TPWD 1955 F-2-R-2 #174: Inventory of species present in Buchanan Lake

STATE hTexasb PROJEEfflEB:"$535333?":§fi?lifif§”"” PERIOD December 1, 1955 through May 30, 1955. Segment Completion Report by E: Richard H. Clark Assistant Project Leader TITLE Inventory of species present in Buchanan Lake. OBJECTIVES To determine the species present and their relative abundance. METHODS Specimens were collected by using 8 X 125 foot experimental gill nets with one to three inch square mesh sizes, which are graduated in one half inch intervals, evm cry 25 feet. Gill nets, 8 x 100 feet, of square mesh sizes 1%, 2, and 3 inch were also used. Seine collections were made with 30 x 6 foot bag seines, fi-inch square mesh, and seines of bobbinet, 1/8 inch square mesh. Both net and seine collections were made at random in all areas of the lake. Seine collections were also made in the San Saba River, and Falls Creek, which are major tributaries of the lake. Seined specimens were preserved in ten per cent form malin and brought to the laboratory for identification and tabulation. Data recorded for individuals taken in nets included length, weight, sex and stage of sexual development. Stomachs of game specimens were preserved in ten per cent formalin, and later the contents were analyzed and recorded in the laboratory. Chemical and thermal conditions, including water and air temperatures, pH, dis- solved oxygen, and carbon dioxide were recorded for three water sampling stations on the lake. Each station was visited twice during the segment period. Ecological data was recorded for each fish collection. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS _ Lake Buchanan-is located in the Burnetleano Country, or Central Basin of Texas. The area is characterised by rugged granitic intrusions, and numerous cedar covered mountain ranges reaching six to seven hundred feet above the mesquite and post oak flats. Shallow soils vary from coarse grey to moderately heavy chocolate loans, which are seldom adapted to agriculture, except in a few valleys. The area supports a large cattle industry, and many sheep and goats are raised. Completed in 1938, Buchanan Dam has a length of 11,000 feet, and a height of 150 'feet. The lake_is 33 miles long, reaches a maximum width of 8 miles, has a maximum depth of 132 feet, and impounds approximately 1,000,000 acre feet at spillway level. The mountain range to the north, chiseled deep by the Colorado, forms steep rugged banks often towering several hundred feet above the lake. This area is 2. characterised by silt and clay mud bottoms. The lower portion of the lake is spread out over a large area with graniteugravel shoals extending up out of the water to form much of the shore line. Granite gravel and sand bottoms especially in the shallows of this area provide excellent spawning grounds for a number of fish species. The Lower Colorado River Authority reports a water flumnmtion of little more than one foot for the months of December, 195M through April, 1955. In.May, 1955, the water level rose from 1008 feet, to its maximum capacity of 1020 feet above sea .1evel. AQUATIC VEGETATION AND COVER Aquatic vegetation in Buchanan Lake is relatively sparse, except for a few areas. Filamentous algae, Spirogyra 33., are found in a few shallow portions of the lake where silt has settlgdmover the bottom. Muskgrass, Chara fig, and coontail, Egratom phyllum demersum were also found in a few scattered localities in similar association. Willows, Salix nigra, are very abundant in the lower part of the lake and provide cone siderable cover for fish. Numerous out croppings of rock, stumps, brush and drifte- wood also provide excellent cover in all areas of the lake. CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS Water analyses, as recorded in Table I include data collected from three stations as shown on the accompanying map. Water temperatures in Lake Buchanan ranged from 520 Fahrenheit in December, 195%, to 810 Fahrenheit in May, 1955. The pH of Lake Buchanan ranged from 7.6 to 8.8, with an average of 8.1. Dissolved oxygen varied from a maxim mum of 13.0 parts per million near the surface, to a minimum of 5.2 parts per million near the bottom of the lake. The average dissolved oxygen content was 10.3 parts per million. Dissolved carbon dioxide averaged 1.6 parts per million, with a variation of 0.0 to h.0 parts per million. These data, as recorded herein, are not believed to indicate any unusual or ad“ verse chemical or thermal conditions. Sufficient dissolved oxygen was present and no harmful substances were found in appreciable amounts. Buchanan Lake, early in the segment period, was normally clear. Sechi disk readm ings of 10 to 20 feet, in depth, were common in many areas of the lake. However, dur» ing April and may, 1955, with turbid flood waters from the tributaries filling the lake, sechi disk readings were recorded as low as 6 inches. FISH GQLLECTIONS Table II contains a checklist of 33 species found to occur in Lake Buchanan a.nd its tributaries. A total of 5952 specimens were provided for study by 85 netting and 60 seining collections. The enclosed map shows the location of the fish collections. The results of seining are presented in Table III and are broken down by species and by month. In all, a total of 3576 specimens were collected by this method from the lake and its tributaries. 0f the 27 species coined, the blackspot Shiner, N. venustus, was the most abunw dent, making up 52. 43% of the total number of specimens. The redhorse shiner, N. lutrensis, was the next most abundant, comprising 15. 72%. The combined total of all. species of sunfish follows third with 1h. 2h%. Gis2ard shad, D. cepedianum, was found to be fourth in abundance with 6. 29%, while all other seined fish species totaled only .1. 32% of the total number of specimens. Several seining collections were made in the same localities, therefore seining areas rather than seining stations were located on the enclosed map. Table TV shows that a total of 1M species, excluding all species of sunfish, were collected by gill nets. Included are the number of each species netted per month, the totals and the per cent of number. Of 2376 netted specimens, 16.96% were game fish including channel catfish, yellow catfish, white crappie, all species of sunfish, white bass, spotted and largemouth bass. All other species comprised 83.0t% of which shed and river carpsucker formed a major portion, 51.59% and 23.86% respectively. The number of pounds of fish netter per month, total weight and per cent of weight for each species, is recorded in Table V. Game species including all sunfish, catfish, bass and crappie comprised 18.91% of the collections by weight. Rough fish species including gar, shad, buffalo, carp, suckers, mullet and drum totaled 81.09% of netted specimens, by weight. River carpsuckers and shed dominated the rough fish catch again with respective percentages of 35.35% and 21.06% of the total catch. Table VI records the success of gill netting in Lake Buchanan in terms of number and pounds of fish from December, 1954 through May51955. Table VII contains the length, weight and coefficient of condition ("K") of fish species caught by gill nets in Buchanan Lake, during the segment. A number of rough fish specimens were not weighed and measured individually, and are not included in thme data . DISCUSSION Fishing in Buchanan Lake appears to be better, on the average, than in the other lakes of the Colorado River chain, with the possible exception of Lake Granite Shoals, *hich was built in 1951. White bass fishing has been consistently good during the spawning season over a period of years. It is believed that a larger papulation of white bass exist in Lake Buchanan than the data on hand indicates, because of the large numbers of white bass taken_by anglers near the head of the lake during the spawning migration in January and February, 1955. Great numbers of white bass were taken by anglers on spoons and live minnows, as the bass became active in moving toward the tributaries, during the early part of the segment period. Catfish catches have been good, especially in the more turbid waters of the upper portions of Lake Buchanan. After the rise of approximately 12 feet in May, 1955, even larger strings of catfish, channel catfish in particular, were taken in the more turbid waters that filled the lake. The collection data to da.te indicates that blue catfish (a. furcxtus) may be absent from the wa.ters of Buchanan Lake. Also, there have been no catches of blue catfish observed by this wri.ter. Good catches of white crappie, taken on minnows, were observed on all portions of the lake before the rise in.May 1955. Crappie provide considerable sport for anglers on Buchanan Lake throughout the year. Largemouth black bass are fished for extensively in all portions of Lake Buchanan, and many good catches are reported the yea.r round. Shoreline fishing generally is very producti.ve , but many bass are taken in shallow areas where partly submerged willow trees grow, and in the shallows around numerous islands in the lake. Good fishing in Buchanan Lake might be explained by the fact that the granitem revel shoals provide exceptional spawning grounds for black bass, crappie and sunfish. Data on hand indicates that the spawning success for these species is relatively high, and with the ample cover that the lake provides, many fish grow to desirable size. Buchanan Lake maintains a high level of fertility, due to the fact that the 0010» redo River, flowing into the lake from the north, brings in large quantities of decaying rganic material from the water shed. This, in part, may account for the tremendous shad population of the lake. Shad are the most abundant species in the lake, and are second only to river carpsucker in total weight of netted specimens as recorded in these data. Large quantities of brush and driftwood offer excellent spawning cover for shad, carp, suckers and buffalo. Commercial fishing is believed to have kept the carp and buffalo populations in check to.some degree but the river carpsucker which is of less market value is extremely abundant Large numbers of river carpsuckers a.veraging a.pproximately two pounds were taken in lg a.nd 2 inch gill nets a.nd in the respective sections of experimenta.l gill nets. Neither the results of stomach analyses nor management recomendations for Lake Buchanan have been included in this report. However these will be included in the Job Completion Report at the end of the next segment period. SUMMER? l. Lake Buchanan, an impoundant of approximately 1,000,000 acres at spillway level, is located on the Colorado River in the rugged hill country near Burnet. 2. Submerged aquatic vegetation provides only meager cover except in a few shallow silted areas but willows (Salix nigra) and large quantities of brush, driftwood and rocks offer an abundance of hiding places. 3. There were no unusual or adverse chemical or thermal conditions recorded .uring this segment period. A. Buchanan Lake was normally clear but became turbid during the latter part of the segment period as flood waters flowed in from the tributaries. G. g A total of 1&5 fish collections provided 5952 specimens, which me.y be divided into 12 fa.nilies and 33 species. 6. Blackspot and redhorse shiners were the most abundant of 3576 sei.ned specimens, totaling 52 age. . Z sizaard shed and river carpsucker dominated the rough fish catch, totaling T§.e5%o f237o netted specimens. All species of game fish totaled only 16.96%. 8. White bass, largemouth black bass} channel catfish and crappie provide ens ceilent fishing on tr 1e lake. 9. Goo d spa.wning grounds and adequa.te cover provide a good opportunity for game species to reproduce and reach a desirable size. 10. High lake fertility due to an influx of decaying organic materials from the Colorado River may explain why the shed population is so high. ll. Carp and buffalo are believed to have been kept in check by commercial fish~ *rmen but a large population of river carpsucker occur in the lake. Table I Buchanan Lake Water Analysis, December 195% through May 1955. December 16, 195% 1 A5 52 8.0 9.0 0.0 10 h5 52 8.0 8.6 1.0 January 19, 1955 15 M5 52 8.3 8.2 1.0 20 M5 52 8.1 8.t 1.5 30 A5 52 7.9 5.2 2.0 _ 1 68 5t 8.4 - 8.0 0.0 10 . 68 5t 8.u 8.8 1.0 February 1, 1955 15 68 5A 8.5 9.8 2.0 20 68 54 8.5 8.6 2.0 30 68 5A 8.8 5.2 3.0 1 71 59 7.9 13.0 0.0 10 71 58 7.9 13.0 0.5 March 15, 1955 20 71 58 7.7 12.5 1.0 30 71 57 7.9 12.0 2.0 no 71 55 7.7 11.0 2.0 50 71 55 7.7 11.0 3.0 1 80 72 8.2 13.2 0.0 10 80 72 8.3 13.0 0.0 . . . 20 80 72 8.3 13.0 1.0 April 19? 1959 30 80 71 8.t 12.5 2.0 to 80 71 8.4 12.0 2.5 50 80 71 8.t 11.0 t.0 1 86 81 8.2 10.0 0.5 5 86 80 8.0 10.5 1.0 10 $2 80 7.8 9.8 2.0 - E 15 T9 7.6 9.5 205 may 17’ 19J5 25 86 79 7.8 9.0 3.0 30 86 79 7.8 8.8 t.0 ._1_______________1_______________________________________________________________"5 Table II Checklist of Species Found to Occur in Buchanan Lake Scientific Name Lepisosteus platostomus Qgrosoma cepedianum Astyanax fasciatus Tctiobus bubalus Garpiodes carpio mm Moxostoma congestum Cyprinus carpio Opsopoedusiemiliae 'Notropis oXyrhynchus Notropis brazosensis hotropis wenustus Notropis_lutrensis Notropisudeliciosus Notropis volucellus Eybognathus nuchalis Eimephales vigilax gem ostogg anomalum ictalurus punctatus Eilodictus'olivaris figmbusia affinis EEEEEL cephalus Morons Ehrysops Micropterus punctulatus Micropterus salmoides Ghaenobryttus coronarius Lepomis cyanellus Lipomis Eigrolophus Lgpgmigamacrochirus Lepomis humilis Lepomis_megalotis Pomoxis annularis Percina caprodes tau—W Aplodinotus grunniens Common Name shortnose gar gizzard shad tetra smallmouth buffalo Iriver carpsucker gray redhorse carp pugnose minnow sharpnose shiner Brazos River shiner spottail redhorse Shiner sand shiner mimic Shiner silvery minnow parrot minnow stoneroller channel catfish yellow catfish common mosquitofish striped mullet white bass spotted black bass largemouth black bass warmouth green sunfish redear sunfish bluegill orangespotted sunfish longear sunfish white crappie logperch drum U Bonded ow moonwgen oeommweoon w. memowedcm w. ocoeHsm oenowoaem oewowo owowwozm oenowo O 2 z u. r 2 Z 2 m 0 w Q E“ z. “E o H H H H H w W O H a o a u a 0 D o a o o 0 n. o o 0 a. O cBHHMme oxwerwoofism oneNOmoanm denomdom Hzeeeomwm mcwwnwomzm doggomwwcm ozoomwwm 4Mmewox moosewog ewawowm owwwmoom ozoodcweoom mmHsowmem oowoomwwcm 0%soewwflm sHoHowooUSm geoHoQWMHcm osswwwm EQMoHoon eoocHefiwm neweomcm Hoomwm T223 {-4 CD OOOOHOHOOOOI—‘OOOOOm-P‘OOOOOOOO Hmw HeWmo Mo Hedwm HHH mewoem woos wooomoeo Howdy erenooe Hmm: donoomw Bow memo “Fm OOMwaomCDI‘Oi-JO US.) i—’ R) R] “3“] \HLAJOOOOl—‘OO HOHOOO H 1...! KO oomwroorowwoo Homo moo NMm wmqm & ow zoeoew moo ouwm PE ENG Pom o,om Pom ooqw mmorw Ghm PE ooao ohm oho Two. PE oomm oaow m.Hm Pow Pm: o.rn Hobo oomm PB oomm oomm HOOfiOO Essoee cw moeoHEeom HeWco 6% mHHH Seem ween wooWenen Howe» booeeoee mer dwwoomw Sew Hmmm. WHmW mwcowem H, oHedomoo§Sm U. ocoemHoncs H. demoeHflm newowomem omeowo E. ooomemoss Owowwscm oeHoHo H. wooooodSm w. 0HH<eme z. oewfimHfim E, owaamoom E. woooooHede a; meHEOHmem HmooEHm AoHH msomefiv w. eoHSHeHHm %. mesooHeom HoneHm menu or Hm Hm o H4 w Hem ammo 0\ HH mwm Wade mmH mHH Hdee H4 Roda wa HO Hw H4 m? been Hm rmm HO H: mm do How He Hmw Hw H4 0 CDUJ wo me HooEH mo Homo mo man Ho mm Hmo 4m H4 Hm 4w Hm mono & ow zoeoeo momw mHomm memo mwomm o.mo H.Hm 4.m4 o.wr o.or woow o.4m Horw oamo w.04 oan HO0.00 Hifieé Wesson ow moon.mew moeowmm BEWeo ow mHHH Zeno woos wcowmoeo HEWe Coneswen Hmmt ownOSmU 29% memo IIIIsIIIstIurIiIIIiIIIIIIIriIIiIIII1IIaIiIII1iIIIIIiIIIIIIIIIlIIIsIaIIsIIiIIiIIIIIIIII:III1II1Illlllllilllllilliillllln; oomo momooom omo._ moo. emoo zen. see“ new aooow e ow zoomed o. opedomdoeem Hmom Hoar Wm.m mq.o omom oo.~ moH.w HHamo on ooomoooooo Hm.o room HHoem mo.m mom.m woeo mom.m .mH om H. eooeHom mm.m mm.m Houw Wm.m po.o room Hoo.m 40mm omeoooomm oesouo mo.m Hooo: memeH so:.m soon wo.m mow m om om so ooomomooo o.o Ham o.o Ho.m map. o.o doom H.mm memeooom neeooo o.o m,o Hoow Foam :w.o o.o mono w.ww H. eooodmdom monm mono moom mw.w wwem mm.4 mH:.4 memo m. oHoeeeHm o.o oam ago ooo oao Ho.m mm.o o.om e; omeooHom ooo o.o woo o.o o.o o.o o.o o.:H z. ooeemoom mm.r mom new mH.m o.o mom deco w.mo :. ozonchmdom o.o Ho.o Hon: Hm.: H.: o.o wo.m Homo z. meHsoooem ooo Hwoo o,o :o.m o.o 4.: ow.m o.ow on moooneom o.o mam o.o mo: o.o 4.4 wH.m H.mo oooooom AmHH mooeomov o.o o.o o,o Ham oer oom m.m o.Ho m. meoooooom oom o.o o.o oao o.o H.w o.o o.oo eonon Homow owner wwwom «Hoar :mmom mom.H mer.m oo,oo zogoen Ecsoee Eosoen zceoen becomme bdewemo bdeoeme bdmeeMm 20 . goose on Zoom ow wood om oomo wow. oomo zeoose 2o. oomo 20. oem. Hem. oomo mes ood_med omomos ooomod oomo\2md on. on own oomo\2md owe on. ow owe. ooooeees o Hooo Hem me w Hm mm o.me H4.oo o.me moooose Hm Hmoo mom own r m:.mw o.oom mo.om o.H4m wooseeee mo mmoo mHH www.m mm mm o.mwm mm mm o.o:w geese or mono one nHza: .mw.om o moo mo.4m o.mmn bosoH Hr Homo mom :mm.m wo,ow o.wwo wr.ro o.WHH new a moo moH mom,H :H.mn o woo rHon o.woo aodoo mm ommm mono mer,m ms om o mom mm.wm o.o:m