TPWD 1961 F-6-R-8 #716: Resurvey of Waters of Region 8-3, Dingell-Johnson Project F-6-R-8, Job 13-11

Report Qf Fisharies Investigations Resurvey of waters of Region 8-3 Charles T,.Menn Assistant Project Leader . Dingell-Johnson Project F-6—R—8, Job 13-11 January h, 1960 - December 31; 1960 E. D. Dodgen - Execufiive Secretary TeXas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Taxes Marion.Taole v Kbnneth C. Jurgana and William H. Brawn Coordinator Assistant Coordinators ' e A B S T R A C T Six public lakes in the region rechecked during 1960 were Fort Brown, Llano Grande and Campacuas, Casa Blanca, Delta Orchards and Bentsen State Park Lakes. In Fort Brown Lake at_Brownsville, gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum, showed a relative increase in numbers compared to the previous work done in September, 1959. The largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, appear to be thriving. ' ~ Rough species remain dominant in both Llano Grande and Campacuas Lakes. Blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, were found in both lakes in sizable num- bers. ' ' Gizzard shad and river carpsuckers, Carpiodes carpio, showed relative increases in numbers in Casa Blanca Lake near Laredo while White crappie, Pomoxis annularis, showed a relative decrease. White bass, Boccus chrzsops, were found in this lake for the first time. In Delta Orchards Lake, near Raymondville, game fish comprise more thar 50 percent by number but less than 50 percent by weight of the fish taken in netting collections. Gill netting at Bentsen State Park Lake, near Mission, following the chemical treatment of the lake in January, 1960, showed that at lease sin small fish survived; five warmouth bass, Chasndbryttus gulosus, and one Rio Grande cichlid, Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum. work done later in the year, after Rio Grande flood waters entered the lake, showed that gizzard shed and other rough species were present. Periodic catches of white bass at Lake Corpus Christi indicated that they are becoming established._ A.total of 129,500 largemouth bass fingerw lings was stocked in the lake to supplement the existing population. No seining or netting was done. A preliminary trip was made in April to check the water hyacinths on the lower Guadalupe River. Nb control work was begun or proposed during this segment. Job Completion Report State of TEXAS- Project No. F—6-R-8 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys . of the waters of Region -B. Job No. B—ll Title: Resurvey of Waters of Region 8-B. Period Covered: , January h, 1960 ~ December 312 1960 OBJECTIVES To determine the present status of waters and fish pepulations which have been previously surveyed in Project F-6wR. PROCEDURE Experimental gill nets were used to sample the fish populations. The nets were set at previously established netting stations overnight and run the following morning. In some instances, seining collections were made to supplement netting data. . - The netted specimens were weighed in grams and measured in millimeters in the field. Sex and sexual development and the occurrence of parasites in the individual specimens were noted and recorded in the field. Seined specimens were preserved in 10 percent formalin and taken to the regional fisheries laboratory at Mathis for idenw tification. A list of the common and scientific names of fish species encountered is included as Table 21. For information purposes a comparison of netting success is included as Table 22. FINDINGS Fort Brown Lake Four experimental gill nets were set in April, 1960, and caught 107 specimens of six species. Gizzard shad comprised 27 percent by number and #5 percent by weight as compared to less than two percent by number and weight in the previous resurvey (F—6-R-T, Job B-ll). Carp, Cyprinus car 10, were found in substantial nnmbers in the previous work but monsters collected during this period. Following the resurvey work of September, 1959, an effort was made (see Jab completion report for Job Swl, Project F-6~Rw7) to net as many carp as possible; however, this proved almost useless. Current data tends to show that only small numbers of carp are present in the lake. The game species (channel catfish, largemouth black bass and warmouth bass) ape peered to be thriving despite the fact that they constituted less than 20 percent of the net collections by number. The black bass comprised 15.89 percent by number and 36.77 percent by weight while bluegill sunfish, Le omis macrochirus, ranked first by number and third by weight, The recent creel census isee Jab completion report for 121 Jab B-15, Project Fw6-R~8) revealed that white crappie are present in the lake but none were netted in this resurvey. Table 1 shows the numbers and grams of fish taken at each netting station during this resurvey. According to this table, rough species comprised over 80 percent of the not catch although water clarity tends to indicate that they are not yet in critim cal numbers. Four Secchi disk readings ranged from 20- to 33§winches which is very good for this comparatively shallow oxebow_lake. Table 2 shows the lengths, weights, and ”K3 factors of fish taken from Fort Brown Lake in April, 1960. No appreciable changes occurred regarding the various fish collected. Seining collections were not made on the lake due to thick growths of submerged vegetation which made so ining almost impossible. Submerged vegetation, principally Rojas, Chara and Ceratophyllum, remains a prom blem in this lake. As yet, no summer kill of fish due to the abundance of vegetation has been cheerved or reported. tweet complaints were sired by water skiers, however, the shallow areas along the banks are becoming choked with the weeds and will hinder sports fishing. Some control work through supervising treatment by sportsmen 5 groups may be done in the spring of 1961 to lessen the problem. Annual treatment will be necessary to Obtain an effective control. Llano Grande and Campacuas Lakes_ In the latter part of August, four netting collections were made on Llano Grands Lake and two additional collections were made in the early part of October. Also, four netting collections were made on Campacuas Lake in October. - In the August collections, rough species comprised over 88 percent by number and over 86 percent by weight of the fish colleCted in the hats at Llano Grands. Similar information was found in the October collections. Gizzard shad, Dorosoma copedianum, and spotted gar, Lepisosteus roductus ., longnose gar, Lepisosteus osseus, and Rio Grande cichlids, Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum, remain about the same as was found in the previous resurvey. However, alligator gar, Lepisosteus spatula, showed a relative decrease and carp showed a relative increase in numbers. Table 3 shows the numbers and weight of fish caught in the nets at Llano Grands Lake during August, 1960_, and Table A shows the number and weight of fish caught during OctOber. Table 5 shows the minimum, maximum, and average lengths, weights and WK" factors of the fish taken in the nets. No significant changes were noted. Table 6 shows the seining results on Llano Grands. Redhorse shiners, Notropis lutrensis, Rio Grande tetras, Astyanyx fasciatus. and threadfin shad, Dorosoma petenense, all good forage species, were found to be abundant. Collectively, these three species comprised about 61 percent of the collection. Apparently a good stock of blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, survived the rotenone treatment of the lake in May, 1959, since they comprised about 10 percent by number in both lakes. : .. m an Six Secchi disk readings were taken-on Llano Grande and were found to.range from 6— to ll-inches with the majority being less than lO-inches. This comparatively shallow lake coupled with the thick silt bottom and numerous rough fish keeps the turbidity high. , . . . . Inspection of the far west end of Llano Grands, in October revealed that there was some organic material entering the lake via "Paradise Creek". Only one game species, a blue catfish, was taken in a-net in the heavily polluted area; carp and alligator gar were the most abundant species taken in this particular net. A few scattered water hyacinths were seen on Llano Grands Lake but are of minor significance at this time. Occasional rises from rain water runoff wash them down- stream but the stock of hyacinths which are in several drainage ditches, above the lake could cause a serious problem Should conditions for their reproduction become . favorable. Therefore, the hyacinths should be watched and the apprOpriate measures applied before they become established in the lake. Bulrushes and cattails are numerous around the perimeter of the lake. Only a small amount of duck weed, Lemna, was seen in Llano Grands; it is far from being a problem however. Many ducks visit this lake in the winter time and are for the most part left unmolested. No doubt the ducks crop the duck weeds sufficiently. Sports fishing has increased somewhat on Llano Grande and the local game warden reports that anglers are taking some nice bass and catfish. No fishermen-were seen on the lake when visited. Commercial minnow_fishermen from Falcon Reservoir and Medina Lake have been taking large numbers of tetras,.Astyany§_fasciatus, from Llano Grands Lake. The once-large tetra population in Falcon Reservoir has diminished considerably and_the sizable numbers present in Llano Grands Lake give the tetra much commercial value. ' ‘ ' Four gill net collections were made on Campacuas Lake during this period and took a total of 96 fish of twelve species. Only channel catfish and blue catfish and two crappie were taken as representatives of game species which accounted for 1h-58 percent by number and 10.06 percent by weight of the fish collected. Previous work on Campacuas Lake (November, 1959, see JOb Completion Report for Job Bell, Fm6eRmY) took only five species of fish as compared to 12 species taken during this segment. The percentagcs_of rough fish and game fish remained about-the same. In the-previous re» survey, gizzard shad comprised approximately 52 percent by number whereas presently this species comprised less than 32 percent, a reduction of about 20 percent-which might largely be attributed to a netting error. Table 7_shows the numbers and grams of fish collected during this resurvey period. Table 8 shows the results of.the seining cellection made on the lake. Threadfin shad comprised over 55 percent of the catch. Table 9 shows the minimum, maximum, and average lengths, weights and ”K” factors of the various species netted in Campacuas Lake. As compared to work done a year earlier, there was no substantial change.concerning the species._.0ne species, Mugil cephalus, was unrecorded since the rotenone treatment-in May,-l959. However, one . specimen was taken in the nets during this resurvey. . Secchi disk readings were taken at each netting station and found to range from 8- to lOwinches. This lake being similar to Llano Grands Lake was not expected to be much clearer. ' -1... Shoreline vegetation, primarily bulrushes, Scirpus, line over half of the lake's shore. No submerged or floating vegetation was seen. Only one fisherman was on the lake at the time it was visited and he was using a trotline to catch some nice blue catfish. No other reports were heard concerning fishing on the lake. One seining collection was made on Llano Grande Lake and one was made on Campacuas Lake. No young bass, indicating reproduction, were found in either seining collection. "Green's DitCh" which is located close to and crosses the Llano Grands Floodway is being widened and concreted as a part of the federal government's "urban renewal program". It remains to be seen what effect this will have on future management of the two lakes. Casa Blanca Lake A total of 17 netting collections was made on this lake in April and July and 797 specimens were netted. Five seining collections were also made. Gizzard shad comprised over nu percent of the number of fish netted in April as compared to less than 20 percent in the resurvey work done in October and December, 1959. However, gizzard shad comprised only 16.81 percent of the total net catch in July. This wide difference might be attributed to seasonal activity of the shad. River carpsucker, Carpiodes carpio, comprised 8. 62 percent by number in the July collection and 20.17 percent in the April collection. In the previous resurvey (OctOber and December, 1959 river carpsucker comprised 12.h0 percent of the species collected and thus they appear to have made a relative increase in numbers or possible difference in seasonal activity. Table 10 shows the numbers and grams of fish netted during April, 1960, and Table 11 shows the numbers and grams of fish netted in July, 1960. Table 12 shows the mini— mum, maximum and average lengths, weights, and "K" factors for April and July, 1960. No noticeable changes were found. In July, two white bass were collected in one of the nets close to the dam. It was the first time that this species was collected in this lake. No doubt, these fish were stocked by anglers who, more than likely, got them free the Rio Grande and wanted to do a "good turn" . These fish are not expected to spawn in the lake because of their repro- ductive requirements; flowing water is essential for these fish to reproduce successfully. If it were possible to stock large numbers of white bass every two or three years, some natural control of giZzard shad might be accomplished. At the same time, anglers could have more variety and added sport. Five seining collections were made during the course of this resurvey; four in April and one in July. "A total of 290 specimens of 10 species was collected in the five collections. Table 13 shows the coining results of April and July. Delta Orchards Lake Eight netting and two seining collections were made on Delta Orchards Lake during the year. Five netting and one coining collection.was made in March and the other wor' was done in December. “:5.“ The "lake" is bisected by FarmeMarket Highway 88 and actnally consists of tee lakes that are joined by a conduit under the roadway, One portion on the west side of the highway consists of approximately 510 acres and the other portion on the east side of the highway consists of about 1,760 acresu The lakes are under the jurisdic- tion of the Hidalgo and Willacy Counties water Control and Improvement District Number 1. The lakes are open to the public for angling with limitations, A fee of 25 cents per person per day is charged of all persons over 15 years of age. A portion of the money collected is paid” the concession manageregame warden and the remainder goes to the water District, In the first three months of 1960, 7,000 fishing permits had been sold, This is some indication of the popnlarity of the lake, Five nets set in march took 23% fish of eleven species of which fonr were listed as game species; blue catfish, bluegill sunfish, shite creppie, and freshmater dram, Aplodinotus grunniens, Ordinarily bluegill sunfish and freshmater dram are not coma sidered game species in this area, but Delta Lake is an exception since many anglers take large numbers of these fish the year around, According to Table 1%, the game fishes comprised 65,81 percent'by number of the not catch bat only 28,62 percent by weight, ' At the time'the lakes were reserveyed, it was recommended to the General manager of the water District that a commercial fishermen be allowed to take gar, giszard shad, smallmonth buffalo, carp and mallet'with threeainch square mesh gill netso The Water District granted a simumonth contract, from June 6 to December 6, to a commercial fishermen. He will be reqnired to keep a record of the numbers, kinds and approximate weights of fish removed, All catfish taken in the nets were returned to the lake immediately, The lakes were revisited in December and three netting collections were madea Also, one seining collection was made, The nets were set in the east lake at locations previously usedo This trip, made following the expiration of the commercial fisherman's contract, was to determine, if fiessible, what affect the netting had on fish popnlation, Table 15 shows the results of the December nettingo Cold and rainy weather prevented making the two additional collections in the nest lakeo A slight increase, probably a netting error, was found in the relative numbers of game fish taken in the east lake in December as compared to March, However, game fish reoresented h0,62 percent by weight in the December collections as compared to 28511 percent in march, Tables 16 and 17 show the lengths, weights and “K? factors of the fish netted in March and December, 19600 The “K" factors for the white crappie ranged from lOBS to 2.68'aith an average of 2,22 in march as compared to 2,26 to 3,37 in December with an average of 2,61;o Thus an increase in the "K" factors was found concerning crappie, A slight increase in ”K? factors was found in the blue catfish as tall, . Table 18 shows the March.and December seining collections, During the sinmonth period the rough fish contract mas effective, the matter re“ moved an estimated 53,000 pounds of fish, mostly smallmouth buffalo, The breakdomn was as follows: h5,000 pounds of buffalo, 6,000 pounds of carp and 2,000 ponnds of gars, Still the netting collection of December revealed that buffalo represented £6,56 perm cent by'weight of the fish collectedo The General Manager of the Water District has assured us that the contract will be renewed soon after the first of the year if the commercial fishermen wishes to do soc . “.49. 1Based on the first three netso lf possible, this lake should be revisited arcand March 19611in an effort to gather data similar to the reserves in March, l§6G The commercial netting. ho 11d be continued since this seems to be one of the most economics.T means of managing this lakeo water is pumped from the Rio Grande and is onscreenedo Conseqnently rough fish gain entrance and remain in the lake ontil taken not or die of old age, Eastern State Park Lake This lake was treated aith rotesone in Tannery, l960, to eradicate the enisting fish population and r-e tacked with blast. bass in March1 Following the chemical treatw meat, 22 arterimentaT gilt nets were set i“o def” -ine the saccess of the treatment lt see fo 1nd that at less 111,1mall 11:1 1nclti ng fire sermonth bass1 GbaenobrWGJcs mums-g ‘goloecs, one one Rio Grande oich11d, ”‘ctla 1me cvan1gjttat1m cortisol the chemical “. minnow-1m mun—h- 'Wimfl restseeto The lake mas oractic 11 soccer dry in t1e late spri ng as a result of cotton 1111eation and then. tt e Rio Grand a River f1o1ded Tic the lake in Jena, introm dosing satire fish, .h11emn by the p eject leader to screen the gate salsa inlets in the dam more not saccessfsl1 Tao netting collections made in ingest-toot Gt fish of too species; ll gissard shed and 13 black bass (Table 1931 The shed and nbtly entered the lake from the Rio Grande since they se:re mostlgs adnlts and none were collected in the poste treatment nettingo The black bass ranged from 8n to l0minch,s in length and rare in good physical condition. it the time this lake was resnraered in honest 1960, it contained shoot 6 surface acres of eater, its capacity isa prrraimate lr'96 sarface acr111 Table 2% shame the seining resilte at Beats “e on State Tart lake1 Tt'sas fonnd thaf snailmontn buffalo are present in addition to the girrard shat, Onl is ore se aiming collection was made. The late mas thldlli choked'sith defies, Toiemogetor, and Ceratnth“llrm1 The slant prdblem shorid lessen as the lake fills dpdlflo fthe water level remain as is, decks and other kin1s of wildlife may aid in cropping the seedso Daring the spring and snmmer months, several private citioens who can land adiacent to the lake, camp meter to irrigate their crops1 consequently the lake is alqass s*;c u gect to being pooped almost dryo Since the Rio Grande is the lake s only significant scarce of motor and can be taken onlr daring ”free mater periods“, it is imperatire to date lop an effective means elf scresn13g rirs1 eater has mi re ans farther desecrm111 - work is nndertaken1 _. . 41", i _ Ti 0 9 .0 re GJEDQS ohflfisl On larder 81lT6G1 an a1 1 er ca1aht a thiJe bass in the sear reach a of the Eric River1a tributary of the fleeces Riser abt“ Lasso ' rp Chris ti, This shite bass mas apparentlr stocked in lake Corpus Christi in the fol l 581 The specimen mas bronght to the regional fisheries office for identificationa ther catches mere areported daring the year but since they mere not seen, were not confirmed by this offi The park, manager at Lake Corpus Christi State Park reported that another anglerCE sang a shite bass weighing about oneahalf pound near the dam this s .1er1 It appears that t11e smaller fish might hare been spawned in the riser since a too near old white bass in this area would normallg'be expected to be larger £1139 +95 if) \G .17... In June 1960, 129,500 black bass fingerlings were stocked in the lower portions of Lake Corpus Christi. Most of the bass were stocked in Pernitas Creek which is approximately one-half mile from the dam. The remainder of the fish were stocked in likely spots around the State Park slough. These fish were supplied by the National Fish Hatchery, Uvalde, Texas. No netting or seining checks were made. Lower Guadalupe River An investigation of the water hyacinth problem in the lower Guadalupe River was made in April, 1960. The river empties into Mission Bay which in turn empties into San Antonio Bay. A number of bayous in the area are completely choked with hyacinths and the borrow ditches along State Highway 35, between Tivoli and Port Lavaca, are likewise filled with the weeds. Up to this time, periodic floods on the Guadalupe River have been sufficient tO'wash the plants out of the river into the bay, but when Canyon Dam is completed on the upper Guadalupe River, in Comal County, floods may be less severe and thus create a serious hyacinth problem in the lower portions of the CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Fort Brown Lake will probably need some early summer treatment for submerged vegetation control. A selective gizzard shad kill may become necessary. In the future, the resurvey 30b will be a more intensive study of previously sur- veyed waters. Work such as we have been doing under the existing resurvey jdb‘will'be . done under the reconnaissance job (F-6—R, 3-20). The information acquired from this limited study will point out the lakes which will require a more detailed study under the resurvey jdb. 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