TVA (The entity that controls the dams which control the river levels along with the Corp of Engineers) has dropped the river level to a "Winter Pool" level....leaving a mostly dried-up mud hole of some of the off-main-river bodies(aka lakes) of "backwater". Hence, the snow geese gather in the sunken areas of the lake beds still holding water. In defense of TVA, they are anticipating more and more rain runoff to fill these areas and not have the river go into flood stage. Still an odd sight to see the waterfowl settle for such a barren area due to their use of this exact spot on earth to use as their Winter home.