TPWD 1972 F-5-R-19 #1446: Job Progress Report: Region 1-B Fisheries Studies, Job No. 13, Fisheries Management Recommendations

JOB PROGRESS REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION.ACT Federal TEXAS Aid Project Non F-5-R-l9 Region l-B Fisheries Studies Job N00 13 Fisheries Management Recommendations Project Leader: Billy Jo Follis James U. Cross Executive Director Parks and Wildlife Department Fred Ga Lowman Branch Head9 Inland Fisheries Austin, Texas Roy To Huffman Director, Current Operations May 18, 1972 Abstract One or more fisheries surveys were conducted on 17 public waters in Region l-B to determine and recommend management practices. Surveys included fish sampling with gill nets, seines and trawl; collection of physical, hydrological and ecological data; aquatic vegetation checks, and water analysis. Preliminary meetings and public hearings were attended for the Permian Basin and Edwards Plateau Regulatory Districts. Two major fishing regulation changes were made: (1) identification tags on trotlines and (2) an 11- inch size limit on catfish. Several Region l-B lakes met the criteria for renovation from the fish population standpoint but other circumstances prevented such measures at this time. One small park pond was renovated and restocked with desirable fish. Seventeen public lakes and portions of 3 streams received supplementary hatchery stocking._ These waters received 840,000 fry, 496,894 fingerlings, and 22,849 yearling fish of 7 species from state and federal hatcheries. JOB PROGRESS REPORT State of Texas Name: Region l-B Fisheries Studies Project No.: FwSmRel9 Title: Fisheries Management Recommendations Job No.: 13 Period Covered: March 12 1971 to February 29, 1972 PS Objectives; To determine the need for, in Region l-B waters: Changes in fish harvest regulations Population control Stocking Vegetation control Emergency measures needed to correct unpredictable events adversely affecting fish populations 6. Updating public access bulletin m-P‘LDNH Segment Objectives; One through six above. Procedures; Proposed fishing regulations were concluded from current fishery survey data, existing fisheries regulations, and applicable developments in fisheries management from other projects. Preliminary meetings were attended in the Edwards Plateau and Permian Basin Regulatory Districts where the proposed regulations were discussed with concerned Department personnel. The resulting proposals were presented to the public through public hearings in each of the counties under regulatory responsibility. Procedures for Objectives 2 through 5 will be merged for expediency and clarity. The findings and discussions will be reported separately for each concerned body of water for the same reasons. Fish populations were sampled with standard gill nets, seines and trawl when possible. The standard gill net used is 150 feet long and 8 feet deep with mesh size varying from 1 to 3% square inches. Additional large mesh gill nets were used to adequately sample some fish populations and will be shown on each netting table concerned. The number of nets set was determined by the size of the impoundment and water conditions. The size of seines and trawl used is given with each survey results table. A trawling sample unit was a 10—minute drag at approximately 5 miles per hour. All fish collected in gill nets were counted, weighed and measured. A sample of fish, usually up to 15 of each game species, was examined to determine sexual development and stomach content. Total numbers, total weights, percentage composition, average weights and condition (”K“ factor) were tabulated. Fish taken in seines and trawl were counted and a length range was recorded. Several specimens of each species were preserved in formalin solution and returned to the laboratory where identifications were confirmed. Vegetation checks were made during each survey and records were made as to the kind and abundance. This information will be discussed only when significant. Air and water temperatures, hydrological records, turbidity, weather conditions and other physical data were recorded in each survey. Also, water analysis~~including dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, alkalinity, total hardness, chlorides and prewere conducted. This information will be discussed in this report only when pertinent. Statistical data for each body of water were examined to determine which waters would be considered for chemical control measures. The criteria for considering chemical management efforts were populations of undesirable species in excess of 80 per cent by either weight and/or number, lake capacities, and the ”cost—benefit ratio” of a treatment. Many of the public waters surveyed during this segment were recommended for supplementary hatchery stocking of fingerling game fish for one or more of the following reasons: (1) the degree and survival of game fish repro- duction, (2) reservoir capacities, (3) food abundance, (4) fishing pressure and, (5) past production records. No significant improvements or new developments of access and/or facilities on Region le waters were discovered this segment. Therefore, no additions or updating of the Statewide Public Access Bulletin (now in distribution to the public) were necessary. Findings and Discussion: All major public waters were surveyed during this segment (Table l). The more important ones received 2 or more visits and the minor or small impoundments were checked once. On some occasions where drought had greatly reduced the water level, complete surveys could not be made. A comparison of the average coefficient of condition ("K” factor) for all game species collected with gill nets at all waters surveyed is given in Table 2. Table 1 Waters Surveyed During This Segment Name County Number of Visits Champion Creek Reservoir Mitchell 2 Colorado City Reservoir Mitchell 2 Colorado River Concho l Concho River Tom Green 2 Cosden Lake Howard 1 Elm Creek Reservoir Runnels l E. V. Spence Reservoir Coke 2 J. B. Thomas Reservoir Borden & Scurry 2 Moss Creek Reservoir Howard 1 Nasworthy Lake Tom Green 2 Oak Creek Lake Coke 2 San Angelo Reservoir Tom Green 1 San Saba River Menard & Schleicher 2 Towle Park Lake Scurry 1 Twin Buttes Reservoir Tom Green 2 Valley Creek Lake Runnels 1 Winters Lake, New Runnels 1 Table 3 presents the 1971 supplementary stocking for Region lmB public waters. Objective No. l The only recommended change in the fishing regulations from this project was approved by the Department and became a statewide regulation in September 1971. This long soughtmafter regulation requires all trot“ lines to be permanently tagged with the name and address of the fisherman and the date set. ThiS'was primarily proposed to assist in elimination of abandoned trotlines in public waters. An llwinch size limit was placed on catfish throughout most of the state and included all Region le counties. The last nonwregulatory county of Fisheries Region 1~B, Concho County, came under the Departmentgs regulatory responsibility in September 1971. The existing Permian Basin Regulations will apply. Table 4 presents the locations, dates and number of persons present at regulatory public hearings that concerned this project. Objectives 2 through 5 Champion Creek Reservoir The Texas Electric Service Company continued water withdrawals from this auxiliary water supply and by late summer reduced it to about 800 acrewfeet. Since its completion in the late 1950's it has never reached its conservation size of 1,560 acres. Fall rains relieved this critically low water situation somewhat as it impounded about 10,000 acremfeet of runoff. Hmon N oovaHMmon om mdmummm 3%: mmononm om 0950 mwmowmm mmmnwmm .h h S h S S .1 S h S .1 f h .l S a e .r t s 3 Fl .1 B .1 t a S .1 n f p a no 5 a F. u n .h P C s B n S u t a .d a .n u 11 S u r 1 a B d t S l r O C e e e e u .1 a r m V. n .n e P o n as e a e e e n t t .1 m e e as a. as t .l a a i r r e u n d r .1 l .h .1 .h t a r .1 o e a .n a amass. c. .F. w. .3. w .c .B i, R. L. m. :w ormswwon oummw mem H.ob N.Hh N.uw w.om s.wb N.mb m.0m noHoummo nwnw HNWm H.um N.Hm m.oo w.mu b.N© w.oo N.wo N.©N noHonmmo Wwdmu H.mo H.©w w.Hw Gonoro Wanna H.mw N.Hm N.mo D.Nu b.0n b.Hs b.mw w.om N.mu H.©© monomn HmWe H.0H m.Hw b.up w.N© mHB Gamma Hme H.mm H.©N b.mo b.um w.Ho u.oo m. d. mwmnom Home H.uo H.mb w.mw N.MH b.um a.HN b.mH b.mo w.um w.Hm w.bm m. w. Hrosmm beam H.om N.wo w.mn w.NH N.©w H.uo m. 30mm heme? Hmwm H.©m w.Nw D.HN N.mo _ 2mmsoanse seem H.me H.e~ N.m© o.oo s.No u.ue N.©H N.aa omw Gamma Hmwm H.mH N.Hu N.©N w.mo n.om w.HH N.Mo mmb mommHo Hme H.obm b.mo H.mo mm: mmom Wwdmu H.wo H.om w.©o P.Nw w.mw N.ob w.H© HosHm wmuw Hme m.©© D.NN w.uN Haws wannmm Hme N.oH N.Hm N.oo b.0H b.oo w.mo m.om H.u© <mwwmw newer mem N.ou N.Hb w.om D.NN w.om N.©© Zenanm Hmwos Zea H.mN N.w© u.b© b.sH w.oo N.wm m<mummm H.mo N.o© N.om N.NH b.HN w.mh D.No b.0u w.m© w.ON w.om H.mm a moBm momoeamnm oomoeamo. Lakes Andrews Champion Creek Colorado City Cosden Elm Creek E. V. Spence J. B. Thomas Kinarum Moss Creek Mountain Creek Nasworthy Oak Creek Robert Lee (old) San Angelo Twin Buttes Valley Creek Winters (new) Colorado River Concho & Coke Co. Concho River Tom Green Co. San Saba River Menard Co. Public Water Largemouth Bass 300 1,000 3,000 2,000 10,000 1,100 2,500 Table Stocking Channel 3,000 3 _ 1971, Region lmB Blue Catfish Catfish 34,200 30,325 1,200 10,000 3,000e 29,150 10,000 5,500e 91,105 11,896% 3,000 2,000 27,000 10,400 12,000 1,500 11,000 900 Flathead Redear Sunfish 1,825 70,000 5,000 4,200 17,040 13,500 All fingerling stocking except where noted, t yearlings, it fry. Striped Bass 44,700 2,246* 740,000** 100,000:a -6- Table 4 Regulatory Hearings Concerning Project F-S-R, 1971 (Town) Number County Location Date Present Permian Basin Area Andrews* Andrews 5-5-71 0 Borden Gail 5-4~7l 0 Cochran* Morton 5-3-71 ll Cokev Robert Lee 5-5-71 0 Concho Paint Rock 9-14-71 5 Crosbyvv Crosbyton 5~3~7l 0 Dawsonv Lamesa 5-5~7l 0 Ector* Odessa 5-6-71 1 Gainesif Seminole 5-5-71 0 Garzavv Post 5-3-71 0 Glasscock Garden City 5-6~7l 0 Howard Big Spring 5—5-71 0 Irionv Mertzon 5w6-7l 4 Kent?* Jayton 5-3-71 1 Martin Stanton 5-5~7l 0 Midland Midland 5-5-71 0 Mitchell Colorado City 5~4~71 0 Reagan Big Lake 5-6m71 0 Runnelsif Ballinger 5-6-71 0 Scurry Snyder 5_4_71 0 Sterling* Sterling City 5_5_71 0 Terry* Brownfield 5-4-71 0 Tom Greenv San Angelo 5~6-71 0 Yoakum* Plains 5-4w7l 0 Menardv Menard 5-4-71 NR Schleicherv Eldorado 5-4~71 NR NR 2 Official attendance not reported R8 _ Not in Region 1wB, but hearing attended by F~5-R personnel R - In Region l-B but not attended by F-5-R personnel As found in last year”s surveys, the gizzard shad population is continuing to expand. This segment“s netting (Table 5) shows this problematic species accounting for almost 66 per cent by number and 44 per cent by weight of all fish netted. Other changes in the fish population as reflected in the netting data is an increase in white bass and a reduction in all centrachids. Fishing pressure and harvest also declined as the water level dropped during the summer months. Small gizzard shad were very abundant in the seining collection. The usual moderatewtOwheavy growths of bushy pondweed (Najas sp.) were greatly reduced by lowering of the water level. Channel catfish finger- lings were stocked shortly after the fall runoff. Colorado City Reservoir The water level of this 1,655macre lake was maintained within about 12 to 14 feet of spillway level with the pumping from Champion Creek Lake. The Texas Electric Service Company owns and operates this reservoir for steam generator cooling. A large, previously—restricted area on the west side is now being developed for a state park and will provide modern facilities and increased access in the near future. Flathead catfish dominate the weight of this year”s sample, accounting for 60.40 per cent (Table 6). This has been the trend for this lake for the past several years, although the fishing pressure and harvest is very high for this popular species. The fish population as a whole appears to be fairly stable with only slight decreases in white bass and white crappie. Forage was very abundant with small gizzard shad, red shiners, blacktail shiners and bullhead minnows dominating the seining collections. Colorado River The Colorado River was surveyed once this segment in Concho County. There was little sustained flow and only small amounts of runoff water this year. The water was down to shallow turbid holes 1/8 to 1/2 miles in length. As usual, the fish population was comprised of an abundance of undesirable species (Table 7). Channel and flathead catfish were 'present in the collection and these 2 species provide most of the fishery in this area. The fishing success for catfish in this area is surprisingly high during the warmer months. Red shiners are quite abundant and are probably exploited commercially. Concho River The 2 surveys of the Concho River in Tom Green County produced a large variety of Species. Table 8 includes 20 species collected with gill nets alone. The usual dominance of rough fish was comprised mainly _8. Table 5 Survey results from Champion Creek Reservoir, May 26 and November 23, 1971. Results of 12 standard gill nets and 4 large mesh nets. v-Per Cent Total Wt. Avg.Wt. 'Per cent _Average S'ecles. . _ _ . . _ . _ _ _ _ . _b. . . . . _ _ Pounds . _ WU ”K" Gizzard shad 224 65.88 143.00 .63 43.54 Carp 11 3.23 100.00 9.09 30.45 Golden shiner l .30 .14 .14 .05 River carpsucker 2 .58 3.91 1.95 1.19 Black bullhead 1 .30 .19 .19 .06 Channel catfisht 19 5.59 37.56 1.97 11.43 1.94 Flathead catfishr 1 .30 9.25 9.25 2.82 2.14 White basst 56 16.46 26.09 .46 7.95 2.73 Warmouth* 1 .30 .10 .10 .03 3.63 Bluegills 14 4.11 3.73 .26 1.13 4.34 Largemouth bass* 1 .30 .35 .35 .11 2.84 White crappie* 9 2.65 4.06 .45 1.24 3.05 Total 340 100.00 328.38 100.00 Game Fish* 101 29.71 81.14 24.71 Rough Fish 239 70.29 247.24 75.29 Seining results from Champion Creek Reservoir (Bag 26H x 6' X a-inch mesh seine and 20” x 6E x 1/8winch mesh seine). Species Number Size Range in Inches Gizzard shad 1553 2-6 Plains minnow 2 3 Red shiner 8 1%-2% Blacktail shiner 295 l%-3% Warmouth l 6 Bluegill 7 2~3 Largemouth bass 18 1-10 Total 1974