular about nutrient levels.
george
