TPWD 1963 F-5-R-10 #862: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 1-B: Fisheries Reconnaissance, Job Completion Report

JOB COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-5-R-lO FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEYS OF THE WATERS 0F REGION l-B Job No. 3-32 Fisheries Reconnaissance Project Leader: LaWIence S. Campbell J. Weldon Watson Executive Director Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Marion Toole Eugene A. Walker D-J Coordinator Director, Program Planning October 24, 1963 ABSTRACT Fish pepulations were examined for 15 public reservoirs and 5 major streams. Sampling of fish populations included analysis of data for 8,768 fish captured in 349 gill net collections and examination of thousands of fish captured in seining collections. Reconnaissance served primarily to sample public waters to determine major changes in relative abundance. This work was also instrumental in providing data that is the basis for biologically sound fish harvest regulations; that justifies and is the basis for affording priority for management planning and Specifications; that partially evaluates the results of previous management; that maintains knowledge of the distribution of rare and/or diminishing species and that provides a better understanding of ecological phenomena that influences fish production. Surveys for management justification and planning were carried out for Lake Nasworthy, San Angelo Reservoir, Oak Creek Reservoir, New Winters Lake, Old Ballinger Lake, and Valley Creek Reservoir. Studies to evaluate previous management efforts were carried out at Lake Balmorhea, Lake Ascarate, Oak Creek Reservoir, Lake Sweet- water, Champion Creek Reservoir, and Mountain Creek Reservoir. Studies to determine ecological influences, game fish production, and sound harvest regulations were conducted at Red Bluff Reservoir, Imperial Reservoir, Lake Colorado City, Devils Lake, the lower Pecos River and portions of the upper Colorado River. JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project No. F-S—RwlO Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region l-B - Job No. B-32 Title: Fisheries Reconnaissance Period Covered March 1, 1962 — February 28, 1963 Objectives: To conduct limited investigations to obtain current information concerning gross changes in fishing conditions and factors influencing fish populations. Procedures: 1. Fish populations were examined for 15 public reservoirs and 5 major streams. Population sampling included analysis of data for 8,768 fish captured in 349 gill net collections, and for many thousands of fish captured in seining collections. 2. Reconnaissance was primarily directed toward population sampling required in determining major changes in relative abundance and balance between desirable and undesirable species of fish produced. Data indicative of changes in condition of principal species were obtained. 0 3. Limited investigations were carried out to obtain data necessary for evaluation of management work, to maintain knowledge of expanding populations of problematic or exotic fish, or to determine the continued existence of diminishing Species. Other study was designed to provide data of fish survival in polluted areas, and to obtain knowledge of Species or circumstances not previously investigated. 4.’ Where pertinent, major changes in ecological conditions, water quality, turbidity, plant life, and water usage were investigated. 5. A point of reference for comparing fluctuations in water levels was established on all waters visited. 6. Lesser investigations included making suitable inquiries to determine land usage or changes in land usage for watersheds, sources of pollution, and other changes in influences of importance. 7. Shoreline usage and accessibility, public ingress and egress, and conveniences such as launching ramps, toilets, picnic areas, and fish attractors were determined. 8. Where practical, fishing success and fishing pressure were investigated by cursory examination of Spot checks of fish harvest composition. 9. Examination of reconnaissance data was made to determine if more elaborate resurvey of the concerned waters was required. This examination subsequently resulted in extensive study of four major waters. Organization and Limitations of Report For coherence, reconnaissance work carried out is divided into two major categories. The essential difference between categories under which specific work is discussed is motive for pursuing the effort and the amount of work re- quired for its accomplishment. For this reason, reconnaissance effort for a specific body of water may be of secondary classification under this report and, as a result of work and findings, be of primary classification in the future. Much unfinished work is of this status. Reconnaissance efforts were required to determine financial practicality and other justification for management planning. These investigations were lengthy and thorough and are delegated primary classification. Such multipurpose work is the means of setting up long-range management plans that ultimately may involve successive management of several bodies of water. These waters are grouped for management consideration and are located within predetermined day— use areas. Data obtained provided: (1) determination of logical succession of tasks and procedures for management of waters grouped; (2) the determination of specific techniques required for included waters; (3) background data essential to future valuation of the pre~management and post-management fishery and (4) data contributive to the expansion of knowledge of pepulation dynamics and of life histories of various species of fish. work, to record changes in production brought about by changing circumstances or conditions, for providing a basis for harvest regulations, to maintain knowledge of the rate of expansion of specific fish, to determine the status of diminishing Species, to ascertain the influence of pollution, to attempt to establish rate of growth or spawning requirements for little known species, and to determine distribution of introduced or exotic species. An outline of work completed and objectives is as follows: Primary Reconnaissance Surveys A. Pre-management reconnaissance and management planning. 1. Lake Nasworthy and associated waters of the Concho River (justification) for proposed management, evaluation data, pOpulation dynamics). 2. San Angelo Reservoir and portions of the North Concho River (area planning for management, game fish production, factors influencing harvest). 3. Oak Creek Reservoir and connecting portions of Oak Creek (justification for management, evaluation of management, population dynamics). 4. Imperial Reservoir (management planning for the Pecos River watershed, basis for harvest regulations, population dynamics, uncommon influences). Secondary Reconnaissance Surveys A. Reconnaissance to evaluate previous management. 1. Lake Balmorhea 2. Mountain Creek Reservoir 3. Lake Sweetwater 4. Lake Ascarate 5. Champion Creek Reservoir B. Reconnaissance to provide specific data. 1. Red Bluff Reservoir (management planning, population dynamics, harvest regulations). 2. Lake Colorado City (uncommon phenomena and its influence on fish produced, harvest regulations). 3. New Winters Lake (management planning, harvest regulations). 4. Old Ballinger City Lake (management planning, harvest regulations, influence of pollution). 5. Valley Creek Reservoir (management planning, harvest regulations). 6. Devils Lake (production data, harvest regulations, study of little known species). 7. Lower Pecos River (diminishing species, pollution influence, harvest regulations). 8. Upper Colorado River (minnow production and influences). Note: The other three streams referred to in item 1 of procedures were Elm Creek, North Concho River, and the Concho River below Lake Nasworthy. These investigations were carried out in conjunction with study of reservoirs. Results: References are made throughout this report to a number of species of fish. The following checklist has been prepared to assure correct identification. spotted gar -------------------------------- Lepisosteus oculatus alligator gar ------------------------------ La spatula longnose gar ---------------------------- _-- L. osseus gizzard shad __-___________-_________- ------ Dorosoma cepedianum Mexican tetra ------------------------------ Astyanag mexicanus smallmouth buffalo ------------------------- Ictiobug bubalus river carpsucker --------------------------- Carpiodes carpio gray redhorse ------------------------------ Nexostoma gongestum blue sucker ------------------- _-__. __________ Cycleptus elonga.tus carp ---------------------------- * ----------- _yp£gpgg carpio golden Shiner --------------- . --------------- Notemigongg crysoleucas blacktail Shiner --------------------------- Nptropis venustus red Shiner --------------------------------- N5 lutrensis roundnose minnow --------------------------- Dionda episcopa plains minnow ------------------------------ Hybognathus placita bullhead minnow ---------------------------- Pimephales vigilax walleye ------------------------------------ Stizostedion vitreum cha.nnel ca.tfish ---------------------------- Ict alurus punctatus blue ca.tfish ------------------------------- I, furcatus yellow bullhead ---------------------------- (I. natalis black bullhead ------------------------------ ,l. melas flathead catfish --------------------------- Pylodictus olivaris plains killifish --------------------------- Fundulus kansae mosquitofish ------------------------------- Gambusia affinis tidewa.ter silverside ----------------------- Menidia. beryllina white ba.ss --------------------------------- Roccus chrysops Guada.lupe ba.ss ----------------------------- Micropterus treculi largemouth bass ---------------------------- fl. salmoides warmouth bass ------------------------------ Chaenobryttus gulosus green sunfish ------------------------------ Lepomis cyanellus Spotted sunfish ---------------------------- L3 punctatus redear sunfish ----------------------------- Lt microlophus bluegill ------------------------------------ (L. macrochirus redbreast sunfish ----------------- ~ -------- £2 auritus longear sunfish ---------------------------- ‘k. megalotig white crappie ------------------------------ Pomoxis annularis black crappie ------------------------------ P. nigromaculatus logperch ----------------------------------- Percina ca.prodes freshwater drum ---------------------------- Aplodinotus grunniens Rio Gra.nde perch ---_______--____-___-_____- Cichlasoma. cya.nogutta.tum southern flounder -------------------------- Para.lichthys lethostigma red drum ----------------------------------- Sciaen0ps ocellata Primary Reconnaissance A. Pre-management reconnaissance and management planning. Lake Nasworthy was formerly the primary source of municipal water for San Angelo, Texas. The lake is 6.5 miles southwest of the city and impounds the Middle and South Concho Rivers. Within the year a major flood control-irrigation project has been completed a.bove La.ke Nasworthy. A Bureau of Reclama.tion project, Twin Buttes, will be capa.ble of impounding 600, 000 acre feet a.nd of expa.nding to 23,000 acres. In the future, wa.ter from Twin Buttes will be released into Lake Nasworthy. The lower structure, acting as the control reservoir, will divert flow either into a canal system where it will be transported to irrigated farm lands located west of the city, or into the old stream channel below the dam where it enters the city water supply system. The basin area for the new reservoir and most of Twin Buttes watershed has been chemically treated to reduce problematic fish. (See completion report for Job l6a39, Project F-l4—D-6). Previous survey work for Lake Nasworthy indicated river carpsuckers, carp and other problematic Species have dominated past fish production. In order to continue the watershed renovation program to its logical limits a thorough reconnaissance of Lake Nasworthy and its associated waters was required. Fifty-four gill net collections were made from the lake and the stream areas below the dam. Approximately three- fourths (74.46 per cent) of 2,028 fish captured in 15,025 feet of gill nets were problematic Species. River carpsuckers and gizzard shad represented 62.62 per cent of the total catch. The next most abundant species was white crappie making up 8.92 per cent of fish captured. One-third of these (68 of 181) were classified as nonutilizable. Less than 18 per cent of fish taken were considered to possess utility. salvagable game fish) be drastically reduced or eradicated. This recommendation was endorsed by the Concho Bass Club, the Lake Advisory Board and the City Commission. The work will be carried out during the summer of 1963. .___I____________I___________.__I___I______I__________________L_________________I_. L ocation No. Nets . Feet of Net ______________________I___a__________I_____a________I__I______________I_______ Red Bluff Slough 8 1,250 South Concho River 14 1,975 Spring Creek 14 1,975 Middle Concho River 14 1,975 Lower Concho River (Country Club, Ben Ficklin, Lone Wolf) 24 3,450 Lake Nasworthy 19 _ 4,400 Totals 93 15 025 W Table 2 Analysis of utilizable game fish taken from Lake Nasworthy and associated waters January 1—31, 1963 _ Per cent Per cent of total Total of total catch by weight catch by Average Species No. number pounds weight weight largemouth bass 83 4.09 274.05 7.15 3.30 white bass 104 5.13 80.34 2.10 0.77 yellow bullheads 1 0.05 0.65 0.02 0.65 channel catfish 60 2.96 94.53 2.47 1.58 flathead catfish 4 0.20 21.56 0.56 5.39 white crappie 113 5.57 67.96 1.77 0.60 Subtotal 365 18.00 539 09 14.07 ______________._____________.________________I1_____________i Total game fish 518 25.54 556.19 14.53 M Total problematic fish 1,510 74.46 3,274.40 85.47 ________T_a__________________________I____________________i___h__i____________I___ Total catch 2,028 100.00 3,830.59 100.00 _______________a______I________a________________a_____I___*______*______________ Minimum weights of fish regarded as having utility - catfish — 200 grams, all others 100 grams. 00.00H 0NON . was 50H ham moN Nmm NHN uHmuoH E 00.0N 0HmH mm.Nn 000 . 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