TPWD 1975 F-6-R-22 #1656: Region 2-C Fisheries Studies: Fisheries Management, Federal Aid Project F-6-R-22

PERFORMANCE REPORT As Required By FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project F-6-R-22 Region Z-C Fisheries Studies Objective I: Fisheries Management Project Leader: Roger L. MCCabe Assistant Project Leader: Kenneth K. Sellers Clayton T. Garrison Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Lonnie J. Peters Robert J. Kemp Chief, Inland Fisheries Director, Fish and Wildlife November 13, 1974 ABSTRACT Recommended changes in fish harvest regulations, based on biological data, were presented at public hearings and were approved by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. Fishery management surveys were conducted on Lakes waoo (McLennan County), and Proctor (Comanche County). Other survey work was done on Lakes Belton (Bell County), Stillhouse Hollow (Bell County), and Waoo for walleye evaluation purposes. Data from all field work were compiled and used to determine management needs on each lake visited. Predator game fish were stocked in the following waters in 1974: Lake Belton, Lake Whoo, Lake Stillhouse Hollow, Lake Whitney (Hill and Bosque Counties), Lake Brelsford (Eastland County), Lake Tucker (Palo Pinto County), Cleburne State Park Lake (Johnson County), and Marlin City Lake (Falls County). Stockings of predator game fish and/or forage species are recommended on Lakes Whitney, Stillhouse Hollow, Whoo, and Brownwood (Brown County). Past survey data, physical and descriptive data, and public access information were used to assess management needs and to prepare a five year plan for all U. S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundments in Region 2-C. Recommended management procedures were outlined for Lakes Proctor, Whoo, Stillhouse Hollow, Belton, Whitney, and Hords Creek (Coleman County). PERFORMANCE REPORT State: Texas Project Number: F—6—R—22 __._________l____n________._______ _.____________________________ Project Title: Region 2—C Fisheries Studies Project Section: Research and Surveys Study Title: Fisheries Management Contract Period: From January 1, lQTh To December 31, lQTh Program Narrative Objective No.: 9 Objective: To situate fishery management practices in waters of Fisheries Region 2-0. (1) Harvest regulations (2) Fish stocking (3) Fish control (h) Pollution investigations (5) Vegetation control (6) Fisherman access needs. I. Job Segment Objectives: A. Job No. 9 Objectives: 1. To recommend fish harvest regulations to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. 2. To recommend stocking rates of newly constructed or renovated waters and for waters having established fish populations but lacking favor— able species composition. 3. To recommend population control measures. h. To monitor physioochemical characteristics and investigate incidents of pollution and/or fish die—offs. 5. To determine vegetation control needs. 6. To determine public access needs. II. Summary of progress: Fish harvest regulations, based on biological data and field observations, were formulated and discussed at a meeting of game wardens and biologists be— fore presentation to the public at hearings in all counties under Regulatory Authority. The proposals were then forwarded to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission for approval. No public lakes were renovated and no new lakes were constructed during the Management surveys, walleye evaluation work and supplementary field data were used to fulfill objectives 2 through 6. No incidences of pollu— tion were reported to this project; therefore, no investigations were necessary. No vegetation problems were encountered during the segment. Public access needs were noted in conjunction with other activities on all lakes visited. Fisheries management surveys, conducted in the Spring, included gill netting, marginal seining, and water profile analyses. Permanent sampling stations were established for each sampling method. The number of sites selected was proportional to each 1ake"s Size. One standard experimental gill net (150 feet long and 8 feet deep with 1—inch to 3 1/2—inch graduated mesh) was set over night at each station. Seining consisted of two 50~foot drags at each site with a bag seine (26 feet long and 6 feet deep with 1/h—inch mesh). Water samples were taken with a Kemmerer Model 1200 sampler. A profile of samples were taken at l-meter intervals from the surface to the bottom of the lake. Analyses were done using a Each DR—EL Portable Engineers Laboratory, a YSI Model Sl—A oxygen—temperature meter, a YSI Model 33 specific conductivity meter, and two 1,000 m1 Imhoff cones. Gill net collections were separated by species, counted, and bulk weighed. All game fishes and a representative sample of other Species were weighed and measured individually. Data were compiled to determine species composition, relative abundance, average weight, and catch per unit of effort. Seine collections were keyed and separated by species, divided into inch classes, and counted. The catch per unit of effort was calculated for each species. Temperature and dissolved oxygen were measured on all water profile samples. Surface, middle and bottom samples were also tested to determine pH, turbi— dity, total alkalinity, settleable solids, and Specific conductivity (adjust— ed to 25 deg. C). Secchi disc transparency and climatic conditions were recorded each time profiles were taken. Data were compiled and tabluated for comparitive purposes. Walleye evaluation procedures were implemented on Lake Belton to aid in de— fining the reservoir and in determining some of the more important ecologi— cal conditions which contribute to using walleye introductions as a success- ful management practice. The major areas of investigation included: 1. Spawning observations — to determine gonadal conditions and spawning success of walleye. 2. Seine samples — to determine the capture per unit of effort and relative strength of 0 age fish. 3. Categorization (cove rotenone samples) — to estimate the standing crop and species composition of fishes in reservoirs stocked with walleye. A. Vegetation cover - to categorize the major vegetation types in reser— voirs stocked with walleye. 5. Age and growth — to compare growth of walleye in reservoirs of different physicochemical characteristics. 6. Young of the year walleye survival — to determine growth of young of the year walleye and other age groups of walleye in the reservoir. 7. Physicochemical — to monitor physicochemical characteristics which may contribute to the success of walleye introductions. Equipment and procedures used to conduct fisheries management surveys were also used to obtain the above information. Frame netting, electroshocking, and cove rotenone sampling were also used. Frame nets (hufoot by 6-foot frames with 1—inch mesh and a AO—foot lead) were set in March and April to determine walleye growth. Supplemental information was obtained with an electroshocking boat equipped with a McCullough Model 3000 (110/220 volt A/C, 3,000 watt) generator. Physicochemical and seining data were acquired on Lakes Belton and Waco. Seining collections were also made on Lake Stillhouse Hollow. Notes were made on vegetation types and abundance on all three lakes. In addition to the water profile analyses mentioned for management surveys, quarterly tests were run by the regional chemist to determine concentrations of nitrates, phosphates, and total dissolved solids; sulfates were run by project personnel. ' A Species checklist was prepared for Lakes Belton, Stillhouse Hollow, Waco and Proctor (Table 1). Scientific and common names are from Special Publication No. 62 A List of Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States and Canada )Third Edition), a publication of the American Fisheries Society. Regulatory hearings attended by project personnel are listed in Table 2. Changes in fish harvest regulations affecting Region 2—0 were: 1. A change in the flathead catfish daily bag limit from twentyufive (25) to five (5) and possession limit from fifty (50) to ten (10). 2. Prohibiting the removal of game fish eggs from public waters. 3. Removal of the 10—inch minimum Size on largemouth, smallmouth and spotted black bass. h. Adding coho salmon and kamloops trout to the list of trout which have a daily bag limit of five (5) and possession limit of ten (10). 5. Prohibiting the use of "any hand—Operated device under water designed to snag fish, commonly called (noodling) poles or gaffs other than the ones permitted under Article h050 C—1 of the revised civil sta— tute.” 6. Requiring any not used in the public waters by sports fishermen to be identified by a legible tag constructed of a material as durable as the net, bearing the name and address of the fisherman and the date it was set out. The prOposed changes, along with tape recordings of each hearing, were re- viewed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. The Statewide Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Proclamation No. Ae2, lQTh—T5, was approved on April 29, igTh. Three coves, totaling 5 acres, were selected to be rotenoned on Lake Belton to estimate the standing crop. The area of each cove was measured using a plane table. Depth soundings were recorded to determine the volume and average depth of each cove. Block—off nets (B/A-inch pogy net) were stretched across the cove and floated above the surface on the afternoon preceding treatment. At approximately 10:00 P. M., the net was lowered to block the mouth of the cove. Electroshocking, seining, and frame netting were implemented to cap- ture approximately 100 fish and tagging. The fish were measured, tagged with a Floy tagging gun, and put into the cove to determine the recovery rate. At approximately 8:00 A. M., 5% liquid rotenone was applied at a concentration sufficient to cause a total kill. Fish were picked up on the day of applica- tion and on the following day. All tagged fish returns were separated by Species and inch class during both fish recovery days. Inch classes were designated as follows: inch group I, O—l.h9 inches; inch class II, l.h9—2.5 inches; inch class III, 2.A9—3.5 inches; etc. All recoveries were separated by Species and inch classes, counted and bulk weighed. On the second day, numbers of fish in each inch class were recorded, but no weights were taken. Data from each cove were later compiled and standing crOp was calculated. Lake Belton (Bell County), initially stocked with walleye in 1973, received and additional 327,000 fry in l97h. Walleye were introduced in Lake Waco (McLennan County) with the stocking of 138,000 fry. Lake Stillhouse Hollow (Bell County) received initial stockins of both walleye and smallmouth bass. An estimated 150,000 walleye fry were stocked with about 20% mortality. Approximately 100,000 smallmouth bass were stocked with 50% mortality. Lake Whitney (Hill and Bosque counties), originally stocked with striped bass in 1973, received supplemental_st0ckiflgscaf 230,000 fingerlings this year. Two— inch fingerling northern pike were stocked in Brelsford Lake (Eastland County), Lake Tucker (Palo Pinto County), Cleburne State Park Lake (Johnson County), and Marlin City Lake (Falls County). Stocking mortalities were at less than 5%. Management recommendations were prepared for all U. S. Corps of Engineers reservoirs in Region 2-C. The five year management plan included proposals on Lakes Whitney, Waco, Belton, Stillhouse Hollow, Hords Creek and Proctor. Project members attended a meeting for the investigation and evaluation of fish and wildlife resources of the Big Creek Watershed (Limestone, Falls and McLennan counties). .The meeting included Texas Parks and Wildlife Department fisheries and wildlife biologists, U. S. Soil Conservation Service personnel, and Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife personnel. The group conducted cursory field investigations and contributed to a preliminary report describ— ing the existing fish and wildlife habitat and estimating the possible impacts of pending flood control proposals. Fishery management and walleye evaluation data were combined to determine management needs. Information on vegetation types and abundance were com— piled and are presented in Table 3. Survey results are discussed below under the heading of each lake visited. Lake Belton Belton Reservoir lies within Bell County and is supplied by the Leon River. It was impounded in 195h and its level was raised in 1973 to increase its area to 12,300 acres. It is a deep,-clear, oligotrophic lake, and most of its 136 mile shoreline is bordered by steep rock bluffs. The lake has several large, shallow, sand and gravel beaches, and rock rip-rap is present along the earth— fill dam. All work done on the lake was associated with walleye evaluation surveys or with a lake categorization study (Job l0). Locations of sampling stations and cove rotenone sites are shown in Figure l. A total of 2A gill nets were set in April, May and September. A high catch per unit of effort was noted for numbers of gizzard shad, river carpsucker, longnose gar, and white bass (Table A). The catch per unit of effort (by weight) was dominated by longnose gar, smallmouth buffalo, river carpsucker, and carp. Channel catfish and white bass were well represented in the net catches. Other native game fish, captured in smaller numbers, included spotted bass, flathead catfish and white crappie. Three walleye were taken in April and May which ranged from 0.8 pounds to 1.1 pounds, and one was taken in Sep— tember which weighed 1.0 pounds. Frame netting results (Table 5) show the catch per unit of effort of bluegills, gray redhorse, and white bass was high. Gray redhorse numbers were also high in the electroshocking catch (Table 6). By weight, gray redhorse, gizzard shad, white bass, and carp dominated the sample. Seining surveys were done each month from April through September. A total of 2A species was taken during the year and seining was productive at all stations (Table 7). Good numbers of forage species such as threadfin shad, spottail shiners, and Mississippi silversides were collected. The following game fishes were taken during seining activities: spotted bass, largemouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, and white bass. Three coves (totaling 5 acres) were rotenoned to estimate the standing crop. Based on the return on tagged fishes, a 62% recovery was calculated. The unadjusted standing crop for the lake was 2,8h0.50 fish per acre; by weight, the standing crop was 250.69 pounds per acre. Estimates of standing crop by individual Species can be found in Table 8. Two walleye were recovered during rotenone pickups, but both were outside the cove barriers. The fish weighed approximately 1.5 pounds each; their total lengths were AOOmm and A05mme Both fish were from the 1973 stocking, as was verified by scale readings. Monthly water analyses results from.lower and mid—lake stations are shown in Tables 9 through 12. Thermal stratification occurred in August and September; however, definite limits of a thermocline could not be established. Test results were similar for both sampling sites and no problems were observed during the segment. Lake Stillhouse Hollow Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir (Bell County) was impounded in 1968 and is sup— plied by the Lampasas River. It covers 6,A30 acres and has 58 miles of shore" line. The lower portion of the lake is bordered by steep rock bluffs and rock rip—rap lines the dam. The upper portion of the lake is rocky with several shallow sandy beaches. Walleye and smallmouth bass were introduced into the lake in l97h. Other important game species are channel catfish, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, spotted bass, white bass, and white crappie. Seining surveys were carried out in June, August and September. Figure 2 shows locations of sampling sites. No walleye were recovered and only one smallmouth bass was recaptured during the year (Table 13). The catch per unit of effort was relatively low for most species. Mississippi silverside were abundant and far outnumbered other fishes; 77% of this species were taken at station 8 on the upper end of the lake. Potemogeton sp., Chara sp., and Najas sp. became abundant during summer months as the lake's water level drOp— ped. Due to the re-filling of the lake, these species were not found at any seining stations during the September survey. Lake Waco Lake Waco, impounded in 1929, is located on the Bosque River in McLennan County. The construction of a new dam was completed in 1965, increasing the lake area to 7,270 acres. Most of the 60 mile shoreline consists of rapidly sloping sand and clay beaches. A high rate of sedimentation has been obser— ved since impoundment causing high turbidity in this shallow reservoir. Dominant game fish are flathead catfish and white crappie. Walleye were in- torduced in 197A. Since no recoveries have been made since the stocking, no information has been obtained to indicate growth rates or survival. A fishery management survey was conducted in May, and supplemental data were acquired from seining and water sampling conducted according to walleye evaluation procedures. Figure 3 shows locations of sampling sites. Gill net catches were dominated by gizzard Shad, smallmouth buffalo, and river carpsucker (Table 1h). Small numbers of channel catfish, flathead catfish, white bass, white crappie, black crappie, largemouth bass, and Spotted bass were netted. White crappie (by number) and flathead catfish (by weight) were the most abundant game fishes taken. Three seining surveys (May, July and September) were conducted during the seg— ment. The catch per unit of effort was low for most species but adequate for— age numbers were indicated for the lake (Table l5). Large numbers of thread— fin shad, red shiners, and juvenile gizzard shad were taken. Game fishes collected included flathead catfish, channel catfish, largemouth bass, spotted bass, and white crappie. - Water profile data was acquired from March through September and is presented in Tables 16 through 19. No water samples were taken in August due to time required to accomplish field activities on other reservoirs. Turbidity was high most of the year. Nitrate concentrations were higher than those found on other reservoirs worked this segment. Other readings were considered nor- mal. No thermocline was established during the sampling period. Lake Proctor This h,610 acre lake was impounded in 1963 and is located in Comanche County. It is supplied by the Leon River and is relatively shallow and turbid. Most of the 38 mile shoreline is gradually sloping sand or clay with a Sparse dis— tribution of aquatic vegetation. III. IV. A fishery management survey was conducted in April; locating of sampling sites can be found in Figure A. Five gill nets were set for one night at each sta— tion. The number per net of gizzard shad and river carpsucker was high, as was the weight per net of river carpsucker and smallmouth buffalo (Table 20). The total number and weight of white crappie was higher than for other game fishes. Red shiners were caught in good numbers at most seining stations (Table 2l). Young of the year gizzard shad were also well represented in the catch. Two yearling largemouth bass and two adult white crappie were the only game fish seined. Water profile analyses Showed high turbidity, specific conductivity, and settleable solids; other readings were similar to those found on other lakes. Water analyses data is given in Table 22. Significant Deviation: There was no Significant deviation from outlined segment objectives. Conclusions, Evaluations, and Recommendations: A five year management plan was prepared for the U. S. Corps of Engineers. Management recommendations were made for the following waters: Lake Proctor (Comanche County), Lake Waco (McLennan County), Lake Whitney (Hill and Bosque counties), Lake Stillhouse Hollow (Bell County), Lake Belton (Bell County), and Lake Hords Creek (Coleman County)r Past survey data, physical and descrip— tive data, and public access information were used to determine management needs. The following techniques were suggested according to the needs of each reservoir: 1. Fishing docks — to be provided to improve public access to good fish“ ing grounds. 2. Heated fishing docks - to provide improved access and protection to the fisherman during the winter months. 3. Fishing information - to provide information such as productive fishing areas and methods of taking game fish to improve angler success. A. Fish attractors — to install brush shelters in order to increase food production for forage and game fishes and to concentrate fishes for angler harvest. 5. Reservoir stabilization - to maintain the conservation level of the reservoir and thereby provide predator fish with increased spawning habitat, increased nursery area for fry, and improved survival of young of the year fishes. 6. Winter drawdown — to concentrate forage for predator game fishes. 7. Tailwater improvement — to maintain stable water levels in tailwaters to provide maximum habitat for game Species. VI. 8. Nursery ponds — to construct ponds close to the margin of the lake for use in rearing forage species for stocking in the reservoir. 9. Creel census - to design and conduct creel census in order to eva— luate applied management practices and to determine future manage— ment needs. Table 23 denotes which of the above management practices were recommended on each U. S. Corps of Engineers reservoir. Lake Stillhouse Hollow was initially stocked with walleye and smallmouth bass in l97h. Additional stockings should be made to provide year classes of these species until natural reproduction occurs. It is therefore recommended that the lake be stocked with 65,000 (lO/acre) smallmouth bass (3—inch) and 129,000 (20/aore) walleye fry in 1975. It is also recommended that 32,000 threadfin Shad be introduced into the lake to provide another forage species for preda— tor game fish populations. Lake Waco, stocked with walleye in 197A, should receive a supplemental stock— ing of 73,000 (lO/acre) walleye fry in 1975. This will provide another year class in the lake and improve the chances of establishing a reproducing pOpu— lation. It is also recommended that white bass/striped bass hybrids be stocked at a rate of lO/acre in June, 1975, if the fish are available. This would pro— vide another sports fish for the lake and provide more effective utilization of forage species. Lake Whitney, which has received two years of stockings of striped bass, should be stocked again in 1975. Approximately 235,500 (lO/acre) 2—inch striped bass should be stocked to provide another age class in the lake, and to aid in the establishment of a reproducing population in the Brazos River system. Lake Brownwood (Brown County), which was impounded in 1933, is a Shallow, tur— bid reservoir with a large rough fish population. Fishing pressure is high while fishing success has declined during recent years. In order to improve species diversity, provide more effective utilization of forage, and provide another species for the sports fisherman, the introduction of 80,000 (lO/acre) of 2—inch Florida bass is recommended in 1975. Fishery management work will be continued under Project F—3O during the next segment. Cost: $ 38,900.00 Prepared by: Kenneth K. Sellers Assistant Project Leader Date: November 18 197A Robert L. Bounds Region 2 Inland Fisheries Director Approved by: Dingell-Johnson Coordinator