Yesterday being the last day to legally fish my local favorite, the poestenkill, i managed to get out of work early and head across town to hit it up. However, i was dismayed to see, as i neared "the" popular hole, extremely stained water. My first thought was of the rain we got last week, but i knew it wasnt that much, and it was several days prior. Not only that, but this was muddier than i've seen this stream all spring.
Well, a short drive upstream illuminated the problem. Bridge construction. They were working the banks with what appears to be virtually no erosion controls (see pics). In picture one you can see the clear water above the construction entering the construction zone and become silt laden right before your eyes.
The pictures of the pool are just as telling. Even in spring you have at least a foot of visibility, and at this time of year, you should be able to see through the 4-5' to the bottom in the deepest parts of the pool. Instead, you might be able to see 4-5".
Needless to say i was irritated. Although conditions were dismal, i spent the better part of an hour there and was lucky enough to tempt a single 9" brown on a beadhead PT. That certainly surprised me and helped calm my fury a bit.
I just sent an email to Rensselaer County asking who i could complain to. I know its hard to completely avoid river impacts during bridge construction, i work for an environmental/civil firm, but this shouldnt happen. Anybody have any insight or advice? Now that the season's closed i dont have to worry about fishing it, but i'd still like them to know people (well, one person at least) are upset. By the time they're finished, that pool will be a foot or two shallower. | 
10-16-2007
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