TPWD 1956 F-7-R-4 #207: Basic Survey and Inventory of Species Present as well as Their Distribution in the Salt Fork of the Red River, its Tributaries and Watershed Lying within Collingsworth,

JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of TEXAS Project No. FwT-Ruh Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the waters of of Region l-B. Job No. B-l2 Title: Basic Survey and Inventory of Species Presentz as well as Their Distribution in the Salt Fork of the Red River, its Tributaries and watershed L ng within Collings— worthz lenley and Armstrong Countiesz Texas. Period Covered: June 12 1956 through may 31, 1957. ABSTRACT Twenty-eight seine collections produced a total of 9,997 specimens for study. Eighteen species, representing 5 families of freshwater fiSh were found to occur. The Salt Fork of the Red River in Texas is valueless for game fish at the present time. It is often dry and alwaysixx3shallow to maintain a game fish populatisn. The water qual- ity is good. If plans to construct a dsn.on the river near Whitefish Creek materialize, the new lake should be very productive and the fishing excellent. OBJECTIVES To gather fundamental data on the above waters in regard to their physical, chemical and biological aspects. To determine the distribution of the fish species pre- sent, their relative abundance and the ecological factors influencing their distribution. AOKNOWLEDGMENTS Dr. Walter Dalquest, whose employment with the Texas Game and Fish Commission terminated in October, 1956, set up the original stations, conducted all of the laborau tory work and most of the field work on this job for the first 5 months. Since that time, Dr. Dalquest has helped with some phases of work conducted in Region l-B, and has checked the manuscript of this report. Grateful acknowledgment is also expressed to Dr. Carl Gray, Soils Scientist of Midwestern University and Wichita County'Water Improvement Districts, for‘making- the numerous water analyses during this study. late on water volume were obtained from.Mr. John Jeerns, United States Geological Survey, water Resources Branch, Wichita Falls. TECHNIQUES Sanple stations were established at three points along the length of the Salt Fork of the Red River. Ten collections were made at each sample station during the study. At each station, chemical and physical data concerning the water were taken, and seine samples of the fishes present were preserved in formalin for laboratory examina- tion and identifications. Since an adequate picture of the fish pepulation at all points along the river could be determined by seining, no gill nets or fish toxicants were used. There are no important permanent-flowing tributaries of the Salt Fork; however, basic survey collections were taken from two of its tributaries, at a time when water was present. On several occasions, data could not be obtained from some stations because freezing conditions prevented seining or because the river was dry. PRESICAL CHARACTERISTICS _ The Salt Fork of the Red River is a small stream, both in volume of flow and in length. Its total length in Texas is less than 100 miles. After leaving Texas, it flows approximately 70 miles across the southwestern corner of Oklahoma befOre empty— ing into the Red River at a point west of highway 283 in Jackson County, Oklahoma. It originates in-the approximate center of Armstrong County and flows eastwardly across Donlcy and Collingsworth Counties before-entering the State of Oklahoma at a point approximately 15 miles west of Wellington, Texas. The Salt Fork has cut through the Early Pliocene rocks (the type locality and.most typical exposures of the classic "Clarendon Formation“ and its mammalian faunas, are located here) to expose early Permian sediments of the Double Mbuntain group. The Permian silts, sandstones and mineral deposits make up the bed of the river while the Pliocene clays and sandstones are found back from the river bed. Drift sands, largely reworked from Pliocene deposits of the High Plains, conceal much of the river valley in some places. The bed of the Salt Fork is braided send, but quite firm, in marked contrast to the quick sands of the Canadian River, to the north. (F—T-Re2, JObs A-1 and B-5). Although the drainage area is considerable (1,222 square miles at the Wellington sta- tion), stream flow is highly irregular. At times during the past project year, there was no surface flow of water in most of the river. Zhuring heavy rains, the stream became a raging torrent, washing out bridges and carrying away heavy concrete pilings. Normally the Salt Fork is shallow (less than 1 foot) with only an occasional, washed- out pool deeper than 3 feet. On occasions, when the river was dry, collections were confined to pools that were isolated by the shifting channel and fed by subsurface flow. The'U. S. Geological Survey discontinued its station on the Salt Fork in October, 1956: Therefore, stream flow and runwoff data are not available for the period of this survey. Data is available for the monthly and annual mean discharge and the monthly)and annual run-off at Wellington Station from 1952 to October, 1956. (See Tables 1 and 2 . DESCRIPTION OF SAMPLE STATIONS ,,__ DIQH STATIOE. Located approximately 5 miles north of Clarendon at the Highway 70 crossing, this is the uppermost of our collecting stations. Although, at times, there was no visable stream flow, water was present during each visit, either as a swift flowing, shallow stream, or in an isolated pool fed by subsurface flow. The valley is broad (approximately 3/h mile), and out well down into Permian rocks. The predominant sediments are red silts and sandstones, with gypsum.stringers protruding from cliffs along the banks. WELLINGTON STATION. Located 8 miles north of wellington on Highway 83, this is an intermediate, permanent station. The valley here is relatively broad, with low cliffs of hard shale and considerable exposed gypsum. The water is shallow and swift ovrr a clear, clean gravelmandwsand bottom. Unlike the other two permanent stations, this intermediate station had a continuous stream flow.during each visit. Also, unlike the other two stations, there were deeper pools along the running stream caused by sol- ution cavities in the rock of the stream bed and the fall of water over concrete pilings that had washed downstream in previous floods. These pools provided our largest and most varied fish collections. OKLAHOMA LINE STATION. This station is located 12 miles west of Wellington and about 2 miles east of the Oklahoma line. The valley here is broad, and the river has cut a channel between gypsum and shale banks to a depth of about 50 feet. The river varies from a width of 10 feet and a depth of 2 feet to 100 feet wide and h inches deep. The stream bed is braided and.mnch of its discharge is apparently carried in underground flow. On two occasions during the survey, the river was completely dry here, and not even an isolated pool could be found from which to collect a water sample. DESCRIPTION OF BASIC SURVEY SAMPLE STATIONS HEDLEY STATION. This was not a regular sampling station because of its inaccessibility. In order to sample the river here, it was necessary to walk and carry survey equipment at least 3/h mile. Consideration was given to this station because it is located at the confluence of the river and Whitefish Creek, and is the prOposed site of the Whitefish Creek was. The intermediate location of this station, between Clarendon and Wellington stations, would have made it very desirable as a monthly sampling station had it been more accessible. The river here is a braided stream with a broad, sandy flood plain, about 1 mile wide. FlOod debris clinging to salt cedars in the wide, flat valley is indicative of the size of the river and the heavy loads carried during periods of heavy rainfall. The river was sampled approximately l2 miles north of Hadley between its confluence with Whitefish Creek and the old.RbLean "river crossing". ' WHITEFISH CREEK STATION. According to local residents, this creek is not a permanently flowing stream. When sampled after recent heavy_rains, however, it had considerable stream flow and contained a fish population similar to that of the river. In appearance, it was similar to the river, but much smaller. Apparently, this creek will contribute much water to the proposed lake and its valley will constitute a large compone ent of the lake. EAST LELIA LAKE CREEK. This creek emerges from.a canyon to the south and flows northward to the Salt Fork. It was sampled at the Highway 287 crossing, approxm imately 10 miles from its confluence with the river. It was turbid (80mm.) but deep and cool. The bottom was sand and mud, and native vegetation was abundant along the banks. At the time of sampling, there was very little stream flow with only a trickle 6 inches wide and l inch deep connecting deep pools. Sunfishes, bullhead catfish and minnows were abundant. CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER The chemical nature of water at the sample stations is given in Table 3. Accord” ing to the analyses, the water quality of the Salt Fork and its tributaries is good and the river should support all Species of the native fresh water fish species.. No indust~ rial or municipal waste was found to enter the stream. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER Physical conditions at sample stations are shown in Table A. 'Water tempera- tures during the survey period varied from.freezing to 93 degrees F. In January, the river was frozen over solid, even in its swiftest parts. The clarity and shallowness of the water accounts fer*high summer temperatures. Except in periods of rainfall, the water in the Salt Fork of the Red River is clear. For the purpose of this survey, turbidity was measured with a sichi disk. measurements were made in deepest water feund at the station. Normally, the disk was clearly visible on the bottom, in which case the turbidity was recorded as the depth cf the water "plus". AQUATIC VEGETATIOE Except for the occurrence of green algae along the banks, there is no aquatic vegetation in the Salt Fork. Chara and algae were found in a few isolated pools near Clarendon Station. ' FISH COLLECTIONS A total of 18 species, representing 5 families of freshwwater fish, was taken from.the Salt Fork of the Red River during the segment period. monthly variations in species and numbers of fishes taken at each of the sample stations are given in Tables 5, 6, and T. The total numbers of fishes taken at all of the permanent sample sta— tions along the river is given in Table 8. Stations on two tributaries of the Salt Fork and one additional station on the river were worked during who segment. Table 9 shows fishes taken at these extra, basic survey stations. There were 9,81l specimens collected from the three permanent sampling sta- tions, and each station contributed approximately equal numbers of fish during the one year segment period. Two species were taken at the extra survey stations that did not occur at the permanent stations. A single Notemigonus cgysoleucaS'was taken at Whitefish Creek Station and an Ictalurus punctatua was taken at Hadley Station. Since both of these stations were worked on the same day, and just after locally heavy rains, 'it is assumed that these Species were migrants from over-flowing watershed lakes and were not included in the checklist of fishes naturally occurring in the Salt Fork. Family Oatostomidae Suckers Carpiodes cagpio: river carpsucker. This is the only member of the sucker family collected during the survey. The species was taken at Wellington Station in April, 1957. Family Cyprinidae Minnows prfl nus cagpio. carp. Only one carp was collected. It was taken at Okla— hona.Line Station in June, 1956. Notemigonus cgysoleucas. golden shiner. A single Specimen was taken in Whitefish Creek following locally heavy rains. It may washed out of a watershed pond. HybOpsis aestivalis: Speckled chub. A total of 12 specimens was taken from two stations. The species was not found at Clarendon Station. It seems to prefer swiftly running water and probably did not occur at this station because the surface flow is not continuous. NotrOpis potteri: chub shiner. Although 58 specimens were taken, this Species is of erratic occurrence in the Salt Fork. It was absent from.Wellington Station, taken only in June at Clarendon Station, and in June, 1956 and May, 1956 at the Oklahoma Line Station. Notropis bairdi: Red River Shiner. This is one of the most abundant species in the Salt Fork. It was represented at all 3 stations, as well as the Hendley and Whitefish Creek stations and comprised 18.h6% of total collections. NotrOpis lutrensis: redhorse shiner. This is one of the most numerous and widely distributed species in the Salt Fork system. It was present at all stations and in every collection except the February, 1956, collection from Clarendon. gybognathus placita: plains minnow. This species is very abundant. It was found at all but the Lelia Lake Creek Station, and comprises 17.39% of the total collections. Pimephales promelas: fathead minnow. A total of he specimens was taken from the three permanent stations together and #2 others were found in the Lelia Lake Creek collection. Family Ameiuridae Freshwater catfishes Ictalurus punctatus: channel catfish. One specimen was taken at Hadley Sta- tion after locally heavy rains, and may have washed out of a.watershed lake. Ictalurus moles: black bullhead. Although not numerous (.h2% of the total), this species is widely distributed. It was found at all stations, including the extra survey stations, with the exception of Oklahoma Line Station. Family Cyprinodontidae Killifishes and topminnows Fundulus kansae: plains killifish. Comprising 43.59% of the total collections, this species is the most abundant and widely distributed of all fish in the Salt Fork system. It was represented at every collection at all stations during the segment. Cyprinodon rubrofluviatilis: Red River pupfish. Although not abundant, this species is well distributed. It comprises only 1.8% of the total, but it was represented at all of the permanent stations. Family Poeciliidae Gambusia affinis: common mosquitofish. A total of only h specimens was taken during the segment, at Clarendon and Wellington Stations. Family Centrarchidae Lepomis cyanellus: green sunfish. This species is not abundant, but was represented at 5 of the 6 stations. It was not found at Hadley Station. Lepgmis microlophus: redear sunfish. Only 3 specimens were taken, all at Wellington Station in December, 1956. Lepgmis humilis: orangespotted sunfish. A total of 11 specimens was taken at Clarendon and'Wellington Stations. Lepomis.megalotis: longear sunfish. Only one specimen was taken during the segment. It was collected‘at Oklahoma line Station in October, 1956. CONCLUSIONS The Salt Fork of the Red River, or at least that part of the Salt Fork that lies in Texas, is valueless for game fishes at the present time. Quite often the river bed is completely dry or with only small isolated pools to support fish life. Even when surface flow is present, it is too shallow to maintain a game fish population. At times, there are concentrations of bait minnows large enough for commercial bait sein~ ing, and tracks along the river indicate that the river is utilized for that purpose to some extent. If plans to construct the Whitefish Creek Dam.uaterialize, fishing in the new lake should be excellent. There were no rough fish species found above the proposed dam site, and only 2 specimens of rough fishes were found in the river below the dam site. All information that was obtained during this survey indicates that the new lake will be very productive. Prepared by: Leo D. Lewis Approved by: 2gw \z/ W Project Leader Chief Aquatic Biologist Date: July 262 1.957 4. amUHc H. zosewww mum bbbfihp aces Uwecuseme we aeHHMnmeOD meadwou. Awespbemc sweet Hemmm enemas sHHcm ow afieow mom meshes BHHem Hm deodeepw commendewusdwbmv Mean ooeodcw Zo<esecw ueocsece msbswww newswmew swear bwwwH gag Hebe mspw beamed mewdcsvce bsnsmw Home _ _ . s.eu F.cc m.HH waw :.om He.m Ho.m mrhxv Hw.e He.p. m4.w m.mm H.4m :mm re.m m.mw mw.w Hem: «m.m He.m mo.m m:.m Hw.m m.o: we.m mrm arm m.mo rm.m r.mw Hmo Heme m.He m.o: m.mo H:.H H<.: m.mq r.wm wen mmm wmm. m.mw w,m: .4m.e Hemm pom n.mm Hm.m He.w Hm.m w.mm ;.m: wen :.ee HH.m H.w: H.:m :w.e Hoes" bHH Qweowmsmc He enmesaem we osewo weed was meoosm. asch m. zowewww mam bbbmmH wcbuoww we zeHHHbmdos mdm&H0b. Ausswnmmc chm» H mmm masses BHHcm ow.awHow mom masses BHHcm we wHoveeHw bosoouedwdsewsmv. Meme ooeovcw .204. was. new. new. zewow bpeww new gene gus bum. mete. bbsseP Home _ Hmo mm Hmm Hmmw _. mmo Hugo mom mmw «J 550 fame. mm: How mmcmmo wcoro my? 5.30 n Hem: :.:mo p.o:o Hcmmo scmwo awn For m.wwo ww.w:o wmcpwo pom m.mpo who mmcmeo Heme www wee wee mad mam wm: mew Hecwoo ww.roo mcooo ewe men mncpro seem m.mmo :ww H.Hmo H.Hmo H.H:o wmo mmm me.wmo mew new mm mm ww.woo aces“ >HH assuoww He semesdca H5 eons wees. " le 3. Chemical Nature of the Water at the Sample Stations. T6ta1 Date Calcium Sodium Chloride Sulfate Carbonates Bicarbonates Salts pH CLARENDON'STATION 6/15/56 122 160 11k 332 18 1&6 892 8/17/56 12A 115 160 192 0 225 836 7.70 9/28/56 176 132 284 88 0 282 962 7.90 10/21/56 132 78 13h 206 30 178 758 7.95 1/7/57 108 59 66 125 0 210 568 8.10 3/12/57 8% 57 75 1th . 0 102 #62 8.08 h/9/57 76 51 5h 8% 9 90 36h 8.20 5/22/57 10k #3 33 173 18 122 A93 8.20 WELLINGTON STATION 6/15/56 816 150 195 1875 0 165 3201 8/17/56 588 17h 213 1358 0 160 2u93 7.60 9/22/56 788 165 28h 1732 0 1&8 3117 7.90 10/21/56 800 165 #00 1565 0 198 3128 7.70 1/7/57 7&8 150 213 1666 0 192 2969 8.10 2/18/57 622 153 231 1240 6 60 251a 7.69 . 2/57 680 159 229 1570 6 68 2732 7.69 t/9/57 698 163 195 1690 0 82 2830 7.80 5/22/57 350 183 227 670 0 200 1592 7.68 OKLAHOMA LINE STATION 6/15/56 _808 176 223 1920 0 116 3223 8/17/56 Dry 9/2h/56 Dry 10/21/56 7H2 187 351 1555 18 138 2991 7.90 1/7/57 80% 171 231 1857 0 1th 3207 8.70 1/17/57 112A 237 3&7 2592 12 120 #452 8.00 2/18/57 666 171 266 1570 0 36 2709 7.65 3/12/57 696 19A 291 1618 0 6t 2863 7.80 h/9/57 702 193 229 1618 9 150 2921 7.97 5/22/57 350 130 16A_ 758 12 138 1552 8.05 HEDLEY STATION 5/22/57 396 15k 295 768 12 116 1320 7.97 WHITEFISH CREEK STATION 5/22/57 #00 143 227 835 12 122 1739 8.05 EAST LELIA LAKE CREEK 6/15/56 118 53 39 155 12 213 590 10. Table A. Physical Conditions at the Sample Stations. Date Air Temp. Water Temp. Turbidity Gan.) OKLAHOMA STATION 6/15/56 86 86 100 8/17/56 Dry 9/24/56 Dry 10/21-56 70 68 310 plus 12/6/56 6A 52 300 plus 1/17/57 33 32 Frozen over solid 2/18/57 A8 A5 500 plus 3/12/57 72 61 385 plus 1+/9/57 55 61 350 plus 5/22/57 80 78 50 WELLINGTON STATION 6/15/56 86 86 13 8/17/56 100 93 A50 9/2h/56 99 89 A00 plus 10/21/56 75 73 260 plus 12/6/56 62 53 1000 plus l/l7/57 3A 33 300 plus 2/18/57 A9 A7 1000 plus 3/12/57 79 68 650 plus ”/9/57 57 65 550 plus 5/22/57 82 79 50 CLANNNBON STATION 6/15/56 80 75 200 plus 8/17/56 100 82 225 _ 9/2h/56 8A 80 300 plus 10/21/56 75 75 120 plus 12/6/56 62 53 250 plus l/17/57 37 33 Frozen over solid 2/18/57 AA A5 95 3/12/57 76 62 A0 plus — clear A/9/57 65 6A 750 plus 5/22/57 78 76 200 Easter STATION 5/22/57 71 82 7o WHITEFISH CREEK STATION 5/22/57 88 85 80 EAST LELIA LAKE cm 6/15/56 88 79 8o