TPWD 1974 F-5-R-21 #1592: Region I-B Fisheries Studies: Fisheries Management Recommendations, Federal Aid Project No. F-5-R-21

PERFORMANCE REPORT WAS required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-S-R—Zl REGION I*B FISHERIES STUDIES Objective 13: Fisheries Management Recommendations Project Leader: Billy J. Follis Clayton T. Garrison Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Lonnie J. Peters Robert J. Kemp, Director Chief, Inland Fisheries Fisheries DIVISIOH March 24, 1974 Summary The objective of this study is to recommend management practices for the public waters of Region I-B. Fisheries surveys were conducted on 16 public lakes and two public streams in Region 1—3 to determine and recommend management practices. These surveys included fish sampling with gill nets and seines; 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. The existing fishing regulations were considered adequate for the existing fisheries resources and no changes were necessary. Supplementary hatchery stocking was the most common management activity recommended during this segment. Fifteen public lakes and six public streams received a total of 4,710,000 fry and 1,365,333 fingerlings of seven game fish species. The majority of these fish were supplied by the two San Angelo State Hatcheries. PERFORMANCE REPORT State:*. Texas Project Number: F-5wa2l Project Title: Region l-S Fisheries Studies Project Section: Inventory “wmmmw_m_mmsis Study Title:_fiu Fisheries Management Recommendations _hwfimu _WF Contract Period: .From March 1, 1973 To Februagym28,”}974 Program Narrative Objective No.: 13 PS Objectives: II. To determine the need for in Region I-B waters, Changes in fish harvest regulations Population control Stocking Vegetation control Updating public access information. 0 U‘I—DWFQH Q Segment Objectives: One through five above. Summary of Progress: Preposed fishing regulations were discussed with concerned Department personnel at preliminary meetings in the Edwards Plateau and Permian Basin Regulatory Districts. Current fisheries sur— vey data, existing fisheries regulations, and applicable develOpments in fisheries management elsewhere provided the basis for proposed fish harvest regulations. The resulting proposals were presented at public hearings in each county under regulatory authority. Tish populations were sampled with standard gill nets and seines. The standard gill net used is 150 feet long and 8 feet deep with mesh sizes varying from.l to 3% square inches. Additional large mesh {3- and 3%msquare-inchemesh) gill nets were used to more adequately sample fishes of larger sizes. The number of nets set was determined by the size of the impoundment, water conditions and time of year. The size of seines used is given with each survey results table. III. IV. All fish collected in gill nets were counted and weighed. A sample of fish, usually up to 15 of each game species, was measured and examined for sexual development and stomach content. Total numbers, total weights, percentage composition, average weights and condition factors (”K") were tabulated. Fish taken in seines were counted and length ranges were recorded. Several specimens of each species were preserved in formalin and returned to the laboratory where identifi— cations were confirmed. Vegetation_observations were made during each survey and records were made as to the kind and abundance. This information will be dis- cussed only when significant. Air and water temperatures, hydrological data, turbidity, weather conditions and other physical data were recorded in each survey. Water analyses, including dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, alkali— nity, total hardness, chlorides and pH were conducted on most waters. This type of information will be discussed in this report only when pertinent. Data for each body of water were examined to determine Which waters would be considered for p0pu1ation control measures. The criteria for considering management efforts were population of undesirable species in excess of 80 per cent by weight and/or number, lake capaci- ties, water usage, and the "cost-benefit ratio" of a treatment. Several 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 reproduction, (2) reservoir capacities, (3) food abundance, (4) fishing pressure and (5) past production records. Significant Deviation: No significant deviation from planned acti— vities were encountered. All public lakes of Region [-3 were sur- veyed during this segment with the exception of two minor lakes that were extremely low° No major improvements or deve10pments of access and/or facilities were found, therefore, updating of the Statewide Public Access Bulletin was not necessary. Conclusions, Evaluations and Recommendations: The existing fish harvest regulations for Region I-B were found to be satisfactory for the pre- sent resources and no changes were proposed or adopted. The public waters of Region I-B surveyed during this segment are listed in Table l. A comparison of the average coefficients of condition (”K" factors) for all game species collected with gill nets at all waters surveyed is presented in Table 2. The 1973 supplementary hatchery stocking of game fish is found in Table 3. Table 1. Name Amistad Reservoir Ascarate Lake Balmorhea Reservoir Diablo I Lake Elm Creek Lake E. V. Spence Reservoir Macho Lake Mountain Creek Lake Nasworthy Lake North Concho Reservoir Oak Creek Reservoir Red Bluff Reservoir Robert Lee City Lakes Twin Buttes Reservoir Valley Creek Lake Winters Lake Colorado River Sm1$$aRhmr County Val Verde El Paso Reeves Hudspeth Runnels Coke Hudspeth Coke Tom Green Tom Green Coke Reeves Coke Tom Green Runnels Runnels Concho Menard Waters Surveyed During Segment 21 Surface Acres Size 64,900 50 573 84 55 14,950 40 95 1,596 5,440 2,375 11,700 15 9,080 187 250 Number of Visigg mm.a n©.m mm.N oo.N om.m he.m oo.m mo.m mm.m o@.m om.m NN.N Hw.N NO.N ¢M.H mm.H owmnobm mm.~ ed.m wm.m mm.m qw.H mw.a enema seem new mo.m om.m NH.H Hm.H oo>flm opoooaoo qquN Hmuq oHuN MN.H awn—mg mhmuaflz se.~ mm.m mm.m No.m sm.m ms.s saws amass saunas NN.N om.H 0H.m Om.m em.m mH.m oo.N mn.a uwobnomom mouuom case ea.m ew.m se.m 0H.N. memo soon was “bosom No.m qq.e mn.m qo.m om.a unobnomom mmofim pom wm.m ¢©.N mH.m mm.m oa.m Hm.m om.¢ om.m ¢H.N No.H smoonomom xoono xmo mm.a ww.m Nw.m ¢N.¢ no.m mm.m mm.m mo.m HN.N exam osoooo aunoz mm.m Nq.m mm.m Hm.m nw.m mm.H wn.a qq.H axed asunosmsz on.m om.H axed Romeo ammuosoz mm.m No.m ¢¢.H exam oases mm.m mm.m so.m NN.N mm.N om.H No.H oo.H nHo>nomom powwow .> .m mn.m Nw.m om.H exam xoono EHm NN.N om.m Hm.a exam H cabana we.m NH.N me.m o¢.m mo.m oo.m oe.H exam mosnosaem mm.m No.m . mm.m OB.H mama openness mo.m em.m mm.m mo.m .qo.m No.m mm.m om.m om.m o¢.m sm.a mo.H um.H omobnomom usummem mnoumz a a W... m. a a m m e a a e m... n m. m T. 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S u. n S U. u U1 T: T». m. mowooam ills... mowooam oEmO mo mnouomm :M: ommno>¢ mo oomwnmmaoo .N oHQmH omm.NH pupae assesses ooo.oos ooo.ooH ooo.om oHs.Hs ooo.os mam masses sass ooo.m ooo.os oma.sm ooo.mm ooo.oH ooo.om muses ems ooo.oH oos.s swans aso «000.00s.m 000.com 000.00s 000.0s oom.m ooo.oH sauces sense coo.ma ooo.om ooo.oH sesnosmaz ooo.m ooo.m coo.s oom.m amass assesses ooo.m ooo.m ooo.m ooo.m oases _ ooo.s 000.0s ooo.os ooo.om ooo.mH ooo.om oms.a ooo.om sem.ms 000.0s access .> .e . ooo.m ooo.m coo.m coo.m ooo.m ooo.m H obsess ooo.m ooo.m oom.m ooo.oH essuoessm ooo.m coo.m oom.m ooo.m oom.m assesses omm.oss omo.H sausage Housed .oom Hmooom .oom Hmouoa .oom Hmsuom .oom Hmsuom .oom Hmouom .oom Hmouom .omm finance .oom mamouum emsmesm assumes saunas: smashes espouse emnmueu swam seem a pennmm momma possumam Hocomeu spam euooeownmd poafiwum momma momoomm .itIiIlIIIIlilliilllillltllllllllilllII|ilI||lI[||lilI||ilI|II1II||iII|||III|Iii|IIIIIII|IliE|||I|li|||llI||III|II1lII||IlII||IIlilllllillllllllilllllll mIH commom cw mnoumz owanom cw mmoa new mmcwxooum Honoom pom popooEEooom .m powH Hmfluufi . me emomcsm eases: mom a Hmouum .omm mflaamnu muHLB ooo.m ooo.m ooo.m ABon mnmucwz coo.H Apaov mnoucwz 000.0H xoouo mmaam> coo.s Aesovuameasamm ooo.mH Hmcmu ommm Hm coo.me cam.a amuse seesaw ooo.Hm oom.H nebwm seem new oom.m xenuo oboe sooo.ooo.a 000.00s woos.0s som.@m 00¢.N uo>mm osoooo HmsuowllldeMIllil. Hmduom .oom Houses .oom museum .oom Museum .oom Hmouom .oom memooum assumes espouse emnmnso emamsmu swam seem . s possummm Hocdmzo moan sodoEmmmmq pomwuum moxmq -7- The evaluation, discussion, and recommendations for Objectives 2, 3, and 4 will be combined and reported separately for each con- cerned body of water for expediency. Stocking requests for 1974 have been made but undoubtedly will require several changes because of unpredictable water levels in West Texas. Lake Amistad The results of two surveys on Amistad (May and November 1973) are combined in Table 4. The fish population appears stable in all respects, with most species near their long—term averages in netting results for the past three years. The average weight of smallmouth buffalo continues to increase, however, despite the use of the same types of nets since 1968. The International Boundary and Water Commission and Texas Water Rights Commission have cooperated with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Depart« ment each spring in stabilizing the water level during the largemouth bass spawning season (February through April). By allowing undisturbed spawning and encouraging high fry survival, this practice has apparently succeeded in maintaining a substantial crop of harvestable largemouth bass from year to year without supplementary stocking. Age class 0 and 1 fish were common in this segment's surveys. Lake Amistad has been selected as a potential candidate for striped bass stocking. The great areas of open water, largely unutilized now, could possibly contribute to an open-water predator fishery. However, before any new species are introduced into Amistad, harvest and standing crOp data should be gathered intensively for at least one year as base- line data from which the effects of stocking can later be measured. Recent informal discussions with Mexican officials indicate that cooperative studies and management programs involving fisheries workers of both countries are promising possibilities. This is con— sidered as an important opportunity and should be officially encour- aged. Ascarate and Ascarate Fisherman's Lakes Results of the single survey of these lakes, made in October 1973, are combined in Table 5 because the two lakes are connected by a short cone duit through which water flows from Ascarate to the smaller lake. Both lakes produce few game fish because of heavy fishing pressure and skiing and boating on the larger lake. The pepulations of carp and gizzard shad are too large, although carp are often sought and utilized by local fishermen. Threadfin shad were introduced in 1971. Subsequent surveys produced no survivors and the effort was regarded as a failure. However, in October 1973, six threadfins were seined from the smaller lake .Fishern man's). Further surveys will determine if their population will grow Table 4. Survey Results Amistad Reservoir, May 22, 23, 24, 1973 and November 6, 7, 8, 1973. Results of fifty~nine standard gill nets and twenty-one large-mesh nets. Per Cent Total Wt. Avg. Wt. Per Cent Average Species Number By No. Pounds Pounds By Wt. fl__fi ”K” Spotted gar 3 .18 3.52 1.17 .13 Longnose gar 39 2.43 84.62 2.16 3.32 Gizzard shad 457 28.48 204.34 .44 8.01 Carp 74 4.61 126.84 1.71 4.97 River carpsucker 83 5.17 132.44 1.59 5.19 Smallmouth buffalo 535 33.33 1433.00 2.67 56.16 Gray redhorse 9 .56 11.53 1.28 .45 Blue catfish a 12 .75 15.81 1.21 .62 1.54 Black bullhead 1 .06 .25 .25 .01 Channel catfish e 48 2.99 63.50 1.32 2.49 1.65 Flathead catfish e 46 2.87 303.22 6.59 11.89 1.97 White bass e 47 2.93 42.78 .91 1.67 2.46 Warmouth * 6 .37 1.57 .26 .06 3.30 Redbreast sunfish e 5 .31 .49 .09 .02 3.36 Green sunfish e 2 .13 .26 .13 .01 3.55 Bluegill a 101 6.29 12.20 .12 .48 3.62 Longear sunfish a 1 .06 .09 .09 .01 3.64 Redear sunfish a 3 .18 .54 .18 .02 3.67 Largemouth bass e 58 3.62 48.07 .82 1.88 2.29 White crappie a 39 2.43 22.66 .58 .89 2.54 Black crappie e 1 .06 .80 .80 .03 2.65 Freshwater drum 35 2.19 42.98 1.22 1.69 Total 1605 100.00 2551.51 100.00 Game Fish a 369 22.99 511.99 20.07 Rough Fish 1236 77.01 2039.52 79.93 Seining results Amistad Reservoir {Bag 26' x 6‘ x avinCh-mesh seine, and 20' x 6' x 1/8-inch-mesh seine). “4.... Species Number Size Ran e In Inches fl Golden Shiner 1 1—2% Blacktail Shiner 65 1~4 Fathead minnow 4 1%-2 Bullhead minnow 6 1%v2 Mosquitofish 5 %-1 Redbreast sunfish 2 3/4—3% Bluegill 7 2-4 Largemouth bass 2 3—3gr -imsaim- H 0 FT 93 H \D N -h—Mu-ur-um WHWH _-——w———I- “-‘Om‘lm up: