TPWD 1965 F-5-R-12 #956: A Study of Factors Influencing Game Fish Production in Waters of Region 1-B: Job Completion Report, Federal Aid Project No. F-5-R-12

JOB CGMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT ..-.. 'TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-S-R-IZ FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEYS OF THE WATERS 0F REGIQN l-B Job No. D~2 A Study of Factors Influencing Game Fish Productien in Waters of Regien er Project Leader: Lawrence Sn Campbell J. Weldon'Wataon Executive Director Parks and Wildlife Department Austin; Texas Marion Teole Eugene A. Walker DHJ Geordinator Directer, Wildlife Services -. December 14, 1965 t '3“ 51' "P ._ I ABSTRACT Project data obtained under F-S-R are reviewed and reanalyzed to detect and identify factors that are common influences on game fish production. The material is presented in three sections- Section I contains a brief history of fishery production in 27 public reservoirs as indicated by gill net collections. Production for principal game and non-game species is graphed over a period of years. Gross production, water quality and hydrological data are similarly graphed. These briefs also contain information on the history and development of the reservoirs, their usage, and relationships with other waters. A brief discussion of factors and susPect factors that influence fish production is included and a list of references and stocking records are supplied. Section II contains an analysis and discussion of factors and suspect factors that influence game fish production in regional perspective. Princi— pal factors influencing production in reservoirs include: (a) stability of water levels and capacities, (b) water quality, (c) basic food production, (d) the inter-pOpulation influences of the principal Species and (e) aquatic vegetation. The analysis indicates that the most common detrimental factor influencing game fish production in the region is the occurrence of a prolonged decline in water levels in reservoirs where river carpsucker and other proble- matic fish are abundant. The factors that influence game fish production in streams include: (a) stability of water levels and capacities, (b) permanence and volume of flow, (c) basic food production, and (d) water quality. The impact of irrigation on stream production is discussed, and the deterioration of water quality and increases in pollution, siltation, and aquatic vegetation are shown to be responsible for the reduction of game fish. Section III presents an evaluation of past management of regional waters. Following chemical treatments to control problematic fish in reservoirs, sampling with gill nets indicate: (a) more game fish were produced, (b) more pounds of game fish were produced, (c) fewer problematic fish were produced, and (d) less pounds of problematic fish were produced. The increase in production was nearly always ten times as great as pre-treatment production within the first three years following the management effort, and benefits were indicated beyond the sixth year in some instances. The results of efforts to control problematic fish in streams cannot be fully evaluated at this time, but preliminary results indicate that where project personnel received full cooPera- tion, the work was effective. Efforts to control aquatic vegetation have been less successful. Maximum benefits from efforts to control vegetation have not lasted beyond a few months. In general, the restocking program has been effective in stocking new waters, recently renovated waters, and waters that have recently experienced great expansion. Other stocking is less effective and much of the effort was totally unsuccessful. JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of __l_Tcaeaillllt Project Nos it;2;t;l2________l_ Name: tisherisa_lassstiaaiieaalens_§st;, tars.2i_tts_ta£ste_9i_tssisn_l;tl Job No. W_WMNQ;;Wfimflmmm_mmwwmmw Title: gHSEEQyWQf Factoggwlgfluengipgfl_ gene_£i§tlttsssstienwialte£2te._ .ef_tssion l:t___l_l__ll____._t__ Period Covered: _tctatsall.Mliéiltatsssactchtsertl2§l_l292tltll_.t_lltt_ltt__ ObjectiveS? To identify the factors that are common influences on game fish production throughout the region and to determine the degree of influence. 1. To organize and analyze data influencing fishery production in regional perspective, (a) to identify. isolate and measure basic influences, (b) to determine interrelationships and to correlate these influences With reference to game fish production, and (c) to catalogue data according to Specific waters, basic productivity and fundamental ecological types. 2. To determine additional data required to appraise pasr sampling efforts. 3. To secure the means of an accurate appraisal of past management efforts and factors that influence management results. 4. To provide a more reliable basis for advancing sound harvest regulations. 5. To determine the logical limits for future reconnaissance surveys. Procedures: 1. To review literature. A. Available scientific literature dealing with basic factors that influence productivity was reviewed to provide understanding of normal population dynamics for the more common species. Seventeen additional publications dealing with population dynamics were obtained from other investigators and carefully studied. B. Data from known sources were compiled according to subject and specific body of water, (i.e. all data pertaining to Lake Nasworthy were grouped; all for San Angelo Reservoir placed together etc.). Fisheries data were obtained from other fisheries biologists and from state and federal fish hatchery stocking records. Only data meeting specific standards were used in the study. lydrological data were obtained from the United States Geological Survey. the Texas Water Commission, and from local agencies. Climatic data were obtained from the United States Weather Bureau. Related biological data were obtained from the United States Public Health Service, the Soil Conservation Service, the State Health Department and other national or state organizations. To determine additional data requirements and to appraise sampling efforts. A. C. All netting data were placed on master sheets for each body of water. The organization of data indicated month and year of each collection of fish or other data. Blanks indicated periods when samples were not taken. Only data from standard gill netting units or from the experimental gill nets used prior to the adaption of regional standards were included. Secondary master sheets were prepared for each primary Species designating month. year, number and numerical per cent for each Species and per cent by weight for each primary public water. A reorganization of "R" factor data were started. but findings are too incomplete to provide useful information. To obtain the means of appraisal of past management and factors that influence management results. A. Comparisons were made between pretreatment and postreatment samples of fish populations where management has been carried out. Additional field work was carried out to evaluate the results of past management. A comparison was made between samples taken prior to heavy stock- ing with hatchery reared fish and samples taken from the same bodies of water following such stocking efforts. Field Procedures in order to fill in blanks in project data and to maintain studies necessary to evaluate management. the following field investiga* tions were carried out: Water No. Field Standard Gill Seining Studies of Man Investigated Trips Net Collections Collections Vital Functions Days Lake Nasworthy 6 22 12 X 36 Twin Buttes 3 12 12 X 21 Concho River 20 48 60 X 86 Lake Sweetwater 3 16 12 X 12 Mountin Creek Reservoir 2 11 6 X 8 Lake Balmorhea 2 12 6 X 12 Lake Ascarate 2 8 f7 X 10 Champion Creek Reservoir 2 12 6 X 8 Oak Creek Reservoir 2 19 8 X 14 Moss Creek Reservoir 2 12 9 X 12 Devil's River 1 7 3 X 8 Rio Grande River 1 3 6 X 3 Diablo Dam #1 1 4 2 X 6 South Llano River 1 0 8 X 6 Nueces River 1 O 8 X 6 49 186 165 248 Although the number of gill net collections is slightly less than speci- fied in planning, the need for such sampling was significantly less than anticipated. Twin Buttes Reservoir did not impound as much water as expected and the North Concho River was reduced to a few pools. Other activities exceeded the work planned. Unforseeable circumstances make it impossible to complete all of the suggested procedures. (1) Approved plans specified that counciling service of a qualified statistician would be required. The contract for such ser- vice was not renewed in the 1964-65 period. (2) In many instances data were insufficient to permit the prOposed analysis. (3) The nature of most of the data available were such that statistical analysis of an isolated factor was impossible or the degree of bias in sampling could not be taken into considera- tion. 'Findings: Throughout the remainder of this report references are made to a number of species of fish. The following checklist of Species found in the region is presented to assure correct identification. Scientific and common names are those specified in ”A List of Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States and Canada", Second Edition, American Fisheries Society, Special Publication No. 2, 1960. In a few instances species not listed in that publication are included. The scientific and common names of these fish are taken from ”A Checklist of Texas Fresh-Water Fishes”, by Clark Hubbs, Department of Zoology, The University of Texas, Division of Inland Fisheries, IF Series No. 3. Lepisosteidae-gars Spotted gar Lepisosteus oculatus Longnose gar Lepisosteus osseus Alligator gar Lepisosteus spatula Clupeidae-herrings Gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum Salmonidae-trouts, whitefishes, and graylings Rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri Characidae-characins and tetras Mexican tetra Astyanax mexicanus Cyprinidae-minnows and carps Stoneroller Campostoma anomalum Mexican stoneroller Campostoma ornatum Goldfish - Carassius auratus Carp V Cyprinus carpio Devil's River minnow Dionda diaboli Roundnose minnow Dionda episc0pa Golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas Speckled chub HyboRsis aestivalis Rio Grande chub Gila pandora Longnose dace Rhinichthys cataractae SUckermouth minnow Phenacobius mirabilis Plains shiner Notr0pis percobromus Sharpnose shiner NotroEis oxyrhynchus Rio Grande shiner Notropis jemezanus Texas shiner Notr0pis amabilis Bluntnose shiner NotroEis simus Arkansas River shiner NotroEis girardi Chihuahua shiner NotroEis chihuahua Blacktail shiner ‘ NotroEis venustus Red shiner Notropis lutrensis Plateau shiner - Notrogis lepidus Proserpine shiner NotroEis proserpinus Mimic shiner NotroRis volucellus Ghost shiner Notr0pis buchanani Plains minnow Hybognathus placita Bullhead minnow Pimephales vigilax Fathead minnow Pimephales promelas Catostomidae-suckers River carpsucker Carpiodes carpio Blue sucker Cycleptus elongatus Smallmouth buffalo Ictiobus bubalus Gray redhorse ' Moxostoma congestum Ictaluridae-freshwater catfishes Blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus Black bullhead Ictalurus melas Yellow bullhead Ictalurus natalis Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus Flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris Cyprinodontidae-killifishes and t0pminnows Rainwater killifish Lucania parva Blackstripe topminnow Fundulus notatus Rio Grande killifish Fundulus zebrinus Red River pupfish Cyprinodon rubrofluviatilis Leon Springs pupfish Cyprinodon bovinus (extinct) Comanche Springs pupfish Cyprinodon elegans Pecos River pupfish, Cyprinodon s2. Devil's River pupfish Cyprinodon_§p. Poeciliidae-mosquitofishes Pecos gambusia Gambusia nobilis Largespring gambusia Gambusia geiseri Big Bend gambusia Gambusia gaigei Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis Atherinidae-silversides Tidewater silverside Menidia beryllina Serranidaehsea basses White bass Roccus chry50ps Centrarchidae-sunfishes Spotted bass Micropterus punctulatus Guadalupe bass MicroEterus treculi Largemouth bass 'Micr0pterus salmoides Warmouth Chaenobryttus gulosus Redbreast sunfish Lepomis auritus Green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus Orangespotted sunfish Lepomis humilis Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus Redear sunfish Lepomis microlthus Spotted sunfish Lepomis punctatus White crappie Pomoxis annularis Black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus Percidae-perches Dusky darter Percina sciera Logperch Percina caprodes Orangethroat darter Etheostoma Spectabile Greenthroat darter Etheostoma lepidum Rio Grande darter Etheostoma grahami Sciaenidae-croakers, drum, and weakfishes Freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens Red drum Sciaenogs ocellata Spot Leiostomus xanthurus Atlantic croaker Micr0pogon undulatus Black drum Pogonias cromis Spotted seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus Sparidae Pinfish Lagodon rhomboides Cichlidae—cichlids Rio Grande perch Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum Bothidae-flounders Southern flounder I Paralichthys lethostigma Organization and Limitations of Report The choice in the order of presentation of findings was guided by three considerations. (1) The report is the best available condensation of previous findings and will serve as a convenient reference for administrators in the future. (2) The possibility of a future consolidation of federal aid inven- tory studies into a single publication dealing with the resource in state- wide perspective is considered. (3) In as far as practical, the material is presented in the order of objectives listed under that subheading on page 1. With these circumstances in mind a table of contents has been included which further serves to indicate the sc0pe and limitations of the findings. CONTENTS Page Objectives 1 Procedures 1 Findings 3~4 Checklist of Species Found in Region l-B 4‘6 Organization and Limitations of Report 6 SECTION I A chronology of Game Fish Production and Related Data for the Principal Reservoirs Investigated Under Project F-5~R. 9 Areas of Texas Included Under Project FwSmR, (Figure l) 103 Map of Region lmB with Principal Waters Indicated, (Figure 2) 10b 1. Reservoirs Located on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River 1. Fort Phantom Hill Reservoir 11117 2. Lake Kirby 18~24 3. Lake Abilene 25-31 4. Lake Sweetwater 32139 5. Lake Trammel 40-46 II. Reservoirs Located on the Upper Colorado River 1. Lake Brownwood 42‘53 2. Lake Sealy 54w58 3. Lake Santanna 59‘63 4. Lake Scarborough 64'68 5. Hoards Creek Reservoir 69w75 6. Ballinger City Lake 76-80 7. New Winters Lake 81m85 8. Valley Creek Reservoir 86r90 9. ’Mountain Creek Reservoir 91~95 10. Oak Creek Reservoir 96w103 ll. Champion Creek Reservoir 104‘110 12. Lake Colorado City lllmll8 13. iMoss Creek Reservoir ll9~123 14. Lake J. B. Thomas 124wl3l 15. Lake Nasworthy 132wl4l 16. Twin Buttes Reservoir 142-144 17. San Angelo Reservoir 145-152 III. Reservoirs Located on the Devilis River Watershed 1. Lake Walk 153.158 2. Devil's Lake 159~l64 IV. Reservoirs of the Pecos River Watershed 1. Imperial Reservoir LélmLég 2. -Red Bluff Reservoir 1j0-1?8 3. Lake Balmorhea l79ml85 V. Reservoirs of the Rio Grande Watershed 1. Lake Ascarate 186-190 SECTION II Principal Factors Influencing Game Fish Production In Regional Perspective I. Principal Factors Influencing Produccion in Reservoirs 191 A. Basic Factors 191 1. Climate 191 2. Factors Assoc1ated with Water Supply 191-192 3. Water Quality Factors l92wl93 4. Pollution 193 B. Biological Factors Influencing Game Fish Production in Reservoirs 193 1. Basic Food Production 193 2. Discussion of Factors Influencing Fish Production in Reservoirs 194'205 3. The Influence of Aquatic Vegetation in Reservoirs 205‘206 II. Principal Factors Influencing Game Fish Production in Streams 206 A The Impact of Irrigation on Streams 206-207 B. Water Quality of Regional Streams 207_208 C. Pollution 208 D Siltation 208 E Aquatic Vegetation 208~209 F Net EffeCt of Factors SECTION 111 An Evaluation of Management for Region 1‘8 209 Introduction 209 Ctemical Control of Fish Populations in Reservoirs 209 A. Comparisons of Relative Abundance as Evidenced in Pre'treatment and 209_210 Post-treatment Sampling. B. Comparisons of Abundance (actual quantities of captured fish) As 2101211 Indicated in Pre~treatment and Poet'treatment Sampling. C. Chemical Control of Fish Populations in Streams. 220 D. Chemical Control of Aquatic Vegetation. 220 E. The Restocking Program. 220 F. Conclusions and Recommendations 220