Each one of those ponds either directly receives the same water from gravity flow from the irrigation ditch system, or the pond owners have directly pumped from the Wichita River system. Either way, the water comes from Lake Kemp, into Lake Diversion, down the irrigation ditches or Wichita River. One man, in particular, owns an oxbow lake off the Wichita River. He lost all his fish to golden algae. He had been keeping his lake full by using an irrigation pump and filling from the Wichita River, just a few miles from where it dumps into the Red River. He decided to pump his 35 acre lake down to two feet in depth. While that was happening, he drilled a well, and built some terraces to funnel fresh rainwater into the oxbow. So far, so good. His salinity has been cut by two-thirds and we restocked the lake. His lake looks promising.
Dr Myers has a really pretty lined pond in his back yard. He should be able to document results over the long term.
The irrigation water has had salt as high as 4,500 ppm, but 'normal' is 3,000.
Funny thing, though. Golden algae never reared its ugly head for decades until one of the agencies started plugging some of the salt springs in the far reaches of the upper watershed in an attempt to de-salinate water for drinking purposes. They built several reservoirs to collect salt water, spread it out and let it evaporate. Not sure that 'caused' the problem, but it could have had an impact.
I spent three years west of Wichita Falls, using that same water to raise catfish when I first got out of college. About the only thing the water can be used for is fish and to irrigate coastal bermuda. Too salty for much anything else.
