TPWD 1959 F-5-R-6 #491: Inventory of Species Present in Red Bluff Reservoir near Angeles, Texas

Report of Fisheries Investigations Inventory of Species Present in Red Bluff Reservoir near Angeles, Texas by lawrence Campbell Project Leader Dingell-Johnson Project Leader F-5~R~6, Jdb Bel? April 16, 1957 - April 16, 1958 H. D. Dodgen - Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Marion Toole Kenneth C. Jurgens & William Ha Brown Coordinator Assistant Coordinators Jab Completion Report State of 'TEXAS Project No. F-S-R-6 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys ”“ of the waters of Region 3-B. JOb No. B~17 Title: Inventory of Species Present in Red Bluff Reservoir near Angeles2 Texas Period Covered: April 16, 1951 - April 162 1958 Abstract: Extreme fluctuations in the lake level at critical periods, high salinity, and other physical phenomena limit the potential productivity of Red Bluff Reservoir. The existing fish pOpulations are dominated by gizzard shed and white bass and renovation methods are required before other game species may be expected to be contributive to the fishery yield. It is recommended that resurvey work include negotiations with the New Mexico authorities to determine if a cooperative management venture can be arranged. Objectives: To determine species present and their relative abundance as well as to determine the ecological factors influencing their distribution. Procedure: Fiftyeeight (58) gill net sets were made at nine locations in the reservoir. Ex- perimental nylon gill nets, measuring 125 feet long by eight feet deep and made up in five, 25mfoot sections, were used. Mesh sizes for these nets increased progressively in each following section, at halfrinch intervals, beginning with a one—inch square mesh section and terminating with a threerinch square mesh sections. Twentyrseven (27) seining collections were made at five seining stations in the reservoir. In nearly all collections, both 26 foot, % inch mesh bag seines and 15 foot, % inch mesh, common sense seines were used. To estimate relative abundance of the species seined, a count was made of all individuals taken in two hauls with a 26 foot, fi-inch mesh bag seine. In addition to this work, collections with a h foot, 1/16 inch mesh, common sense, fry seine was taken. water analyses to determine dissolved oxygen content and the quantity of dissolved carbon dioxide were made periodically. Surface temperature, pH and weather conditions were recorded for each netting and seining collection. Turbidity was measured on two occasions. In netting collections, samples from each collection and for each species were weighed, measured and sexed. This work was done in the field. Stomachs containing food were preserved for laboratory examination. Similar work for seining collections in- cluded identification, weighing and measuring. Individual specimens not readily identifiable in the field were preserved in 10 percent solution of formalin. These were later identified in the laboratory. Findings: Red Bluff Reservoir is the fifth in a series of major reservoirs located on the Pecos River. It is impounded by a 9,200 foot compacted earth-fill dam, located three miles upstream from Screwbean Draw, and h.5 miles north of the town of Orla, Texas, and is designed to have a total storage capacity of 307,000 acre feet of water. The contributing watershed of 20,720 square miles is in the lower Staked Plains. The reservoir is primarily for the impoundment and control of irrigation waters and is owned by Red Bluff Power Control District, whose offices are in Pecos. About 15,000 acres in Reeves, Ward, and Pecos Counties may be irrigated when water supplies permit. As shown in the accompanying hydrology data (Tables 5 & 6), the reservoir is subject to extreme fluctuation because of its use. It is the most saline inland reservoir in the state and possibly in the south; and is generally unstable in nature. The area, particularily in the upper portions of the reservoir which is subject to inundation, is covered with dense concentrations of salt cedar. Access to much of the reservoir area is difficult. Although bulrushes, Scirpus sp., are present in sparse and very limited concentrations, the reservoir has no vegetation problem. Turbidity was not recordable; pE was from 7.8 to 8.03 dissolved oxygen was from 7 to 10 ppm; and dice solved carbon dioxide was from 0 to 1h ppm. Subsurface infiltration, or seepage of water into the river bed above the reservoir, transported and deposited an estimated 279 tons of salt each 2h hours and a "saline" stratification was considered as possible. Fish Populations: a. Relative Abundance - Because of the previously described concentrations of salt cedar and other obstructions seining could be done as described only near the dam. For that reason gill netting collections are probably more reliable in indicating this aspect of the population study. The species taken are listed in an annotated check~ list. b. Species Distribution - Information pertaining to species distribution in Red Bluff Reservoir is included partly in the annotated checklist and partly in the section of the report dealing with trends and influences of the principal fish populations. Annotated Checklist of Species of Fish Taken in Red Bluff Reservoir Lepisosteidae (gars) Lepisosteus osseus (longnose gar) — common and especially abundant near the mouth of the river. Clupeidae (shed and herrings) Dorosoma cepedianum (gizzard shad) r the most numerous and wisely distributed species in the reservoir. Abundant and relatively large in size. Characidae (tetras) Astyanax fasciatus (Mexican jumper) - prdbably released by persons handling bait. Found near the dam. Catostomidae (suckers) Carpiodes carpio (river carpsucker) - common and abundant, taken in all reservoir areas, high average coefficient of condition, however, apparently there was no significant increase during the second year of work. Moxostoma congestum (gray redhorse sucker) - common but usually restricted to the mouth of the river. Ictiobus bubalus (smallmouth buffalo) r common and occurring throughout the reservoir. Not listed or included under undesirable species since they are sought by sportsmen of the area and have commercial value. Cyprinidae (minnows) Cyprinus carpio (carp) - common and fairly abundant, taken at all netting stations, ossibly controlled or partially controlled by salinity. Notropis lutrensis (redhorse Shiner) — common, probably the dominant minnow for the lake. Pimephales vigilax (parrot minnow) _ common but less numerous than redhorse shiners or killifishes. Ameiuridae (catfishes) Ictalurus natalis (yellow bullhead) m not actually taken but known to be present imme- diately below release structures and above reservoir in river. Significance undetermined. Ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish) r common but not numerous, evenly distributed but less concentrated in the upper reservoir. Pylodictus olivaris (flathead catfish) r rare and apparently not present in the saline upper reservoir near the river mouth. Cyprinodontidae (killifishes and topminnows) Fundulus kansae (plains killifish) r common and abundant, prObably next to shad as the most numerous species for the reservoir. Gambusia affinis (mosquitofish) r abundant in all areas where protection was afforded. Serranidae (basses) Roccus chrysops (white or striped bass) - abundant, the most numerous game species, concentrated near the Pecos mouth, high average coefficient of condition, apparently particularly well suited to this type habitat. Centrarchidae (black basses and sunfish) Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass) - rare, and confined in distribution to the areas low in salinity near the dam. Unimportant as a resource, no juvenile fish taken in seining, condition poor and indicative of unsuccessful reproduction. Chaenobryttus gulosus {warmouth bass) - rare, taken in seining only. Lepomis cyanellus (green sunfish) - common and fairly abundant near the dam. Lepomis macrochirus (bluegill) — of about equal importance with green sunfish, more widely distributed, but not important as a game species. Lepomis microlophus (redear sunfish) - rare, taken in one collection only. Lepomis megalotis (longear sunfish) w rare, but more numerous than redear. Pomoxis annularis (white crappie) - possibly the most numerous contrarchid, but appar~ ently stunted and not present in the extremely saline areas of the river mouth. Percidae (perches and darters) Percina caprodes (logperch) - not actually taken in reservoir, but present in the stream immediately'below. Sciaenidae (drum) Aplodinotus grunniens (freshwater drum) e not actually taken in year's netting, but Observed in fishermen catches and taken in the previous year of inventory. 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Table A. 1987 2&00 1706 1h60 528 1008 2080 1090 1768 6500 3010 519M 2h50 1290 2063 Water Quality for Red Bluff at 1951 2380 #30 1260 1500 270 813 2120 635 1750 6880 1660 M580 2370 7M2 1930 1952 2960 1050 2310 18u0 637 ifldo' 2290 lh30 2120 7980 3810 6780 2600 1690 2370 No Records Available 1953 6990 28h0 3870 uuuo 1790 23h0 2990 2070 2h80 15600 7570 9760 3&00 2380 3010 195A 6790 1620 2650 M290 1380 1700 2980 1100 1720 15200 #280 6790 3A3O 1260 1930 Orla, Texas 1955 5020 900 1150 3220 656 7A3 1956 28h0 1000 1690 1790 650 1090 2130 1350 1680 73h0 3620 5190 2320 1510 1860 l---J 03704? -4~q-q .25 7 Year Average PPM 2090 1307 1785 59h9 20h3 8.08 7°25