TPWD 1961 F-6-R-8 #641: Basic Survey and Fish Inventory of Four Small Lakes of the Middle Nueces River

. Report of Fisheries Investigations Basic Survey and Fish Inventcry of Four Small Lakes of the Middle Nueces River Charles T. Menu Assistant Project leader Dingell-Jehnson Project Fwé-Rw8, Jdb B—l6 I January h, 1960 - December 31, 1960 Hi D. Dodgen - Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Marion Tools Kanneth C. Jargens and William H; Brawn Coordinator Assistant Coordinator A.B S T B.A C T Three lakes and a portion of the Nueces River (in the northern part of Zavala County) were studied during this segment and the pre— ceding segment. Rough fish, primarily gizzard shad, Dorosome cepedianum, small- mouth.buffalo, Ictidbus bubalus, gar,_Lepisosteus spa., and freshwater drum, Aplodinotus runniens, were predominant in all of the waters studied. The irregular water supply and silt bottom strongly favors rough fish species. Floods in the Spring and fall are common and for this reason, no renovation work is recommended. Job Completion Report State of TEXAS Project No. F-6-R-8 Name: Fisheries Investi ations and.Surve s of the waters of Region S-B. Job No. B-16 Title: Basic Surve and Fish Inventor of Four Small Lakes of the Middle Nueces .__l___________l_____lil_____l_____i__ River. WW Period Covered: January h, 1960 — December 31, 1960 OBJECTIVES To determine the physical, chemical and ecological conditions and the fish popuw lations in the Nueces River Lakes in Zavala, Dimmit and LaSalle Counties. PROCEDURE ' During the study period tracings were made from aerial photographs of Comanche, Espantosa, and Bermuda Dam Lakes. Time did not permit similar work for Holland Lake. The aerial photographs were traced at the Carrizo Springs office of the U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service. Because of the large scale (1 inch 2 660 feet), it was considered too expensive to make-reductions small enough for inclusion in this report. The tracings are on file for future use at the project headquarters. Fish populations in Comanche, Espantosa and Holland Lakes were sampled with era perimental gill nets, 125 feet in length and eight feet deep with mesh sizes varying from one to three inches. Seine collections were made’with a fininch mesh, 20- by h-foot nylon straight seine. - Netted specimens were weighed and measured in the field and sex and stage of sexuai maturity were also recorded for the individual specimens. Stomachs of carnivorous spec: were examined for food contents in the field and seined specimens were preserved in 10 percent formalin solution for later identification in the laboratory. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION A checklist of fish species taken in collections from the Middle Nueces River during the period from July, 1959 through December, 1960, is given in Teble l. The results of seining and netting collections are given in Table 2 and the locations of the collection stations are given on the attached map. The results of water analyses for each station, including M. 0. alkalinity and pH, were recorded. Turbidity was recorded in terms of Secchi disc readings. These records are on file at the regional fisheries laboratory at Mathis, Texas. Comanche Lake Comanche Lake was originally visited in September, 1959, when netting collectio; of fish and water analyses were made (See report for Job Bw16, Project Fm6~R~7). Be» cause the fish population was thought to have been altered by extensive flooding in OctOber, 1959, the lake was revisited in July, 1960. _The results of two netting cola I lections of specimens takerx‘at JJDCErbiCInS previously collected are given in Table 3. No significant change was noted in the fish population. - Aquatic ease... found during the 1959 visit was "apparently removed by the flood since none was found during July, 1960. The water was quite turbid at that time when a Secchi disc reading of only 10 inches was recorded. No submerged vegetation was observed. Only two anglers and one commercial fishermen were seen on Comanche Lake during the July, 1960, trip. The local game warden reported that the commercial fishermen had been taking large numbers of rough fish, primarily smallmouth.buffalo, IctiObus bubalus, but test nets continue to indicate this species to be very abundant. As previously indicated the lake is used primarily for irrigation of farm crops. The irregular water supply, in the form of surface runoff, plus the silt bottom favor the rough fish species including gars, smallmouth buffalo, freshwater drum,-and catm fishes. Espantosa Lake Since Espantosa Lake is located downstream from Comanche Lake it also was renetted in July, 1960. As found in the case of Comanche Lake, there was no appreciable Chang" in the fish population compared with the results of netting in September, 1959. Roug fish species comprised 9h.12 percent of the number of fish netted.and 99.00 percent of their weight. Smallmouth buffalo alone constituted h8.37 percent of the weight of the fish collected. With the exception of two small fish, the buffalos weighed from a pound to over five pounds each. The results of the netting are given in Table A. _ Turbidity readings made with a Secchi disc ranged from 28% to h0~inches at the netting stations. Espantosa Lake is much clearer than Comanche and could probably supm port good black bass, Micropterus salmoides, and white crappie, Pomoxis annularis, pope ulations. Unfortunately annual floods and excessive drawdown for irrigation during the dry spells have prevented-the development of good game fish populations in this lake. Holland Lake Holland Lake is located approximately 16 miles southeast of Octulla in LaSalle County, Texas, on a portion of the Nueces River which flows in a northeasterly direcW tion. Formed by a concrete channel dam, it resembles the other lakes of the area and its main purpose is to retain water for irrigation of farm crops. The sharply cut banks of the lake are lined with pecan, willow, live oak and wild mulberry trees. The only aquatic vegetation seen in the lake was very little duckweed, Lemna s ., scattered through large areas of water fern, Azolla caroliniana. One area, approxie mately five acres in size, was completely blanketed with the fern. This was in the main part Of the lake and more than likely the vegetation will be washed over the dam. “.3... Analysis of surface water samples showed methyl orange alkalinity to range frOm 130 to 180 parts per million. The pH was in excess of 8.8. Turbidity was measured in terms of Secchi disc readings. TheSe ranged from 12 to 15 inches. ' ' In two netting collections (Table 5); it was found that rough fish species com~ prised 67.73 percent.of the number of fish netted and 85.67 percent of their weight. Smallmouth buffalo alone accounted for more than 72 percent of the weight of fish taken in nets. The most abundant game fish species netted were channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, and white crappie. No largemouth bass were taken in nets. Bermuda Dam Lake Bermuda Dam is located on the Nueces River about five miles south of the State Highway 85 crossing. The lake it impounds is similar to the other lakes in that it is a channel dam impoundment. It was not netted because no access road to the lake itself.could be located and no boat launching lake was found. There is a private road leading to the dam, however, and a seining collection of 73 specimens was made below it (Table 6). CONCLUSIONS seen on the four lakes studied. Rough Species, primarily smallmouth buffalo, gars, shed and drum, are predominant in all the lakes. Since severe floods are likely to occur annually, renovation would not be feasible. Dimmit and Zavala Counties are inm cluded in the South Central Texas Regulatory Authority Area and it has been recommended that the use of gill nets with meshes not less than three inches square be allowed in an effort to reduce the numbers of rough fish by utilizing these species. The aerial photographs of the lakes studied are not included in this report due to the fact that they_are too bulky. However, these maps will be kept at this office for future use. ‘ ' _ Adaptations of county highway maps are used in this report to show locations of netting and seining stations. Numbers followed by a small "s” indicate seining station, others represent netting stations. RECOMMENDATIONS _before the drought and it is felt that restocking would restore the population. Only -w- a few bass are present but additional stocking should speed their restoration. Sufu ficient cover and food are available in this portion of the river and base, if stocked should provide much recreation for.the anglers in the area. Five Secchi disc reading. were made at various places on this portion of the river; they ranged from 36ém to #8- inches. Future work relatiVe to recommending changes in the fishing regulations in Dimmit and Zavala Counties, etc., will be done under the reconnaissance job (F-6-R, Jdb B—20). Prepared by Charles T. Mann Approved by_ _ ' Assistant Project Leader Dir ctor Inland Fisheries Division Date March.3, i961" .—5- Table l. A checklist of fish species from middle Nueces River. Common name . Scientific name Alligator gar Lepisosteus spatula Spotted gar Lepisosteus productus Longnose gar ' Lepisosteus osseus Gizzard shad ' Dorosoma cepedianum Smallmouth buffalo Ictidbus bubalus Grey redhorse Moxostoma coggestum Pugnose minnow _ Opsopoeodus emiliae Redhorse shiner '_ Notropis lutrensis Parrot_minnowi _ _ ' Pimephales vigilax Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatust Black bullhead Ictalurus melas I Gambusia_ Gambusia affinis Tidewater silversides .Menidia beryllina largemouth bass - Micropterus salmoides Redear sunfish - I Lepomis microlophus Bluegill sunfish I I Lepomis macroChirus White crappie - \ Pomoxis annularis Freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens Rio_Grande cichlid - Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum emdwo m. Bassoon om mmeHsmom downs Ho oodawom moo mmwoeom oOHHochoome Encomm wooed» 95H% mem : vmoosdou Home. memeemm maeeeeem , - -a_-n==-nu-_ unan-nnnm-Inm-Innw-Ian-nIu-lau-Immune-Igmm-I . . . bHmemaou mos . .. 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