TPWD 1957 F-5-R-4 #326: Inventory of Species Present in Lake J. B. Thomas Near Snyder, Texas

Marion Tools Coordinator c.7771 Report of Fisheries Investigations Inventory of Species Present in Lake J. B. Thomas Near Snyder, Texas. by Lawrence Campbell Project Leader Dingell—JOhnson Project Fm5—Rwh, JOb B-lO May 1, 1956 _ April 16, 1957 H. D. Dodgen m Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Kenneth C. Jurgens & William H. Brown Assistant Coordinators f7"? if"? Job Completion Report State of 'TExns Project No. FeSaRah Name; Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the.Wniara sf Banish 3*B-_,._. Job No... BalO Title: Frees-e minke .J_ Period Covered: ABSTRACT: From a fisheries standpoint Lake J. B. Thomas, a 220,000 acre foot, storage reservoir, has developed from a virtually unproductive body of water into the most productive public reservoir within Region 3eB. Most notable of the population trends included tremendOus increases in the flathead catfish, white bass, largemonth base-and white Crappie populae tions. Corresponding decreases in yellow bullhead and freshwater drum occurred. Data obtained indicated probable interaspecific influences by yellow bullheads on the increase of flathead catfish and by gizsard shad on the increase of white bass. No managment or development program is considered necessary at this time. ' osJECTlvES: To determine the species present and their relative abundance and to determine the ecological factors influencing their distribution. PROCEDURE: During the final segment, 39 gill nets were set at seven locations in the reservoir. Experimental nylon gill nets, measuring 125 feet long by eight feet deep and made up in five, 25 foot sections, were used. Mesh sizes for these nets increased progressively in each following section, at halfeinch intervals, beginning with a oneainch mesh section and terminating with a threeainch mesh section. Sixteen seining collections were made at five seining stations in the reservoir. In nearly all collections, both 26 foot, % inch mesh bag seines and 15 foot, % 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 foot, % inch mesh bag seine. In addition to this work, collections,with a a foot, 1/16 inch mesh, common sense fry seines,were taken. Water analysis to determine dissolved oxygen content and the quantity of dissolved carbon dioxide was taken periodically. Surface temperature, pH, and weather conditions were recorded for each netting and seining collection. Turbidity was measured on two occasions. In netting collections, samples from each collection and for each species were weighed, measured and sexed. This work was done in the field. Stomachs containing food were preserved for laboratory examination. Similar work for seining collections inn eluded identification, weighing and measuring. Individual specimens not readily idenn tifiable were preserved in a 10 percent solution of formalin. These were later identified in the laboratory. FINDINGS: Lake J. B. Thomas is located approximately 10 miles west of Ira, Texas. The earthen dam impounds the Colorado River and Bull Creek approximately 2.5 miles above their confluence. The structure was completed in September 1951 by Freeze and Nichols Const— ruction Company of Dallas, Texas, for the Upper Colorado River Municipal Water District. The reservoir impounded its first water, about h,000 acre feet, in August 1952, and by July 1953 about 11,000 acre feet of water were in storage. When work was initiated on this 30b, in July 195M, the lake had increased to about h7,890 acre feet. Since that time the lake has continued to increase in volume from 13h,h80 acre feet in May 1955, to 180, 000 acre feet November of the same year, and had 163,800 acre feet volume in April 1956 when the first year's work was completed. The included chart on hydrology and fluctuation provides more detailed data on the reservoir. The influences on fish populations will be discussed under that heading. The maximum storage capacity for Lake J. B. Thomas is 220,000 acre feet and the reservoir has flood control potential for 255,000 acre feet. All impounded water is owned by the Colorado River Municipal Water District and is to be used to fulfill the municipal and the industrial requirements for Big Spring, Odessa, and Snyder, Texas. The contributing watershed of approximately 751 square miles is ex“ elusively within the Permian Basin, and soil types are generally sands and red or brown sandy looms. The average annual rainfall is 21.15 inches, average maximum temperature is 82°F, and average minimum is hEOF. Most of the watershed is utilized for ranching; how- ever, in the north-western "Lamesa" area irrigated and "dryland" farming is extensive. Four oil wells were surrounded by the lake; however, these wells are adequately protected and no evidence of pollution has been discovered. Drilling activity has increased the original number to seven wells now producing in the innundatable area, and exploration continues. During the year no recordable turbidity was observed, total solids were about 150 ppm and pH ranged from 8.3 to 8.h. Minimum dissolved oxygen content recorded was 7.2 ppm, and the maximum carbon dioxide content recorded was 8 ppm. Aquatic Vegetation . Bull rushes are established in the upper reservoir areas and muskgrass, although not dense in any particular area, is present on many of the shallow, sandy beaches. Fish Populations A. Relative.Abundance The following charts present the netting and seining data obtained during the survey and are arranged in such a manner as to best illustrate the population trends that are to be discussed later in the report. This data is entirely for comparative purposes. Distribution of species is included under a different heading. Eydrology and Water Level Fluctuation Date for Lake J. B. Thomas for the Period From October 1955, through September 1957. Month Mex. E1. Min. E1. Avg. October - 1955 55.7 53.8 50.75 November 50.9 50.2 50.55 December 50.2 53.8 50.0 January - 1956 53.8 53.0 53.6 February 53.0 53.0 53.2 march 53.0 52.3 52.65 April 52.3 51.8 52.25 May 52.6 53.5 53.05 June 53.7 52.8 53.25 July 53.2 52.2 52.7 August 52.2 51.1 51.65 September 51.1 50.2 50.65 Octeber 50.2 09.8 50.0 November 09.8 09.1 09.05 December 09.1 08.7 08.9 January w 1957 08.7 08.3 08.5 February 09.3 08.2 08.75 March 09.1 08.5 08.8 April 08.8 08.0 08.0 May 50.0 08.8 51.0 June 55. 50.6 55.25 July 55.3 58.6 54.95 August 50.6 53.6 50.1 September 53.7 52.9 53.3 Averages 55.7 08.0 51.85 * Maximum volume was 186,000 acre feet in October, 1955 Minimum volume was 130,500.00re feet in April, 1957 Fluctuation A92. 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