TPWD 1956 F-5-R-3 #254: Inventory of Species Present in Oak Creek Reservoir at Blackwell, Texas

JOB COMPLETION REPORT ATE OF TEXAS Project Not F5R3 Name Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3-B. Job“ Nob Emu Title Inventory of Species Present in Oak Creek Reservoir at Blackwell, Texasc Period Covered: June 22, 1953 ~ May 1, 1956 ABSTRACT l. Eighty-four gill net collections and fiftyhseven seining collections were made during inventory, reservoir conditions were noted, water analysis taken periodically, and stomach analysis and parasitism examination made of 389 individuals. 2, Excepting algae and pondweeds, there is no aquatic vegetation in the lake; and the reservoir was in a state of“continuousreadjustment during inventory. 3, Twenty—seven species of seven families were identified from the 5,542 indivi~ duals captured in seining and netting, The distribution of these fauna seemed uniform over the lake; however exact duplication of netting and seining collection work was imposs— ible because of fluctuation in the lake level, and because much of the innundated area was covered with dense concentrations of mesquite, ht White crappie were probably the most important game species present in the reservoir; however evidence indicated relatively high percentages for channel catfish and :gemouth bass, and white bass and flathead catfish were probably increasing, The lake is very popular with fishermen, 5. Stomach analysis from 5109236 of the fiSh examined indicated that natural controls may have been exerted upon the yellow bullhead population by channel catfish and flathead catfish and that yellow bullheads could have exerted a similar control on several species of sunfishes, 60 River carpsuckers and carp have not yet increased to any apparent significance where their numbers are of detriment to the game Species. OBJECTIVES To determine the species present, their relative abundance and to determine the principal ecological factors influencing their distribution, PROCEDURE Eighty-four gill net collections were made at twelve netting locations in Oak Creek Reservoir, Experimental nylon gill nets, measuring 125 feet long by 8 feet in depth and made up in five, 25 feet sections were usedc Mesh size for these nets increased progressively in each following section at oneuhalf inch intervals, beginning with one— inch.mesh and terminating with a threeninch mesh section. Fiftywseven seining collections were made at fourteen seining locations in the ;ervoira In nearly all collections, both 26 feet % inch mesh bag seines and 15 feet % inch mesh common sense seines were used. To estimate relative abundance a count was made of all individuals taken in two hauls with a 26 feet % inch mesh bag seine for each collec- tion. In addition to that work other seining collections were made to determine seasonal distribution of species and to secure samples of fry after the spring spawning of fishes. For this latter work, four feet common sense seines with fi-inch mesh and 1/16 inch mesh were used. Water analysis for dissolved carbon dioxide and oxygen content was taken period- ically and surface temperature, pH, and climatic conditions were recorded for each netting and seining collection. Turbidity was taken for six collections. Samples from netting collections were weighed, measured and sexed in the field. A sample of each species was examined for stomach content, and organs requiring laboratory study were preserved in 10% formalin. FINDINGS Oak Creek Reservoir is located approximately three miles southeast of Blackwell, Texas. The impoundment creating the reservour is about six miles east of the confluence of Bushy and oak Creeks. The dam is 3,800 feet long, earth fill construction, and was completed in 1952, by Campbell Construction Company of Dallas, for the municipalities of Sweetwater, Bronte, and Blackwell. The impounded water is conserved for the municipal and industrial consumption of those cities. When at emergency spillway level, the lake will have 1,500 surface acres and will store about 52,900 acre feet of water. At that elevation.the reservoir would have about twenty miles of shoreline. The contributing watershed of 222 square miles is primarily San Angelo sandstone formation and topsoils are usually Frio clays, black lime sands and sandy loams. Climate for the watershed is seminarid, having an average rainfall of 2h.35 inches. Reliable information pertaining to the average annual discharge of Oak Creek was not available. However, there is no permanent stream flow above the reservoir and run-off is extremely variable. Vegetative cover for the area is predominantly'mesquitengrassland association and the area is employed for farming and ranching. The area about the reservoir is a producing oil field, and when the reservoir is at spillway elevation; four of these wells are withing the inundated area and are located on islands constructed to place them above maximum.lake elevations. One reported pol~ lution from this source was reported, but insufficient evidence was obtained to establish positive proof. Before the reservoir impounded any significant portion of water the old stream bed containing an estimated 275 acre feet of water was treated in an attempt to erradicate the fish populations. This work proved to be unsuccessful as will be discussed under a later category. The City of Sweetwater has initiated a charge for fishing at the lake. These fees are fifty cents per day for a family or twentyufive cents per day for an individual. A charge of five dollars per year is made for each family or individual desiring a year's permit. RESERVOIR CONDITIONS Aquatic Vegetation: Excepting algae and a few concentrations of pond weeds (Potomo eton natans) there is no aquatic vegetaion in the lake. Willows (Salix niger) and Pecan iHicoria sp.5 are m numerous near the mouth of Bushy Creek. The remaining shore vegetation is mesquite (Prosow pos Julifloria). Temperatures and Fluctuations: Oak Creek Reservoir Year Month ' E1. AF. Air Temp. water Temp. 1953 July 76-3 7.130 1953 August 76.2 7,060 1953 September 13,000 1953 October 82.2 11,700 1953 November 83.1 12,520 82 69 1953 December 82.5 11,970 67 62 1958 January 82.0 11,520 195A February 81.7 11,250 #9 #9 195A March 81.1 10,730 68. 6h 195s April 80.6 10,310 70 66 195A may 85.7 15,120 69 ' 72 195A June 88.7 18,730 195M July 88.6 18,600 195M August 87.h 17,070 89 86 195A September 86,3 15,770 83 80 195A October '85.h 1h,800 195% November 8h.8 lu,180 68 71 195A December 85.2 lu,590 1955 January 88.8 18,180 #9 52 35 February 88.8 13,780 1/55 March 85.2 19.590 60 59 1955 April 8u.8 1h,180 1955 May 8H 13.780 72 72 1955 June 89.1 19,270 1955 July 88.8 18,870. 81 79 1955 August 89.0 19,130 runuoff in 1952. Although not shown in the above data Oak Creek Reservoir impounded it’s first From that cap- This quanity was estimated to be about 1,500 acre feet. acity the volume increased to a maximum of 19,130 acre feet in August 1955. receded slightly from this maximum when work was completed; however the data on this fluctuation was unavailable. Water Analysis: Year Oak Creek Reservoir The lake had Mbnth Turbidity Air Temp.(F) Water Temp.(F) pH 'Diss piss Alp, O2 002 1953 November 82 69 8.2. 10.00. 0.0 1953 December 67 62 8.u 11.50 0.0 ”a February #9 #9 8.2 11.50 0.0 195A march 18 68 6h 8.3 13.50 2.0 195% April 70 66 8.h 11.30 5.00 195% May 18 69 72 8.h 11.30 3.00 92 l95t August 89 86 8.6 9.50 9.00 195a September 18 83 80 8.3 10.00 6.00 70 195A November 68 71 8.3 12.50 0.00 1955 January A9 52 8.2 13.30 0.00 1955 March 60 59 8.2 1h.20 7.50 66 1955 may 12 72 72 8.h 12.00 0.00 1955 July 81 79 8.h 9.50 2.00 1955 September . 81 80 8.h 10.50 3.00 1955 October _ 80 76 8.1 11.00 0.00 48 1955 December 72 71 8.2 12.50 1.0 1956 February 57 5a 8.2 10 50 0.00 1956 April 18 6h 62 8.2 13.50 2.00 As shown above the reserv01r was murky at times and its 'water contained less total alkalinity than other reservoirs in this area. Where an error was obvious in tech- nique or the standardization of reagents questioned; data is omitted. FISH POPULATIONS As previously stated the water retained in the stream.bed within the reservoir area, about 275 acre feet volume, was treated with 5% rotenone at an estimated rate of 3 pounds per acre foot; to .eradicate existing fish populations prior to the impoundment of runmoff. Restocking was from the State Hatchery at San Angelo and included the release of an estimated 25 ,000 largemouth bass fry, and unknown numbers of sunfishes and golden shiners. AS Shown in the tables for netting the first year's work resulted in extremely meager samples (.0029 fish per feet not set , and the reservoir was regarded as being in a constant state of readjustment during the remainder of inventory. Species Distribution: As shown in the checklist 5,5h2 individuals representing twenty—seven Species and seven families were taken during inventory. Seining was the primary basis of distribution; however since the basin was not cleared of dense mesquite all work at this reservoir was difficult. Two seining beaches were cleared where seining collections could be obtained on a regular basis. The remaining sampling was done where areas were located free of Common Name Family Name Scientific Name _____a___________._______________.___a_______1__l___I________a_____a_1_____l_l____11____l___ Longnose gar , Lepisosteidae 'Lepisosteus osseus Gizzard Shad Clupeidae Dorosoma cepedianum Gray redhorse sucker Catostomidae . beostoma congestum River carpsucker Catostomidae Carpiodes cappio Smallmouth buffalo Catostomidae: Ictiobus bubalus Carp Cyprinidae Cyprinus caflio Golden Shiner Cyprinidae Notemigonus cgysoleucas Spottail Shiner Cyprinidae Netropis venustus Redhorse shiner Cyprinidae Notropis lutrensis Plains minnow Cyprinidae Hypogpathus placita Parrot minnow Cyprinidae Pimephales vigilax Channel catfish Cyprinidae Ictalurus punctatus Yellow bullhead Cyprinidae Ictalurus natalis Flathead catfish Cyprinidae Eylodictus olivaris m. waAQE aflnmm bad HZZGZGbamU dfiQNHbHHQz Hz Ohm owmmm wwwmwecHw mwsvowm m.l mmbm o I onw Hm I Hwao mwmsoH am I oomumo mumdow MM M H. 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