TPWD 1954 F-5-R-1 #70: Inventory of Species Present in Lake Nasworthy

STATE Texas - PROJECT NOo Fwfiwfiul, Job B—l PERIOD WW4 Job Completion Report Lawrence S. Campbell TITLE Inventory of Species Present in Lake Nasworthye DBJECTIVES To determine the species present and their relative abundance and to determine the ecological factors influencing their distribution. PROCEDURE Fortymeight gill nets were set for twelve collectionso Experimental nylon gill nets measuring 125 fte long by eight fto deep and made up in five, 25 fti sections were used. \Mesh.size for these nets increased progressively in each following section at half inch intervals beginning with a oneminch mesh section and terminating with a three—inch mesh sectiona Twentynfour seining collections were made at eight seining stations in the reserw ir. In nearly all collections both 26 ft., %” mesh bag seines and 15 ft., a" common sense seines were usedt To estimate relative abundance a count was made of all individ» dais taken in two hauls with a 26 ft” %" bag seinea In addition to this work, collections with h it. common sense 1/16” mesh fry seines were taken. Water analysis to determine dissolved carbon dioxide and oxygen content was take an for each netting collection and surface temperature, pH and the climatic conditions were recorded for each netting and seining collectiono Turbidity was taken on six occas~ ionst In netting collections, samples from each collection and for each species were weighedj measured and sexeda This work was done in the fieldt A scale sample was taken from a sample number of individuals for each species and stomachs containing food were preserved for laboratory analysis” Similar work for seining collections included ident» ification, weighing and measuring and the preservation of all indivuals whose identify was questionable in lo% formalina FEEDINS Lake Nessorthy is located approximately 6&5 miles southwest of the City of San Angelo; The dam creating this reservoir is one—fourth mile below the confluence of the Middle and South Concho Riversj is an earth fill construction with concrete retaining gates and is 5,h80 feet long. The reservoir was created by the Upper Colorado River Authm ority and has been sold to the City of San Angelo; The impounded water is used exclusw ' sly for municipal and industrial consumption. When the lake is at emergency spillway rel it has about 1,300 surface acres and contains about lt,OhO acre feet of water. At that elevation the lake has about 28 miles of shoreline, The contributing watershed of 2,659 square miles is San Angelo Sandstone formam tion and top soils are usually.Abeliene sand or Frio clays and loamso The vegetative cover 2. is mesquitewgrassland association and the area is currently employed in farming and ranche g. The climate is seminarid, having annual average rainfall of 19.7 inches. The averm age annual discharge for the South and Middle Concho Rivers is 162 c. f. 5.; however, a maximum flow of 230,000 c. f. s. was recorded in September, 1936 and recent annual dis~ charles have been 1.62 c. r. s. in 1952 and 50.1 c. r. s. in 1953. The lake’s water is usually turbid £12 to 18); the maximum carbon dioxide content recorded was 1h ppm and the minimum dissolved oxygen content recorded at that time was 3 ppm. Dissolved carbon dioxide was usually about 8 m 11 ppm and oxygen was usually about 5 to 8 ppm. pH for the reservoir was from 8.2 to 8.5. NETTENG RESULTS Fortyneight experimental gill net sets resulted in the capture of 1,351 individe uals of 16 species. In Table 11, the numerical and weight dominance of river carp suckers {Carpiodes carpio), gizsard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), carp {Cyprinus carpio) and long» nose gar {Lepisosteus osseus) is adequately demonstrated. However, the latter species may be less numerous than indicated. White bass (Morons chrysops) and southern channel eat- fish {Ictalurus punctatus) appear to be dominant game species. In Table 1, failure of net- ting to indicate significant papulation fluctuations for most species is interpreted as a possible indication that little change in ratios has occured during the study period and that under the conditions now existing the lake may be regarded as balanced. SEINING RESULTS Twentymfour seining collections were used in compiling the data for Table lll. Fifteen species and 2,553 individuals were captured. In addition to that data, several her species were taken in other collections where relative abundance estimation was not attempted. Since Lake Nasworthy was not adequately cleared of woody vegetation prior to inundation, coining stations were difficult to establish and rapid growth of bullrushes {Scirpus sp.) and cattails {Typha latifolia) made reclearing necessary at some seining stations. For those reasons percentages for some species may be erroneous, however appar» ent trends toward increases in white bass, largemouth black bass (Micropterus salmoides) and shiners {Notropis) may be indicative of gradual improvement in the lake condition. SUMMARY 1. Fortymeight gill net sets were made at twelve locations. One thousand, three hundred and fiftymone individuals of sixteen species were captured. 2. Twentyufour seining collections captured 2,553 individuals of fifteen species, and additional species were obtained where relative abundance data was not taken. 3. Water analysis showed dissolved carbon dioxide content to be from 9 to 1h ppm and dissolved oxygen to be from 3 to 11 ppm. pH was from 8.2 to 8.5, and turn bidity 12 to 18. h. Dense aquatic vegetation in the upper lake and near the mouth of the South.Con- Concho River has extremely rapid growth on shallow flats. This vegetation is primarily bullrushes (Scirpue sp.), pondweeds (Potomogeton natans and P. spir— illus} and cattails (Typha latifolia). 5. It is concluded that netting results may error in actual percentages but the dominance of the lake by river carp suckers, carp, gizzard shed and longnose gar is adequately demonstrated. 6. Seining results may error in the percentages for some species but trends indie eats a general improvement in the lake condition. Checklist of Species of Fish from Lake Nasworthy June 22} 1952 to June 22, 1954 Cgmmgn Name Scientific Name la Langnose gar Lepisasteua osseus 2. Gizsard shad Dorosama eepedianum 3t River earpsucker Carpiodes carpie A. German car C rinus car is P P 59 Gray redhorse sucker Moxostama congestum 1“ F 00 Gelden Shiner Netemigonue crysoleucas a Blacktail Shiner Notropis venustus 7 89 Red shiner Natropis lutrensis KO Texasshiner Notrapis amabilis 10o Parrot minnaw Pimephales vigilax 11. Southern channel catfish Ietalurus punctatus 129 Flathead catfish Pilodietus olivaris 13a Gammon masquitafish Gambusia sffinis 14a Largemouth black bass ‘Micropterus salmaides 150 Warmauth bass Chaehobryttus eorenarius 16‘ Green sunfish Lepamis eyanellus 17¢ Spetted sunfish Lepomis punetatus 189 Refiaar sunfish Lepamis mieralophus 19¢ Bluegill Lepomis macroehirus 209 Orange spatted sunfish Lepomis humilis 219 Yellowhelly sunfish Lepomis auritus 32. Western longear sunfish Lepomis megalotis 23“ White crappie Pamoxis annularis 2%. Logperch Percina caprades 25¢ Freshwater drum Aplodinatus grunniens ,.q__:;;;;... ;i: -_: ;. .;; :.o;::g :,::.;o= _ om ma m.m a saw ... .m o -;.,.Omud;.;.;.; ...-..a..Mr ....OW¢MM..::H..ia:;:=;.;:r.muwmf.gon&fi .- ._. ._...__.....__._ __._..... .. .._ __ ...,._ H. g...._..__ m__,,;..% ._ .. mm H. ._ ..,_. H w. _ ........ww .._ d as” H ___. ... .H. .. 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