TPWD 1956 F-7-R-4 #202: Basic Survey and Inventory of Species Present, as well as Their Distribution in the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River, its Tributaries and Watershed Within Childre

JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of TEXAS Project No. F-Y—R-h Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region l-B. Job No. B-ll Title: Basic Survey and Inventory of Species Present, as well as Their Distribution in the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River, its Tributaries and Watershed Within Childress, Hall, Brisco, Armstrong, Randall and Deaf Smith Counties, Texas. Period Covered: June 12 1956 through may 31! 1957 ABSTRACT Twenty-one seine collections produced a total of 9,975 specimens for study. Twelve species, representing h families of freshwater fishes, were found in the river. The most abundant species are Cyprinodons' which have no economic value, not even as a bait species. Except in headwater tributaries, and impoundments where the water quality is good, the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River is valueless for game fish at the present time. It is often dry and always too shallow to maintain a game fish population, Since the water is not suitable for municipal or irrigation purposes, the construction of an impoundment on the river in the foreseeable future, for any purpose other than flood cOntrol, is unlikely. OBJECTIVES To gather fundamental data On the above waters in regard to their physical, chemical and biological aspects. To determine the distribution of the fish species_ present, their relative abundance and the ecological factors influencing their distribuw tion. Acmcmsncmrs Dr. Walter Dalquest, whose employment with the Texas Game and Fish Commission terminated in October, 1956, set up the original stations, conducted all of the labm oratory work and most of the field work on this job for the first 5 months. Since' that time, Dr. Dalquest has helped with some phases of work conducted in Region le and has checked the manuscript of this report. Grateful acknowledgment is also can pressed to Dr. Carl Gray, Soils Scientist of Midwestern University and Wichita County Water Improvedment Districts, for making the numerous water analyses during this study. Data on water volume were obtained from Mr. John Joerns, United States Geological Suru vey, Water Resources Branch, Wichita Falls. Game warden Cal Lovelace of Vega, served as a guide during the survey of the upper reaches of the Palo Duro and Tierra Blanca Creeks. TECHNIQUES Sample stations were established at five points along the length of the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. Ten collections were made at each sample station during the study. At each station, chemical and physical data concerning the water were taken, and seine samples of the fishes present were preserved in formalin for laboratory examination and identifications. Since an adequate picture of the fish population at all points along the river could be determined by seining, no gill nets or fish toxicants were used. There are no important permanent—flowing tributaries of the Prairie Dog Town Fork; however, basic survey collections were taken from eight of its tributaries at a time when water was present. On several occasions, data could not be obtained from some of the stations because the river was dry. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS The Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River received its first designation as "river" in extreme south—central Armstrong County, where Palo Duro Creek emerges from the Palo Duro Canyon. Palo Duro Creek originates in northwestern Deaf Smith County and continues westwardly to its confluence with Tierra Blanca Creek about 3 miles north- east of the city of Canyon, in Randall County. There it enters the head of Palo Duro Canyon and runs southeastwardly across Randall County, cuts across the southwest corner of Armstrong and northeast corner of Brisco Counties, and continues eastwardly across Hall and Childress to the extreme northwestern tip of Herdsman County. At this point, the Prairie Dog Town Fork loses its designation as a tributary, becomes the Red River, and serves as the boundary between Texas and Oklahoma. The westernmost extension of the Prairie Dog Town Fork is the tributary, Tierra Blanca Creek, which originates in extreme southwestern Deaf Smith County and continues eastward and northeastward to its confluence with Palo Duro Creek in Randall County. Tierra Blanca Creek serves as a drainage for northeastern Farmer and extreme northwestern Castro Counties, in addition to the southern section of Deaf Smith County, where the stream bed is located. The greatest length of the Prairie Dog Town Fork is approximately 200 miles, and it has a drainage area of about 8,200 square miles. There are no impoundments on the main Prairie Dog Town Fork. Several small impoundnents are present_on both Palo Duro and Tierra Blanca Creeks. At least 3 small dams are located on Palo Duro, and 6 on Tierra Blanca before their conjunction. In ad— dition to these small artificial lakes, Buffalo Lake, an impoundment of 1,875 surface acres, is located on Tierra Blanca Creek, 3 miles south of Umbarger, in Randall County. Downstream from the convergence of these two tributaries, a series of 3 Palo Duro Counw try Club Lakes is located on the main stream of Palo Duro Creek, and several others are located on the smaller canyon tributaries below. Since time did not permit a surw vey of all these tributary impoundments, this study was confined primarily to stations along the stream beds of the Prairie Dog Town Fork systems Some of the impoundments discussed above have been worked, however, and information concerning them is given in previous reports (FYRl, Job E-l; F7R3, Jobs 5-9, at, E-l; and Evan, Job 3-9). Palo Duro and Tierra Blanca Creeks originate in, and for some distance flow through, shallow Quaternaty sediments consisting of Recent prairie soils. Downncutting is slight, and the creek beds in their uppermost reaches are scarcely three feet below the prairie surface. A few miles west of Umbarger, gradient increases and the creeks cut down through white,.Pliocene caliche beds for some distance. At Buffalo Lake, Palo Duro Creek is rimmed by white cliffs over 100 feet in total height. At the head of Palo Duro Canyon, the combined creeks plunge over the caprock. The effect is virtually a waterfall over 1,000 feet deep. White Pliocene.sediments of Hemphillian age form the upper part of the gorge, but these soft rocks, mostly caliche, have eroded several hundred yards back from the creek except in its upper (higher) parts. The bulk of the "dr0p~off" is formed of the harder Triassic rocks of the Docum group. Vertebrate fossils, mostly sterospondylous amphibians and phytosaurs, are common in these rocks. The floor of the canyon is made up of clays, sandstones and silts of the Double Mountain Group of Permian formations. These sediments contribute much of the dissolved mineral load of the Prairie Dog Town Fork. East of Palo Duro Canyon, the bed of the Prairie Dog Town Fork lies entirely in Permian sediments. The river bed is rimmed with sands and some shifting dunes of Recent age with, locally, some moderately extensive Pleistocene deposits. Age of these Pleistocene deposits remains to be determined, but Sangamon correlation seems likely at this time. Just north of the Prairie Dog Town Fork are found some deposits of early Pliocene (Clarendonian) age. The Triassic sediments are missing east of Palo Duro Canyon, and the succession is: Permian, early Pliocene (locally), late Pleistocene (locally) and Recent. . The U. S. Geological Survey discontinued its station on the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River in 195h. Therefore, stream flow and runwoff dataame:not available ftuethe period of this survey. Data is available for the monthly and annual mean diam charge and the monthly and annual run-off at various stations between 1924 and October, 195%. (See Tables 1 through 8). DES sermon or STATIONS CANYON STATION. Located on Palo Duro Creek at the Highway 87 crossing, just iorth of the city of Canyon. Stream does not flow here except during periods of rainfall. Station located in narrow, wooded valley that was dry for 8 months during the segment. When water was present, the bottom mud was contaminated with hydrogen sulfide, and the water was too stale to support fish life. This is the uppermost permanent station on the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. PALO DURO CANYON STATION. Located at the first river crossing in Palo Duro State Park. The stream bed is narrow, about 50 feet wide. The valley is about 1 mile wide and l500 feet deep. The river is all in Permian sediments. Immediate banks of the creek are of sod and sand. The stream is intermittent here. During most of our visits the water was in pools separated by dry sand. The bottom consisted of pool sand and mad with cobbles of various sizes. TURKEY STATION. Located about 13 miles north of Turkey on Highway 70. The valley is broad, flat and shallow, in Permian rock. Along the sides of the river are cottonwoods and saltcedars suit cliffs containing Permian sediments. The river bed is approximately #00 feet wide here, with flood marks 6 feet above the present level. It is a braided stream, of sand and quicksand. This station was dry 6 of the 10 months during the study. NEWLIN STATION. Located at Newlin, or about 3 miles north of Estelline, on Highway 287. There is a broad valley here cut into Permian rocks of sandstone, silt and gypsum, partially covered with numerous vegetated sand dunes. A thin Pleistocene gravel layer lies between base of sand dunes and Permian rock, exposed where the river has cut through the dunes. The river bed is broad, about 100 feet, of braided sand and mud. There is evidence of flooding 10 feet above present level. This station was dry 8 of the 10 months of study. CHILDRESS STATION. Located 8é-miles north of Childress. The valley is very broad with gentle lepes, partly concealed by moving and brush-anchored sand dunes. Exposed rock is Permian (shale, sandstone and gypsum). The river is broad, sandy and braided with shallow water that generally shifts from side to side. Banks are mostly cut into sand dunes with thin.bed.of‘firm gravel, probably Pleistocene in age, because fossil land snails were noted in the area. Running water was present every time the station was worked. DESCRIPTION OF ADDITIONAL BASIC SURVEY STATIONS TIERRA BLANCA CREEK AT HEREFORD. (June 1%, 1956). This is the highest point on the creek for permanent water. Actually, the creek is dry above here, but this is the point at which the sewage effluent of the town of Hereford enters. The water is treated, well areated, of good quality, and green with algae. ca. na. cl. soh co3 hco3 Total pH 210 110 87 211 O 512 1130 - HEAD OF PALO DURO CREEK. (June it, 1956). This is the actual head of Tierra Blanca Creek,.and therefore, head of the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. The station consisted of a small pond formed by damming the creek valley. The valley lies in a meadow and is hardly a swale, out not more than a foot into the surface earth. Ducks and frogs are very abundant on the pool. Seining produced anostracans, notostra~ cans, and even chonchostracans, but no fish. These arthropods indicate temporary water. The town of Vega is due north of this station. Physical Data: Air Temperature - 80; Water Temperature - 86; Turbidity — 35. ca. na. cl. sch co3 hco3 Total pH 58 2 6 0 o 152 218 - PALO DURO CREEK 8 miles south and 2 miles west of Weldorado. (June 1h, 1956). The creek valley here is out into the prairie soil only about four feet and to a width of about 35 feet. There are several pools over knee deep, but the local game warden stated that it was usually dry. Seining produced only one bullhead that probably escaped from a farm pond. The water is gray and turbid. Physical Data: Air Temperature w 8h; Water Temperature - 75; Turbidity 1 35. ca. na. cl. soh co3 th3 Total pH 5t 2 o o o 128 184 - PTLO DURO CREEK 11 miles south of Weldorado. (June it, 1956). Conditions here are very similar to those given immediately above. A.small pool was found under the bridge, but seining took only arthrOpods and turtles. No fish were present. Physical Data: Air Temperature - 815 Water Temperature - 79; Turbidity - 35 ca. na. c1. sob co3 hco3 Total pH 58 3 2 2h 0 1M9 236 - ruLo DURO CANYON CROSSING NUMBER a. (June it, 1956). This is the last cross- ing of Palo Duro Creek in Palo Duro Canyon. Conditions here are very similar to those at the regular station, but the bed of the creek is broader and more sandy. There are numerous small pools, and a few broad but shallow pools. The bottom is sandy. No fish were taken by seining. ' Physical Data: Air Temperature — 97; Water Temperature - 88; Turbidity ~ 110 ca. na. cl. sou co3 hco3 Total pH 908 720 78 2116 2k 88 393k - MULBERRY CREEK. (June 12, 1956). Located about 3 miles northeast of Turkey station, this is a large creek, almost as large as the main river. The valley is broad, and the creek bed is braided sand. There are deep pools along the northern edge of the creek where the fish collection was made. ca. na. cl. soh co3 hco3 Total pH 918 160 20h 2o7h o 238 359A - Fish Collection: N. lutrensis - - — 2 Hybognathus - - — ll Fundulus ----- 36 This station was sampled again May 2%, 1957, during a period of light rain and following a period of very heavy rain on the watershed. Nothing was taken in swift running water on the south side of bridge. All specimens were taken on the north side of bridge in long pools of standing water. Physical Data: .Air Temperature — 65; Water Temperature w 6h; Turbidity - 1&0. ca. na. cl. sch co3 hco3 Total pH tho 132 195 975 6 110 1858 7.90 Fish Collection: N. lutrensis — - - 10. Hybognathus — - - 25' MEMPHIS CREEK. (JUne 12, 1956). This is a small, swift, clear creek in a deep, vegetated valley just south of the town of Memphis. Bed is clean sand and rocks. Gypsum boulders are also present. ca. na. cl. sot co3 hco3 Total pH 1126 156 21A 2518 o 262 #278 - Fish Collection: N. lutrensis -—-- 3O Cambusia affinis 6 Lepomis megalotis l LAKEVIEW CREEK. (June 12, 1956). .A small, swift stream.in a valley 50 feet wide, of clear, white sand. The water is shallow and stream gradient high. ca. na. cl. sch co3 hco3 Total pH 788 99 103 1820 O 177 1987 - Fish Collection: Fundulus kansae only. CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER The chemical nature of the water at the sample stations is given in Table 9. According to the analyses, the water quality of the headwater tributaries is good and should support all species of freshwater fish. Downstream from Palo Buro Station, the water becomes "gypy" and salty. Total salts become progressively higher downstream, suggesting that sub~surface Springs are present in the river bed. These springs probably originate from.the Double Mountain and Blain formations of the Texas permian. Although running water was present throughout the year at Childress Station, only four Species of fish were present. All were salt tolerant species. Cyprinodons and Fundulus were present each time the station was worked. @nly twice were the other two Species found (Eybognathus and N. bairdi), and they were taken on visits made following heavy rains which diluted thgutotal salts (see Table 9, Childress Station). PRISICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER Physical conditions at the sample stations are shown in Table 10. Twenty-eight _,of the fifty stations worked during the study were dry. Only Childress Station had run- ning water throughout the year. Except in periods of rainfall, the water in the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River is clear. For the purpose of this survey, turbidity was measured with a sichi disk. Measurements were made in the deepest water found at each station. Normally, the disk was clearly visible on the bottom, in which case the tur— bidity was recorded as the depth of the water "plus". FISH COLLECTIONS A total of 12 species, representing A families of freshwater fishes were taken from the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River during the segment period. Monthly variations in species and numbers of fishes taken at each of the sample stations are given in Tables ll, l2, 13, it and 15. The total numbers of fishes taken at all of the permanent stations are given in Table 16. There were 9,975 specimens collected from.the three permanent sampling stations, 71.6 percent of which were taken at Childress Station, the only permanently flowing station in the system during the study. Femily Cyprinidae Shiners and Minnows _ Notropis potteri: chub Shiner. A total of 20 specimens was taken, all at Newlin Station, in May 1957, immediately following a flood. Notropis bairdi: Red River Shiner. Although not numerous (0.82% of the total) this species was represented at every station (where water was present) at least once during the study. It was taken one time at Palo Duro, Turkey and Newlin Stations (June 1956), and twice at Childress Station (June 1956 and May 1957). Each occurrence followed heavy rain which flooded the river. Notropis lutrensis: redhorse Shiner. This species is abundant in the fresh, headwater tributaries of the Prairie Dog Town Fork, but absent from the river except during and immediately following rises. Hybognathus placita: plains minnow. Present in headwater streams. Absent from the river except during periods of rainfall. Pimephales vigilax: parrot minnow. Taken at Palo Duro each time the station was worked and water was present.. Also present in-creeks-above Palo Duro. Not found in the river . Family Ameiuridae Freshwater catfishes Ictalurus punctatuS: channel catfish. Two Specimens were taken at Palo Duro Station from an isolated pool in the creek bed. This species is plentiful in the head- water tributaries and ponds, but absent from the river. Ictalurus melee: black bullhead. Two specimens were taken at Childress Sta— tion following the flood. Abundant in headwater tributary ponds. Family Cyprinodontidae Killifishes and topminnows Fundulus kansae: plains killifish. This species is widely distributed throughout the system. It was taken at every station as well as the headwater tributaries. Cyprinodon rubrofluviatilis: Red River pupfish. Comprising 69.5% of the total collection, this salt tolerant species was the meat abundant of all fishes in the Prairie Dog Town Fork. Absent from Pale Burn Station and headwater tributaries, but present in all river stations where water was present. Fauily Centrarchidae Black basses and sunfishes Lepomis cyanellus: green sunfish. Taken only at Palo Duro Station. Abun— dant in headwater streams and impoundments. Lepgmis megalotis: longear sunfish. Taken only at Palo Duro Station, on two occasions. Also recorded from Buffalo Lake and other smaller impoundments on the watershed. Following is a list of fishes that were not taken in the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River, but have been recorded from Buffalo Lake and other smaller impoundments on the headwater tributaries: ' Icrosoma cepedianum: gizzard shad Carpiodes carpio: river carpsucker Carinus carpio 2 carp Carassius auratus: Goldfish Phenacobius mirabilis: suckermouth minnow Notropis percobromns: plains shiner NotrOpis girardi: Arkansas River shiner Eylodictus olivaris: flathead catfish Gambusia affinis: gambusia (common mosquitofish) Micropterus salmoides: largemouth bass Lepomis macrochirus: bluegill Lepomis humilis: orangespotted sunfish Lepomis aurituS: yellowbelly sunfish Pbmoxis annularis: white crappie Porcine caprodes: logperch Roccus chrys0ps: white bass. This species is not native to this area. 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