TPWD 1969 F-5-R-16 #1289: Region I-B Fisheries Studies: Preinundation Investigation for Robert Lee Reservoir

Job No. 11 Marion Toole D-J Coordinator JOB PROGRESS REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT ITEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-S-R-16 REGION I-B FISHERIES STUDIES Preinundation Investigation for Robert Lee Reservoir Project Leader: Billy J. Follis J. R. Singleton Executive Director Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Eugene A. Walker Director, Wildlife Services April 17, 1969 SUMMARY Robert Lee Dam and related facilities have been completed and are ready for impoundment. The 4.2 mile dam will impound all runoff water for municipal use with a normal capacity of 488,760 acre-feet. Five public park areas, totaling 2,000 acres, are being developed by the Colorado River Municipal Water District and will be partially completed later this year. Fish population sampling in the basin area shows a continued dominance by undesirable species. Stocking of brood game fish as the reservoir fills is being done in an effort to partially alleviate this problem. A job was initiated to introduce striped bass in the new reservoir. Striper fry will be obtained from other agencies and reared to fingerling size before being released. Recommendations were made to terminate this job and to include future '1nformation of this nature under other studies of this project. JOB PROGRESS REPORT State: Texas Name: Region I-B Fisheries Studies Project No.: F-S-R-16 Title: Preinundation Investigation for Job No.: 11 Robert Lee Reservoir Period Covered: March 1, 1968 to February 28, 1969 Objectives: To continue the development of a preinundation management program for Robert Lee Reservoir and associated waters. Procedures: Liaison with the Colorado River Municipal Water District was continued. Information collected and discussions held concerned construction progress, closure date, project estimates of capacities, water usages and public recreational usages. The existing waters in and near the reservoir basin were sampled with gill nets and seines. Fish species and population relative abundance were recorded. The rearing of brood game fish in available waters was continued. Some of these fish were transferred to permanent water in the lake basin. Additional stocking plans were made for other species. A checklist of scientific names is presented so that common names may be used in this report. The names are specified in "A list of Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States and Canada”, Second Edition, American Fisheries Society, Special Publication Number 2, 1960. Findings: Basic Reservoir Information mm Construction of the Robert Lee Dam and its related facilities were completed in the latter part of March 1969. .Only minor cleanup operations remain to be _ finished. Impoundment will begin with the first runoff. The 4.2 mile earthen dam will impound 488,760 acre-feet of water (14,950 surface acres) at normal level. The reservoir will have a maximum depth Of 108 feet with an average depth of 33 feet, and the shoreline will be approximately 135 miles in length. According to historical records, the average annual runoff into the reservoir is 140,00 acre-feet per annum. The Colorado River Municipal Water DiStrict owns the land up to elevation 1,900 feet above mean sea level and has a flood easement to elevation 1,912 feet. Property owners retain the rights of the adjacent property with restrictions concerning sanitation and developing. The district is develOping 5 public parks adjacent to the lake (Figure 1), totaling almost 2,000 acres. Each area will contain 25 to 40 picnicking and camping units, restrooms, one large improved boat ramp and a privately operated concession. These public areas will be partially completed and in operation by late summer 1969. There will be a small fee for the recreational usage. This reservoir will serve primarily as a municipal water supply for cities of Odessa, Big Spring, Snyder, Midland, and San Angelo. The district is not required to release any flood water; therefore, all runoff will be impounded. However, the normal flow of the river, which is insignificant at this location, will not be interrupted. Fish Population According to survey results during this segment, the fish pOpulation of the existing water in the river channel is very similar to that recorded previously. The only change was a slight increase in the number of largemouth bass collected in gill nets. This is h0pefully due to the stocking of this species during the spring of 1968. Rough fish accounted for 92.58 per cent by number and 90.40 per cent by weight of the compiled netting collections (Table 1). Although not revealed in nets or seines, small channel catfish continue to be plentiful when checked by hook and line, rotenone, and electro shocking. Forage species were not as abundant as last year; however, low water condition could have been the cause. Rare or endemic Species were not found during thiseiudy; therefore, measures to preserve such fish were not necessary. Stocking Brood game fish were reared in nearby ranch tanks as discussed in the past 2 completion reports. This effort was made to insure adequate stocking of the new reservoir and to control some of the undesirable species present in the river. About one-half of the rearing ponds have been seined and approximately 1,500 adult and sub—adult largemouth bass and 1,000 adult sunfish have been released in the 1,200 acre-feet of permanent water in the lake basin. The remainder of the adult fish will be collected from holding ponds and released in the reservoir when addition water is impounded. Also, 3,000, 6- to 8-inch blue catfish were acquired from another hatchery and are being held in local hatchery ponds. These fish will be added to the reservoir when sufficient water is caught. This Species is not native in Region 1—B and should be of great benefit if it can be established. During the past hatchery stocking season, 13,700 fingerling bass and 138,000 fingerling channel catfish were released in the river above and in the goimmmm mmn Hammom 222:0: 039.5 g .. wma E: ES a. . _ 7///// 4 So... 5: f r x . .// 4.x .A/vy/ . . mum .Emmom ._mm>.__m .m..y.m0~;>BI,MH<hm . H mwswwm . Table 1 Survey Results Colorado River Reservoir Area, June 25, November 20, 1968. Results of 10 gill nets. Per Cent Total Wgt. Avg. Wgt. Per Cent Avg. Species Number by NO. Pounds Pounds by Wgt. ”K” Spotted gar 2 .42 2.80 1.40 .58 Longnose gar 109 23.09 155.28 1.42 32.69 Gizzard shad 106 22.46 57.75 .54 12.16 Carp 16 3.39 49.50 3.09 10.42 River carpsucker 187 39.62 152.64 .82 32.14 Channel catfish * 9 1.91 6.68 .74 1.40 1.83 Flathead catfish * 7 1.49 27.80 3.97 5.86 1.84 White bass * 1 .21 2.20 2.20 .46 3.59 Bluegill * 9 1.91 1.01 .11 .21 5.33 Longear sunfish * 1 .21 .23 .23 .05 5.26 Largemouth bass * 3 '.63 4.93 1.64 1.04 3.15 White crappie * 5 1.06 2.68 .54 .56 3.60 Freshwater drum 17 3.60 11.50 .68 2.43 ___________.___________i__________________________________L______n_i_______i_____ Total 472 100.00 475.00 100.00 Game Fish * 35 7.42 45.53 9.58 Rough Fish 437 92.58 429.47 ' 90.42 W Seining Results Colorado River Reservoir Area (Bag 26 by 6 by l/4-inch mesh seine and 20 by 6 by 1/8-inch mesh seine). W Species Number Size Range in Inches WW Gizzard shad 37 6 Plains minnow 12 1/2-3 Red Shiner 52 1—1% Fathead minnow 7 1 Bullhead minnow 16 l~1% Channel catfish 11 4 Green Sunfish 4 1-2% OrangeSpotted sunfish 1 2 Longear sunfish 8 1-1% W Total 148 W W reservoir area. Plans were made and a job was initiated to introduce striped bass in Robert Lee Reservoir. Striper fry will be purchased from other state agencies and reared to fingerlings before being released in the new reserovir. This new job under F-21-D prOposes up to 500,000 fry per year for a 5-year period. Since the striped bass is extremely predaceous, it is expected to assist in the control of rough fish and add an excellent sport species if this introduction is successful. Recommendations: It is recommended that this job be terminated and Robert Lee Reservoir be included under Job No. 13 (Fisheries Management Recommendations) of this project. The introduction of striped bass will be conducted under Project F-21 (Game and Forage Fish Introductions). Public access and facility information will be collected and reported under Job No. 12 (Public Water Access and Facilities Survey). 1 x 7/ f % Prepared by Bill J. Follis Approved by ' éflvrc4rVL/.4/5L{7 PL Project Leader 5 Coordinator Date April 17, 1969 Leo D. Lewis Inland Fisheries Supervisor A Checklist of Common and Scientific Names Used In This Report COMMON NAMES " Spotted gar Longnose gar Gizzard shad Carp Plains minnow Red Shiner Fathead minnow Bullhead minnow River carpsucker Blue catfish Channelcatfish Flathead catfish White bass Striped bass Green sunfish OrangeSpotted sunfish Bluegill Longear sunfish Largemouth baSs White crappie Freshwater drum SCIENTIFIC NAMES Lepisosteus oculatus Lepisosteus osseus Dorosoma-cepedianum Cyprinus carpio Hybognathus placita NotrOpis lutrensis Pimephales promelas Pimephales vigilax_ Carpiodes carpio Ictalurus furcatus Ictalurus punctatus Pylodictis olivaris Roccus chrySOps Roccus saxatilis Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis humilis Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis megalotis MicrOpterus salmoides Pomoxis annularis Aplodinotus grunniens