TPWD 1960 F-6-R-7 #620: Resurvey of Waters of Region B-B: Job Completion Report, Dingell-Johnson Project F-6-R-7, Job 3-11

Report of Fisheries Investigations Resurvey of waters of Region B-B by Charles T. Menu Assistant Project Leader DingellfJohnson Project F-6—R—7, Job 3—11 July 1, 1959 — December 31, 1959 H. D“ Dodgen - Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Marion Toole KEnneth C. Jurgens & William H. Brown Coordinator Assistant Coordinators A B S T R.A C T Four lakes including Casa Blanca Lake, Fort Brown Lake, Campacuas Lake and Llano Grands Lake were re— surveyed in an effort to discover any changes in the fish populations. In Casa Blanca Lake, near Laredo, webb County, threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense), gizzard shad (2. cepedianum), black bass (Micro terns salmoides), and white crappie (Pomoxis annularis showed relative in- creases in numbers while river carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio) and freshwater drum (Aplcdinotus grunniens showed relative decreases. These changes are mostly an improvement over past years and are probably due to the additional water volume of the lake. It was found that carp (C rinus carpio), gizzard shad and Rio Grande cichlids ZCichlasoma cyanoguttatum) have become established in Fort Brown Lake, by entering through the untended pump screens. [Although submerged vegetation in this lake has not reached a critical stage, its control is worthy of some consideration. Netting and seining samples on Llano Grande and Campacuas Lake revealed that rough fish remain dominant despite the rotenone treatment in may 1959. During the first part of this segment, 7,075 fingerling black bass were stocked in Campacuas Lake. Job Completion Report State of TEXAS Project No. Fw6=R=7 Name: Fisheries Investi ations and Surve s of the waters of Region 8-3, Jab No. 3—11 Title: Reserve; of the Waters of Region 8-B. Period Covered: July 1, 1959 e December 31, 1959 OBJECTIVES To determine the present status of waters and fish populations which have been previously surveyed in Project F~6~R. PROCEDURE Experimental gill nets were used in all cases to gather information concerning the relative abundance and weights of fish species. Seining collections were made only on Llano Grande and Campacuas Lake in addition to the netting collections. Netted specimens were weighed (in grams) and measured (in millimeters) in the field. Sex, state of sexual development, and the occurrence of parasites of the indie vidual specimens were also noted and recorded in the field. Seined specimens were preserved in 10 percent formalin and taken to the regional fisheries laboratory for identification. FINDINGS Casa Blanca Lake A total of 16 experimental gill nets was set in Casa Blanca Lake during this reservey period. Eight collections were made in OctOber and eight were made in December 1959. The 16 nets took #92 fish of 11 species which weighed 213,796 grams. On the basis of these netting results compared with those of the previous resarvey (Fm6wa5, Job Bell), threadfin shad (Dorosoma etenense), gizzard shad (D. cepedianum}, black bass (Micropterus salmoides), and white crappie Pomoxis annularisj showed relative increases in numbers, while river carpsuckers ECarpiodes carpio) and fresh- water drum {Aplodinotus grunniens) showed relative decreases. Table 1 shows the numbers of fish collected in the 16 nets at the eight stations on the lake. According to this table, rough fish comprised 50.hl percent by number and 59.7% percent by weight as compared to the netting results of 1958 when these species comprised 70.32 percent by number and 90.96 percent by weight of the total not catch. Threadfin shad appear to be well established in this lake, comprising 9.95 percent of the netted specimens, whereas none was netted in the previous resurwey. No coining collections were made during this segment.. Table 2 shows the weights (in grams) of fish collected and Table 3 shows the lengths, weights, and "K" factors of the fish. No significant changes in the condition of the fish, as expressed by the "K" factors, were found. No chemical analyses of water were made during this resurvsy period. However, Secchi disk readings, taken at each netting station, were found to range from 11- to 28minches. This is somewhat less than the 5h~inch maximum reading found in the previous resurvey. Fort Brown Lake During this resurvsy period, two experimental gill nets were set in Fort Brown Lake, at Brownsville. A total of 70 fish of seven species was collected. Four species were classified as game fish and three species were classified as rough fish. Black bass and channel catfish (Ictalurus unctatus) were the only species stocked in the lake following rotenone treatment in 195. However, this resurvey revealed that gizzard shad, carp (Cyprinus car is), Rio Grande cichlids (Cichlasoma c ano uttatum), bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus , warmouth bass (C ChasnObryttus gulosusg, blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatusi and white crappie are now present in the lake. Since this lake is dependent on the Rio Grands for its water, all incoming water has to be "screened" to prevent the entry of fish. At the time of the renovation, the City of Brownsville agreed to install and maintain inlet screens. Project personnel have seen the screens filled with debris which stopped them up. Consequent water flow over the screens and "blow out" holes in them have allowed rough fish from the river to become established in the lake. Attempts were made in Job S—l, (F—6—R-7) to net carp from the lake but mostly Rio Grande cichlids were removed. Attempts to get large flathead (Eylodictus olivaris) and blue catfish from the stilling basin below Anzalduas Reservoir were cancelled when the international Boundary and water Commission decided against draining the basin. Catfish, if stocked, should make an effective natural control on the cichlids and sunfish. The rough fish comprised about h3 percent by number and about 70 percent by weight of the netted specimens taken in this resurvey. Table h shows the numbers of fish caught during this study at the two net stations. Also, the percentage of each species is given in this table. - Table 5 shows the weights of the species collected by station and Table 6 shows the average, minimum and maximum lengths, weights, and "K" factors. On the basis of these netting collections, carp ranked first by weight and second by number. Despite the established populations of rough fish, black bass and channel catfish and blue catfish appear to be in good condition and anglers are able to catch nice strings of bass and catfish. The noxious vegetation in the lake, primarily Najas sp,, Chara s2, and Ceratophyllum Egp,, will, in time, create a definite fisheries problem. Since this is a very shallow ox~bow lake, annual plant control will probably be necessary to lessen the problem. As yet, no summer kill of fish due to decaying vegetation has been observed or reported. Llano Grande and Campacuas Lakes Five seining collections and sight gill net collections were made on Llano Grande and Campacuas Lakes during this segment. Three gill nets in Campacuas Lake took a total of 23 fish of 5 species weighing 10,h56 grams. Rough species, gizsard shed and carp, were found to comprise 56.52 percent by number and 86.10 percent by weight of the fish netted despite the rotenone treatment in May 1959 (Project PnlthuB, Job 16am18). discard shad appeared to be the most abundant species in the lake, comprising 52.17 percent by number (Table 7). Three species of game fish (channel catfish, warn mouth.bass, and white crappie) comprised h3.h8 percent by number and 13.90 percent by weight. One white crappie, taken during this resurvey, was undoubtedly missed by the rotenone treatment in May 1959 since none was restocked in the lake. Eight channel catfish, which were stocked in June 1959, were recaptured during this resurvey. The catfish ranged from 7- to 8~inches in length; thus showing a physical growth of over 6 inches in the initial six month period. All of the catfish were lively and thus returned to the lake after length and weight measurements were recorded. On July 8, 1959, 7,075 fingerling largemouth bass from 2 to 3 inches in length were stocked in Campacuas Lake. Two seining collections were made in "Green's Ditch” during this resurwey. It was found that tetra (Astyanax fasciatus), gizzard shad, carp and Rio Grande cichlids were present in this drainage canal although it was treated with rotenone in conjunCm tion with Sampacuas Lake. Five netting collections in Llano Grands Lake took 88 fish of eight species. it was found that rough species remain dominant in this lake as well as "Paradise Creek“ which flows into this lake on the west end. According to the net collections, as shown in Table 9, rough fish (alligator gar (Le isosteus spatula}, spotted gar (Lepisosteus productus), gizsard shad, carp and Rio Grande cichlids} comprised 87.50 percent by number and 96.69 percent by weight (Table 10}. Prepared by_mx$har1es T. Mann Approved by Assistant Project Leader Dire tor inland Fisheries Division Date dune 9, 1960 Hmon H. 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Numbers of Fish Taken in Experimental Gill Nets from Fort Brown Lake, September 1959. * Indicates Game Fish _ Station Species l 2 Total Percent 'Dorosoma cepedianum l 0 1 l.h2 Cyprinus carpio 7 ll 18 25.72 *Ictalurus punctatus h 3 7 10.00 *Ictalurus furcatus l h 5 7.1a *Micropterus salmoides H 2 6 8.57 *Lepomis macrochirus l6 6 22 31.h3 Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum 0 11 11 15.72 Total 33 37 70 Percent h7.1h 52.86 100.00 Rough Fish 8 22 30 % Rough Fish 2t.2h 59.46 h2.86 *Game Fish 25 15 #0 %Same Fish 75.76 no.5u 57.1h Table 5. Grams of Fish Taken in Experimental Gill Nets from Fort Brown Lake, September 1959. Station Species l 2 Total Percent Dorosoma cepedianum M62 0 #62 1.2% Cyprinus carpio 7,286 16,8h1 2u,127 6h.95 *Ictalurus punctatus 2,27h 1,779 8,053 10.92 *Ictalurus furcatus 680 3,191 3,871 10 he *Micropterus salmoides l,h08 65 1,873 3.96 tLepomis macrochirus 1,210 #17 1,627 b.38 Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum 0 1,531 1,531 4.13 Total 13,320 23,82h 37.1hh Percent 35.86 6u.1h 100 00 Rough Fish 7.7h8 18.372 26,120 Percent Rough Fish 58.17 77.12 70.32 teams Fish 5,572 5,h52 11,02h Percent Game Fish h1.83 22.88 29.68 * Indicates Game Fish