TPWD 1960 F-3-R-7 #575: Experimental Use of Copper Sulphate in Killing Undesirable Fish Species

Marion Toole Coordinator Report of Fisheries Investigations Experimental Use of Copper Sulphate in Killing undesirable Fish Species - by Charles E. Grey Project Leader Dingelleohnson Project F—3-Ba7, Job E—l, (Sag. 5) June 1, 1959 - may 31; 1960 H. D. Dodgen - Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Kenneth C. Jurgens & William H. Brown Assistant Coordinators‘ A B S T R A C T Five small lakes in eastern Texas were selected for field testing the use of copper sulphate as a selective fish toxicant. water was hauled from each lake and hioassays were conducted in the labo- ratory to predetermine proper dosages for each lake. Copper sulphate in concentrations ranging from 1.3 to 1.61 parts per million proved to be selective under field conditions for bullhead catfish, gizzard shad, threadfin shad, chubsuckers, spotted suckers, bigmouth.buffalo, carp, and golden shiners. Very few centrarchids were killed during the field tests.. - Job Completion Report State of TEXAS Project No. F-3—R-7 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the waters of Region S-B - Jdb No. E—lz (Seg. g! Title: Experimental Use of Copper Sulphate in Killing Undesirable Fish Species Period Covered: June 12 1959 - May 312 1960 OBJECTIVES To continue the studies of the toxicity of copper sulphate on the fish in the waters of eastern Texas in the laboratory and to field test the findings that have resulted from laboratory work thus far. selective toxicant for black bullhead catfish (Ictalurus melee), yellow bullhead catw fish (Ictalurus natalis), lake chubsuckers (Erimpzon sucettas, and golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas) when used in waters of_low alkalinity. Field tests have been planned for this segment, as well as experimental work in the laboratory, with certain additives to keep the copper in solution. PROCEDURE Laboratory procedure Copper sulphate with p chelating agent added Copper sulphate was used in five gallon jars in the laboratory with the addition of a chelating agent in an attempt to hold the copper ion in solution in waters of higher alkalinity. Bullhead catfish and bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) were used as test animals. Copper sulphate bioassaps Copper sulphate was field tested as a selective toxicant in five small lakes in eastern Texas. It was determined in previous segments that copper sulphate is selectively toxic to certain species. However, there are apparently many variables in different waters of the same area that make it difficult, if not impossible, to prescribe the proper dosage data. ' using water from each body of water to determine the preper dosage. from each of the lakes to the laboratory and bioassays conducted. was determined from the data thus acquired. were used as test animals. water was hauled A selective dosage Bluegill sunfish and bullhead catfish Nineteen fiveugallon,‘widewmouth jars equipped with one airstone each were used as test vessels. The volume of water used in each jar was sixteen liters. Nine of the test solutions were prepared over a wider range of concentrations (e.g. 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 p.p.m.). If bullhead catfish were killed at 2.5 p.p.m. and not at 1.0 p.p.m. intermediates were set up within that range (e.g. 1.0, 1.2, l.h, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, and 2.h p.p.m.). Then from the intermediate tests a dosage was selected for field testing. The dosage selected was that which killed the maximum number of bullhead catfish and the minimum number of bluegill sunfish while leaving a broad enough margin in both directions to allow for reasonable error in field application. This margin or tolerance spread between the two species was found to be wide enough so that the dosage selected usually approached LD 100 for the bullheads and LD 00 for the bluegills. Bluegill sunfish were selected as test animals because previous work proved them to have the lowest tolerance to copper sulphate than any of the centrarchids. Bullhead catfish were selected because they are one of the more prcblematic noxious species. Also, it has been determined by exploratory work that concentrations of copper sulphate that are lethal for bullhead catfish are also lethal for threadfin shad (Derosoma petenense), giszard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), lake chubsuckers and possibly others. Each series of bioassays was terminated after 96 hours. Two bluegill sunfish and two bullhead catfish were placed in each jar. One jar was used as a control. Water analyses included phenolphthalein and methyluorange alkalinity, dissolved chlorides, dissolved carbon dioxide, and dissolved oxygen determinations. An attempt was made to keep the temperatures near the outside air temperatures. No attempt was made to control daily temperature fluctuations since it would be impossible to control them in the field. Field Procedure Each lake selected for a field test site was mapped and sounded to determine the water volume. Some of the lakes were sounded by means of a recording fathometer while others were sounded with a pole marked at one foot and onewfourth foot interm vale. Lakes having large variations in depth were marked off in sections and volumes calculated for each section. After the proper dosage had been determined in the laboratory, concentrations were calculated for each section of the lake or in some instances for the entire lake. The copper sulphate was applied to the lakes in solution. The crystals were dissolved by pumping lake water through a hopper mounted inside a 55 gallon drum (Figure l). The centrifugal pump delivers 50 gallons per minute into the hopper dissolving the crystals at the rate of approxi- mately 1,600 pounds per hour. The hopper is built of expanded metal with a 1h by 18 mesh plastic screen liner and will hold 150 pounds of copper sulphate crystals. The solution leaves the drum by gravity flow through a 2 3/h inch rubber hose connected to a pipe fitting which passes through the transom of the boat. The intake foot valve on the pump is streamlined and equipped with two horizontal fine that hold it under water while the boat is in motion.. The two feet of intake line immediately above the foot valve is made of heavy duty rubber hose to allow the foot to deflect when struck by stumps or logs. Thus, the distribution of copper sulphate is an uninterrupted operation. The only stops required are to pick up additional copper sulphate. The stops can be minimized on larger lakes by the use of a supply boat to ferry copper sulphate to the distribution boat. Figures 2 and 3 show the distribution equipment in operation. H0 0 O O (ID—4m \n-F' cum mmummHHoo mess seem m: 6% mq:Hono oodmamw wodeo. mooomn oomowom msoooomo smamw sconce ammo H: M Hm ammo owomdwo masons Hence <mH<o do ammowmdm ease cosmos moss owowoc Hw:ooemoooeoe monouwoo momwom mos newswom oooeewmommw nose oooaewwommw ease mewswom owom mecca nose cocoon oomo meeooeHHooo woos copes swan woewuoode more. messes seem 3.. fitness; ocewoa seamen H. a Uwomsms om mflowosmod Hoe onmowcwom mom memeewooewom oomome newcomdo oewmdmwm Figure 2. - Putting a 100 pound sack of copper sulphate into the hopper of the dissolving drum. Figure 3. - Water is pumped over the copper sulphate crystals at the rate of 50 gallons per minute. RESULTS laboratory_results Copper sulphate with p chelating agent added One of the factors limiting the use of copper sulphate as a fish toxicant is alkalinity. The calcium carbonate and bicarbonate react with the cOpper sulphate and precipitate as basic copper carbonate which is nonwinjurious to fish. This reaction is rather rapid and removes the copper ion before fish can acquire a lethal dose. Versene, (tetrasodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is a chelating agent manufactured by Dow Chemical Company. it was heped that the Copper ions could be held in solution by making them a part of chelate ring compounds. While the Versene did hold the Copper in solution in waters of higher alkalinity, it greatly reduced the toxicity of copper sulphate to fish so this test was abandoned in the laboratory and was not field tested. Field results Lindale Club Lake Lindale Club Lake is located three miles northeast of Lindale, Smith County, Texas. it is'a man made lake, impounded by an earthen dam, and was built primarily for fishing. The lake covers 50 acres and contains 388 acrewfeet of water. It was built in 191% and rebuilt in 19h6, after the spillway broke in 19th. A fishery survey was conducted in November 1958 by Charles B. lumen, Biologist for the Texas Game and Fish Commission. This survey revealed that the lake contained large numbers of yellow bullhead catfish {lctalurus natalis}, lake chubsuckers fiErimyaon sucetta), and large golden shiners (Notemigonus cr soleucas). These three species made up 71.26 percent of the total number and 1.2 percent of the total weight of the fish taken in 1,000 feet of gill not during that survey (Table 1). On August 12, 1959, the lake was treated with l,677 pounds of cepper sulphate crystals which brought the concentration to 1.61 p.p.m. Application started at 10:00 a.m. and all of the chemical had been applied before noon. The only fish noted in distress on August 12th were a few madtoms {Schilbeodes gypinus). water temperatures reached 900 F. during the day. On August 13th, dead and distressed golden shiners (Notemigonus or soleucas), yellow'bullhead catfish (lotslurus natalis), madtoms {Schilbeodes gxginuefi, and a few small bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus} began to appear. On August 18th, a good kill of golden shiners, bullheads, madtoms, and chubsuckers was evident. A very few bluegills and crappie were found dead. Also, two large flathead catfish (Pylodictus olivaris) and one large buffalo {lotiObus_bubalus) were found dead. On September 9, 1959, a followmup study was conducted to determine the effec» tiveness of the treatment as well as the effect, if any, the treatment had on the physical condition of the remaining fish (Tables 2 and 3). Cost of chemical was $0.73 per acre foot or a total of $283.2h for the entire lake. ‘ 6. Table 1. ~ Netting results, Lindale Club Lake, November 11, 1958, before copper sulphate treatment, 1,000 feet of gill net Species Percent of number Weight Percent of weight 5 3.5 5.7% Lake chubsucker Golden shiner 53 60.92 11.8 h0.8 Yellow bullhead h 8.3 Largemouth bass 1 2.8 warmouth 1 1.0 Bluegill sunfish I 15 17.0 Yellowbelly sunfish 1 1.0 White crappie 1 3.1 Black crappie 6 . 13.9 Totals 100.00 28.9 " 100.0 Table 2. - Netting results, Lindale Club Lake, September 9, 1959, after copper sulphate treatment, 1,000 feet of gill net Species Percent of number Weight Percent of weight Lake chubsuckers Golden shiner 0.72 Yellow'bullhead 10.65 Largemouth bass 1.09 warmouth 2.17 Bluegill sunfish 58.27 Yellowbelly sunfish 0.72 White crappie 13.37 Black crappie 13.01 Totals 100.00 Table 3. - Lindale Club Lake coefficients of condition before and after copper sulphate treatment - November 11, 1958 j September_9, 1959 Yellow bullhead 7 2.22 Largemouth bass 2 2.20 warmouth 5 3.86 Bluegill sunfish 25 h.27 White crappie ‘ 7 3.18 Black crappie 9 3.37 Pharris Lake Pharris Lake is a 38 acre man-made lake located four or five miles south of Larue, Henderson County, Texas. It is impounded by an earthen dam and contains 238 acre—feet 0f water. A fishery survey was conducted in July 1957, at which time the lake was found to contain bullhead catfish and lake chubsuckers. In the spring of 1958, the lake was stocked with #00 threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense). No shad were present in the survey collections of 1957. On June 23, 1959, the lake was treated with copper sulphate crystals at the rate of 1.55 p.p.m. Water analysis values at the time of treatment were: methyl orange alkalinity - l8 p.p.m., pH - 7.2, dissolved chlorides - 21.28 p.p.m., and water temperature (surface) — 8&0 F. . Immediately after the copper sulphate was applied to the water, uncountable thousands of threadfin shad from %- to 2-inches in length began to flounce on the surface and die. Several hours after treatment, golden shiners and chubsuckers began to come to the surface in distress. The next day, June 2h, larger numbers of bullheads, golden shiners, and chubsuckers were observed dead or in distress. .A few redear and bluegill sunfishes and crappie succumbed to the treatment. It was estimated that less than two percent of the fish killed were game species. The cost of chemicals for treatment of Pharris Lake was $0.71 per acre foot of water or a total of $168.98 for the entire lake. Tables h and 5 are the before and after treatment netting results. Table 6 is a comparison of condition coefficients before and after treatment. No threadfin shad were taken during the after—treatment netting although they had been previously stocked and many thousands were killed by the copper sulphate. 8. Table h. — Netting results, Pharris’ Lake, July 9, 1957, before copper sulphate treatment, 500 feet of gill net ' Species Percent of number _ Weight Percent of weight Lake chubsucker 0.82 Yellow bullhead catfish 16.03 Warmouth 3.38 Largemouth'bass 7.33 Redear sunfish 12.18 Bluegill sunfish 38.29 White crappie 5.31 Black crappie 16.66 Totals 100.00 Table 5; a Netting results, Pharris' Lake, September 17, 1959, after copper sulphate treatment, 500 feet of gill net Species Percent of number Weight Percent of weight Lake chubsucker 1.32 Yellow bullhead catfish 17.9% warmouth 0.90 Redear sunfish 5.38 Bluegill sunfish 26.91 White crappie 18.8h Black crappie 28.71 Totals 100.00