TPWD 1956 F-5-R-3 #248: Inventory of Species Present in Lake Brownwood, Brownwood, Texas

JOB COMPLETION REPORT STATE OF TEXAS Fisheries Investi ations and Surve s of the Waters of Re ion 3-B. reject No. F§R3 Name Job No. Bug Title Inventory of Species Present in Lake Brownwoodz Brownvoodz Texas. Period Covered: June 221 1253 - May 1,, 1956 ABSTRACT 1. One hundred and eight-five gill net.sets were made, sixty-eight seining col— lections taken, and water analysis was done periodically during the thirty—six.month in- ventory'period. 2. Significant fluctuations in the elevation and capacity of the reservoir, re- sulted in it losing and regaining about kl.18 percent of its most productive area during inventory. 3.“ Temperatures reoorded were less extreme than records would indicate during an average thirtynsixtmonth period, and there was a gradual reduction in the total hardness of the lakes water. h. Excepting bullrushes in the upper lake; there is no permanent aquatic veg- etation in Lake Brownwood. 5. Thirty-six species representing eleven families were taken during inventory 3,h87 individuals were captured in gill nets and h,708 individuals were taken and released Hy coining. 6. White bass are the most important game species in Lake Brownwood, and are dependent upon spring runmoff for successful spawning. 7. Largemouth bass are prebably prevented from spawning effectively by seasonal fluctuations in the reservoir level. . 8. White crappie are apparently semiwdependent Upon fall insect production for rapid growth. 9. All available evidence indicates that sunfishes should be considered in a forage capacity rather than as gene fish. 10. River carpsuckers were the least affected of any species by reservoir con— ditions, were of no apparent utility as forage for game species. This species was obser— ved spawning following every significant increase in the lake level from march to November. ll. Gizzard shad were the most important forage Species, and as such are of basic importance in any proposed.manarement procedures. OBJECTIVES To determine the species present, their relative shundance and to determine the ecological factors influencing their distribution. PROCEDURE One hundred and eightynfive nets were set at twenty—nine locations in Lake Brownwood. Experimental nylon gill nets, measuring 125 feet long by'8 feet in depth, and made up in five, 25 feet sections were used. Mesh size for these nets increased progressively in each following section at one~half inch intervals beginning with one- inch mesh and terminating with a three-inch mesh section. Sixty-eight seining collections were made at sixteen coining stations in the reservoir. In_nearly all collections both 26 feet-% inch mesh bag seines and 15 feet % inch common sense seines were used. To estimate relative abundance a count was made of all individuals taken in two hauls with a 26 feet-t inch bag seine for each colleen tion. In addition to that work other coining collections were made to determine sea» sonal distribution of species and to secure samples of fry after the spring spawning season for fishes. For this latter work 4 feet common sense with meshes of %-inch and 1/16 inch were used. Water analysis to determine dissolved carbon dioxide and oxygen content was taken periodically and surface temperature, pH and the climatic conditions were recorded for each netting and seining collection. Turbidity was taken on seven occasions. In netting collections samples from each collection for each species were weighed, measured and sexed in the field. A scale sample was taken and stomachs con~ taining food were preserved for laboratory study. Similar work for seining collections included identification and counting only and where identity of an individual was queen tioned the fish was preserved in 10% formalin. FINDINGS Lake Brownwood is located approximately 8.5 miles north of the City of Brownm wood. The dam creating the reservoir is located about onemhalf mils below the confluence of Jim.Ned Greek and Pecan Bayou, is earth fill construction and 1,580 feet long. The reservoir was constructed by Brown County water Improvement District and the impounded water is primarily for the municipal and industrial consumption of Brownwood, Coleman and Bangs. However, about fivewthousand acres are irrigated either directly or by subw surface seepage from the reservoir. When at emergency spillway level, the lake has 8,000 surface acres and contains an estimated 137,300 acre feet of water. When filled the lake has about 95 miles of shoreline. The contributing watershed of 1,535 square miles in Coleman, Breckenridge and Capps limestone formation and top soils are usually alluvial deposits near streamways and various clays, looms and sands on higher ground. There are fifty different soil types in the county. Vegetative cover for the watershed is predominantly oakmgrassland association, and the area is currently employed for farming with a lesser acreage for ranching. Glimate for the watershed is seminarid. The average annual rainfall is 27.hh inches, and the average annual discharge for Pecan Bayou and Jim.Ned Creek is 166 c. f. s. A.maximum discharge of 52,700 c. f. s. was recorded in October 1930 and recent averages were 2 0.8 c. f. s. for 1.953 and 13—96 c. r. s. for 1952. On May 2, 1956 26,500 c. r. s. discharge was recorded for a three hour peak, and this runwoff decreased to an unrecordu able quantity within fourteen days. Lake Brownwood may be considered to be about twentymfive years old, having filled as a result of floodwaters in July 1932. The reservoir can be drained by two twelvemfoot (horseshoewshaped) reinforced concrete conduits. RESERVtIR CONDITIQNS DURING INVENTQRY PERIOD Capacity and Fluctuation: From August 1953 when the lake level was at mean elevation 1823 and the ream ervoir contained 133,000 acre feet storage until work was terminated in march 1956 when the lake level was at elevation lh25 and impounded about 138,000 acre feet of water; significant fluctuation in the lake was one of the most important influences on fish populations. The extent of this influence will be discussed later under, Fish Popula- tions. However, the potential significance of such fluctuations may be here illustrated by the surface area of the reservoir at elevation 1825 (about 8,500 surface acres) as compared to its area of about 5,000 surface acres at elevation'lh17.2. This last ele- vation was the minimum record during inventory, and occurred in July 1958. The lake capacity was about 80,000 acre feet at the minimum lake level. Other considerations not taken into account, Lake Brownwood lost and regained about Ml.18 percent of its biologically'mostwproductive area during the time this work was done. The following chart is more detailed data on capacity and fluctuation during the inventory period. Capacity and Fluctuation in Lake Brownwood Year February March April May November 11___1_1____111____1__l_l____l_____l_1_11_____1______l____1______1_____11__1____11___1_ El. 1t18 1t25 1953 SA. 5.800 7.58# AF 95,000 138,000 El. 1t2t 1t22 195s SA. 7,500 6,800 AF 135,000 110,000 El. 8 1420 1h17 1955 SA. 6,130 5,500 AF 105,370 80,000 Symbols: El. 1 mean elevation SA. m Surface acres AF. m Acre feet capacity Note: In the fall of 1956 the reservoir was returned to spillway capacity and receded only 2 feet by March 1956. .. Tubridi t; as. later : The following data was taken during inventory, and is taken in part from records of Brown County Water Improvement District. These measurements were taken at Brownwood dam and were usually recorded between 6:00 A.M. and 7:30 A.M. All measure_ ments recorded by personnel working on this project were usually taken between 6:00 A.M. and 8:00 A.M.; however, air temperature was recorded on at least two occasions as late as 12:00 noon. measurements were taken at Gaines Boat Docks on the south shore 0f the lake near the dam. 2caaracacacaL____1___________________________________1_________________________________ Year 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1958 195k 1954 1958 1958 195k 1958 1958 1958 1958 1958 1958 1955 1955 1955 1955 1955 1955 1955 1955 1955 1955 1955 1955 1956 1956 1956 1956 1956 1956 1956 1956 1956 1956 Mbnth Temperature of Surface water (F) Air Temperature (F) Min. Max. Avg. Min. Max. Avg. ___________11___________________________________________________w___m________________ January fit 56 52 25 6“ 53 February 36 56 50 28 68 52 march 50 58 53 53 69 63 April 50 58 5h 56, 70 65 may 68 72 70 80 9t 89 June 75 88 78 82 108 98 July 82 on 79 92 102 98 August 78 80 79 88 9h 90 September 76 80 78 92 106 96 October 70 76 72 7t 9t 82 November 68 68 66 50 76 68 December 50 76 6h 68 68 66 January 50 60 57 AA 68 58 February 8 51 50 3h 70 60 march 50 55 51 36 75 70 April (No Data) - - — - _ - May (No Data) - - — - - - June 80 86 83 - — 99-95 July 82 86 88 - - _ August 88 88 86 — - — September 78 86 82 72 87 84 October 78 80 76 '59 78 on November 70 73 71 #8 Th 64 December (No Data) - — e - _ January tn 58 5h 28 . 70 50 February #6 66 56 29 6h 50 March 58 66 60 5h 78 68 April 58 66 60 68 .90 80 May 66 72 68 98 98 98 June (No Data) - - - - 5- -' July' 70 75 78 80 SA— 86 August 72 76 73 86 100 98 September 68 Th 70 82 96 90’ October (No Data) — - _ _ - November 56 66 59 5h 98 72 December 68 68 66 1 - . march 60 62 61 62 70 63 April 66 68 67 to 86 70 May 65 69 68 65 92 84 June 72 80 78 76 92. 85 August (No Data) - — - - - September 76 78 77 69 83 78 October 70 76 77 69 83 78 November 66 70 69 28 78 60 December 86 66 50 26 76 59 January 56 58 57 - - _ 1957 Note: The temperatures recorded are less extreme than records would indicate for an average period. Water Analysis: Data for total hardness is from records'by the Brown County water Improvement District. Records for four analysis are not included as the results indicate faulty technique or improper standardisation of reagents. Water Analysis — Lake Brownwsod W . Turbidity Dies Year Mbnth Air Temp.(F) water Temp. (F) Inches pH 02 002 1953 October 80 71 8.8 7.5 8.0 1953 ' November 68 62 8.5 11.5 6.0 1958 January 58 57 8.2 18.5 0.0 1958 February 52 89 8.2 15.0 1.0 1958 June 87 82 8.8 11.0 8.0 1958 August 82 85 8.6 7.0 6.0 1958 October 78 78 18 8.8 10.0 3.0 1955 February 89 51 18 8.8 12.0 0.0 1955 April :9 68 8.6 11.5 3.0 1955 July 82 72 12 8.7 10.8 3.6 -955 November 78 60 12 8.8 11.5 2.0. 1956 march 68 61 18 8.8 13.5 8.5 1956 march 66 61 18 8.6 8.0 8.0 Total Hardness of Water gAlkalinity): Data in ppm. Month 1953 1958 1955 1956 February . 130 132 117 118 March 130 132 119 120 April 133 106 119 120 May 131 115 118 93 June 130 105 118 83 July 127 106 117 :6 August 133 107 - 118 93 September 131 117 117 93 October 132 120 117 97 November 130 118 117 98 December 130 118 117 99 m. redefine fimmabfioz EU woes. gmm Hz baa wmogoow masoonu m : mucosa a I pesosscmam U I censuses m I mews ampomwom mm I more on mono moo owmw am I assume mwchH mm I Hwno mumdow H I Hoax S no om um um a mm. mm .m AQUATIC VEGETATION Principal species of aquatic vegetation in the upper lake shallow flats are bullrushes (Scigpus E21): and along the south shore and in coves arrowheads (S itarria latifolia and S. platyphylla) and pondweeds (Potomogeton natans and P. spirillus) are present in depths to eight feet. In several small protected areas, mainly boat docks artificially created, parrot feather (EyriOEhyllum.§p;) and muskgrass (Chara §E°) occur. Because of semi-annual fluctuations in the lake level only bullrushes may be considered as semi-permanent; all others appeared to be seasonal in duration. FISH POPULATIONS Species Distribution: As shown in the following charts 8,708 individuals of thirty-seven species and representing eleven families were captured by coining during the thirty-airtmonth period. Species and families recorded are: Checklist of S ecies Common Name Family'Name Scientific Name Longnose gar Lepisosteidae Lepisosteus osseus Gizzard shad Clupeidae Dorosoma cepedianum Black buffalo Catastomidae Ictiobus niger Smallmouth buffalo Catastomidae Ictiobus bubalus .ver carpsucker Catastomidae- Garpiodes cagpio cray redhorse sucker Catastomidae Moxostoma congestum Carp Cyprinidae Gyprinus carpio Golden shiner Cyprinidae Notemigonus crysoleucas Plains shincr , Cyprinidae Notropis percobromus Texas shiner Cyprinidae Notropis amabilis Pallid Shiner Cyprinidae Notropis amnis Spottail Shiner Cyprinidae Notropis venustus Redhorse shiner Cyprinidae Notropis lutrensis Proserpine”shiner Cyprinidac Notropis proseppinus Mimic shiner Cyprinidae Notrejis volucellus Plains minnow Cyprinidae Hypognathus placita Parxet.minnow ., Cyprinidae Pimephales vigilax Channel catfish Ameiuridae Ictalurus punctatus Yellow bullhead Ameinridae Ictalurus natalis Flathead catfish Ameiuridae Eylodictus olivaris Blackstripe topminnow Cyprinodontidae Fundulus notatus Common mosquitofish Poeciliidae Gambusia affinis White bass Ser cridae Roccus chrysops Spotted bass Centrarchidae Micropterus treculi Largemouth bass Gentrarchidae Micropterus salmoides Narmouth bass - Centrarchidae Ghaenobryttus gplosus Green sunfish Gentrarchidae Lepomis cyanellns. Spotted sunfish Centrarchidae Lepomis punctatus Redear sunfish Centrarchidae Lepomis microlophus ingear sunfish Centrarchidae Lepomis megalotis Bluegill Centrarchidae Lepomis macrochirus Yellowbelly sunfish Centrarchidae Lepomis auritus Common Name Family Name Scientific Name Orangespotted sunfish Centrarchidae Lepomis humilis White crappie Centrarchidae Pomoxis annularis Black crappie Centrarchidae Pomcnis nigromaculatus Loroerch Percidae Porcine caprodes Freshwater drum Sciaenidae Aplodinotus grunniens Logperch, Palid shiners, and Proserpine shiners were "taken only from the extreme upper lake where the impounded water was retained in the original stream beds. The apparent migration of white bass is indicated on the included map, and it is believed that this pattern of movement may possibly also be partially duplicated by schools of gissard shad. As discussed later there may be a somewhat different pattern of movement by Flathead catfish; however, there‘is insufficient evidence for any assertion. Other species listed-were found through out the reservoir. Seinipg Collections: It was impossible to maintain exact seining stations.because of reservoir' fluctuations; however an attempt was made to repeat sampling as near to a designated locality as was possible. Technique was modified somewhat by improved nylon seines. and in the included data unsuccessful coining attempts are not taken into account. The approximate location of coining stations are shown on the following map. A mweoowm mIII mowownm mdodeod ZIII zoodwom memowod .iw Uweooewos ow accosose 0H_sowdo menu S _ ab N (qomem - 'qog) Ahpnpiov Supuneds p o. Hzamm wWOeEEOOU lll‘ii'l m I I I I I I Im m I I I n: . . 2 momsswom m I I I I A Powwfiq s a e. a. a. It / fl mod I gmflcv z IIIII .8 ru;/ 3 .1 . I I I z 2. II- a weanmewoma a 3 .I I 2 A see. I 983 u. e. e . 6.. x e. e. .. 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