(1967–1968) Segment Completion Report: Region I-D Fisheries Studies, Job No. 2 Pollution Studies

--- Page 3 --- SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT STATE OF Texas PROJECI NO, F-18-R~3 _ NAME _Kegion I-D Fisheries Studies JOB NO. 2 TLiTLe Follution 5tudies —s a a a cS sae PERIOD COVERED ____s«sMarch 1, 1967 to February 28, 1968 ai ais PN ea et ae ee Objectives: General. To investigate instances of pollucion affecting specific fish populations and to report findings to the Water Qval_ty Berard wher remedial acric: ig -2ednd, Specific: ee To determine extent of damage to fish populations. 2. To trace the source of pollution. 3. To determine the nature of the pollution. 4. To delimit saline pollution and its effects on fish populations in the Pecos River below Red Eluff Lake and above the Rio Grande. To report instances of violation and negligence to the State Water Pollution Control Board, Ln Procedures: Pecos River Netted or seined fish were identified in the field where possible. Names of fish used in this report are those accepted by the American Fisheries Society as published in their Special Publication No. 2, 1960, A List of Common and Scientific Names of fishes From the United States and Canada, Second Edition. A checklist of species is included as Appendix A. Standard survey gill nets are 150 feet long when constructed. The meshes begin at i-inch square and progress to 3.5 inches square in 25-foot sections, Large mesh nets are 150 feet long when built and all mesh is 3.5 inches square. --- Page 4 --- The webbing of all nets is 8 feet deep tied down to 6 feet. Nets are constructed so that they sink when set. The lead line follows tortom contours and the floats support the webbing like a fence, Sets are usually made perpendicular to the shoreline in lakes and at ar angle downstream and across in rivers. Dissolved oxygen content was checked in the field using a Kemmerer sampler to extract samples and a Hach kit to make the determinations. Salinity was also determined by both project personnel and the regional chemist, Salinities presented in this report are those determined by the chemist Findings: No fish kills were reported or investigated in 1967, Bicassays All bioassay work was done by Regional Chemist Kenneth Krueger. The first bioassay was done using water from the 16-Mile Lake north of Pecos (Figure 1). The bioassays were conducted using ©~gailon glass jugs. Aeration was provided using a compressor with tubing and air stones, Twelve largemouth bass fry, 15mm in overall length and weighing approximately 0.1 gm., were used in the tests. The fish were fed Daphnia sp. At the conclusion of the experi- ment (duration over 30 days}, 5 of the original 12-largemouth bass were surviving {it was concluded that water of the quality at 16-Mile Lake in April 1967 (A in Figures 2A and 3) was suitable fer the survival and growtn of largemouth bass fry. Bioassay of water from the Blue Ranch (just above Farm Road 17/76, survey site 2 on Figure 1) was positive. Largemouth bass fry survived and grew. The Blue Ranch is the area farthest downstream from Red Bluff which is affected by irrigation releases. Water taken from the "pump hole" collecting site produced only negative results (D on Figures 2A and 3). All fry died or were very weakened within 48 hours, A 50 per cent dilution of water from the pump hole sample was made. Survival in the 50 per cent solution was 109 per cent until the fourth day when all fish died. There was no malfunction of equipment indicated, No other bioassays were done. Fish Population The Pecos River was surveyed with gill nets and seines at 8 sites for this job. The occurrence of species and the percentage composition for larger (nettable) species of fish is showa in Table 1, The other species iisted are small salt-tolerant species which were seined. Game fish are underlined in Table 1 to emphasize areas of occurrence or absence. Large fish taken from the Pecos River from just below Farm Road 1776 to just above Sheffield (Figure 1) were longnose gar, gizzard shad, carp, and Rio Grande perch. --- Page 5 --- ma Figure 1 Red Blu ft Les Ne Ori J Survey Sites <* Stocking Sites j | Water Sample Sites WW) v. 3. Highway @) State Highway (305) Farm or Ranch Road a a wa. Saragossa Balmovhee en ELS, Approx. Scale | Inch equa ¢ 30 Miles PECOS RIVER or WeCamey cw a Sheffield --- Page 6 --- Pecos River pH, 1967 April July — Coo PEER eae Ltt} tT Ne U Vie Saene BUORHE ‘DinvzGEN co. repeat I an a sanibenie Jct 302, | East of Pecos U,S. 80 © West of Grandfalls FM 1776 South of Grandfalls Texas 18| East of'Grandfalls FM ll West of McCamey U.S. 67 South of McCamey FM 30 --- Page 7 --- ahs Figure 2B i a Pecos River pH, 1967 BYGENE DIETIGEN CO. Southeast of Sheffield U.S. 290 as Independence Greek Texas 349. -|.~ . Pecos R, U.S. 90 Devil's R. U.S. $0 --- Page 8 --- abetted LTT TTTITITITITIT IT TTT) 2000000008 CS F CCE errr ttt «Pirure 3 Pecos River Chlorides 1967 Je April Judy Noys PY A a a a a 2 Sa Pooch tect TTT a ptt EEE cece eee CC UG BS SA z CCC Lececernnerr coor Coe EE Pe Coe Fe Git 0 AG CELE co A SRS Qk NA ak FB HH A a cI] COC = A CEE Eee et S22 a CCC a CEE ry RRS S0 SSeS Zec0EBan HEATER PERCE ee a N Oooo RCI 2 4nF 4hne7.1el ae SSSR ee NALLY LEP LLL LCL ALL T 2520000 8 RR ee RZ RON SERGE ER GSS ee ee PES i OO aan CACY COR CCC eer ree cele OS SS ee Coo CORA SRSCRS Gee eee ooo ZT CT Oecd ESC ak a AACN A To 2 CCC may COPE am VPI LISLE cry SSS See ee ee COLL ie cece tt Cee mm a Catto aan8 8 A a EG a A Coon zi q a CEE Eee ed CEE OSC Toe 2 as SO S00 SSSR ee 2 ee 2 aSe558 = = Pe " EER Too a \ a ann | SE RGSS 8 VERS SRS a rT meee ro isi Ree ee ee Rn 4 area Cy Too wee Pe Coo el ch eee To Coo a a oe a SCLC LLL Loe RCA LLL CLC CLEC LC LLee ne enrrry | CCC] COPE SIN SO SScee8e5nu a Soc 0 SCC oh ON eet oa NEE oT SERRE GN CSR ee ee ee 1:000- SN A CLP RELLCLOLLLLIT CITT Tot CROCCO A Soo Cj SS ee CCST ao NSS NSS 2 A a EGR 2GSE ORAS Reese? 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N ; asioypesr Ahead LO°9IN OF OZN F£°ON Zayonsdied IeATY Ni "WN N eiqe}] uP oTxOW 4G SEN 65° OEN 80 7iN €S° OLN £G°6N O0°OOTIN Ge Sen ve EEN Peys psez2ztyo ¥S° BEN OL° VEN 26° GEN L£S°8eN x ze3 asousuo T y99ID———CS~ TTF FOYS Aouegow —-BTOH it eT youey TW ~~ satoadg aouspusdspuy ant eqnoy dung ant =QT x TIATY sodsg syq UO seqTg AsAINS snoTaeA Je BUTIANIIQ YSTy Jo setoads T 9T9PL --- Page 10 --- Water Quality Dissolved oxygen was adequate in ali waters sampled {above 5 ppm) The fluctuations in water quality seen in Figures 2A, 25 and 3 are probably the result of dilution by rainwater Tetal monthiy rainfall figures are listed in Table 2. Comparison of this table with the data in Figures 2A, 25 and 3 will reveal a close coordination between rainfall and water quality Table 2 Total Monthiy Rainfall at Various Sties on the Pecos River Watershed in Inches Jan. Feb. Mar. Aprii May Jone July Asg S-pt Oct Nov. Mentone 0.00 0.00 0,00 0.00 0.00 0.71 0.56 0.00 0.40 0.00 0.58 Pecos 0.00 0.00 0.57 6.96 0.31 1.20 065 0.02 1,70 tr 0.44 Grandfalls 0.00 tr 0.02 0.38 0,00 2.01 0.89 004 0.65 010 0.42 Imperial 0.00 0.00 0.23 6.10 0.52 2.49 0.79 0.22 2.52 0,20 0.00 McCamey 0,00 0.19 0.35 9.40 0.00 0.49 0.06 1,33 270 0.15 0.60 Girvin 0.00 0.12 0.54 0,05 0,00 0.87 0.26 0.44 3.95 0.24 0.00 Sheffield 0.00 0.60 1.14 2.34 0.00 0.33 0.35 1.61 1.78 0.08 0.92 Red Bluff 0.00 0.02 0,22 0.26 0.57 1.60 1.49 0.25 0.98 ctr 0.50 Total C,00 0.5 9 70 & i, 1 20 Nona 9114 88 C.77 3.46 ca fe i] A a ‘] | Fa a t r f f \ ‘ \ i ' i L i t F The pH varied between extremes of 9.1 at U.S. Highway 67 west of McCamey and 7.0 at Texas Highway 18 near Grandfalls (Figure 2A). Chlorides varied from 8,000 milligrams per liter (mg/l) near McCamey on W.U. Highway 67 to 1,000 mg/l at U.S. Highway 80 east of Pecos (Figure 3). The significance of these tables is in the extreme variation in water quality shown. Other dissolved solids varied just as widely and this variation has proved fatal to most species of fish in this area as shown by surveys. Tables 3 through 6 contain detailed analysis of water quality at all stations. Discussion and Conclusions Largemouth bass and channel catfish were stocked in the 16-Mile Lake following the bioassays, Their survival and growth were excellent. The Pecos River above Farm Road 1776 to the Red Eluff Dam is suitable for game fish when irrigation releases maintain water ef sufficiently good quality Red Bluff Lake filled in August 1966 and water quality was excellent for a while. Water quality is becoming poorer as the lake is Lowered, When Red Bluff water quality degrades because of drought, the river water quality declines alsc, Surveys of 16-Mile Lake will be done in the spring of 1968 preceding resumption of irrigation releases in order to evaluate survival of stocked game fish over the winter, No or few irrigation releases are made after September, Sometimes releases are made during the winter from deep-water strata in Red Bluff Reservoir in an attempt to impreve the quality of water in the reservoir and provide space to accommodate any beneficial rainwater. --- Page 11 --- sya sjo syo sjo sjo syo sjo s}9 syo Of Of of Of OT 6 S Ov 09 MOT A 008 009 00EZ OOLE 000% 00S Oost O0ZE 0082 00SZ2 OooT oooT OOLE OOT? 007" O0v4 OOLE 007% 009% O00CE 000g ssoupisey “00S GLY 00st OOEE OO8E 000S 00847 Gé8e OOT? 00ve O04 G¢éL O08e 0096 0096 0029 00SS OOTL O0v7 Oo06T 008T sepTtolyo 00ST cv 0 ELT él 006 87° 0 vival 9 0062 cS 0 79T 0 009 8S°0 aa el OOTL 98°0 O2T cal 0082 85°0 OTT 0¢ 0008 890 8cl 9T OOTS él 0 8cl 0 0096 éL°0 8c1 0 OOEv £9°0 O9T 0 OOET zo 0 80T 0 O0zT 8S°0 O¢T 0 L961 ‘¥ Ttady AqtTpTenh 197e2M APATY sooag y eTIPL OS9T 98 0 éLt 0°O OOTE c/°0 OvT 0°0 OO£E 7L°O 8v1 OT 0004 zi-0 9LT él 009€ 69 0 8yT 8 OS8E GL°0 est 0 00Sé G40 vical 8 S16 8L°0 81 at G/6 98°0 ZET OT Seqzey[NS vussor1I TN wWyY ATY TeIOL “ATV Wd L961 ‘TT ASrtenuer ATTEND 197eM JBATY sooeag € 2T9PL m0 00% 000000 WH OOtSN Mas Ost + a cc 0 0 0 0 0 0 oO SuTSSsOI) 9 TepuRedg 06 SM °2°L 06@ SN °29f ueePIT MOTeEq Ta g UPPIT Je AeATY SOf WH = 79L £9 SM ~39L TT Wa 3 7°L QT sexe] -39Lr O9LLT Wa 79 og Sf °F9L cO€ sexo] “39L 062 Sh “39°F UPPAT JB T9ATY SO€ WA ~29L £9 Sh °39°L TT Wa °4°C ST sexey ©39Lr 9LLT WA °39L og sf °4°L ZOE Wa *39L uotqeIs --- Page 12 --- 00S eleva OOTE OOEE O0vE OOLE OOOT O0Ge OOT? OooT OO0T unTITe9 Ose 09” 07272 OTE 7ST 0 0°8 06 Sfi *39Lr O0TZ O00£Z 0081 00GZ O9T 9) 9 L O6Z Sf “39L OOTE OO9€ OOTE 00% 8Z1 0 G* UPPIJT 2© A9ATY o0vE OOgE ooge 000% cy ZI 0°6 SO€ Wa "32°F OOSE OOLY 000% 00£4 76 ZI 9°8 19 sn *3°9F OO€E OOSE Oo00€ 000% OvT 0 a Il Wa 3°¢ 0067 O0SE 0S6Z 00TS Z6T 0 gL QI SPxOL °3°f OOLZ OOSE 0092 OOvE 88T 9) 9°L 9/1 Wa °2°L¢ 0097 OOOE O0EZ 00LZ ge7 0) 91 og sf °3°Lr OOEL 0007 oor 0081 88 0 0°8 zoe sexe] °29L iyo1e9 ssoupaeq Seaejying Sespraoqyo “WiV 1e3°L WIVqawd Ad ~~ ; woTqeIs L961L ‘OZ I3qUaA0N KATTeENh AAEM T@ATY sooag 9 aTqeL 009 oo€ 00L ZLT 0'0 08 Sutssoig aTepueg 009T 007T 0061 OvT 0°0 o's 06z SM ‘39°F OOSE 00%Z 00” 09T 00 GL ueeIT 7 19ATY oose OOce 000% 09 0°9T 16 GOe WA © 3°L 00LZ O0Ez 008Z 09 0°9T a) 19 Sh ‘3°L 008Z 00SZ 00SZ 08 0's 9°8 Il Wa °30¢ 00ZT 008 OOTT Sz 0°0 wl youey enTg O00£ 0S0z 00z4 8Z1 0°0 0°8 QT sexey, °F 0082 006T 00SZ OzT 0°0 7°8 9LL1 WA *3°L OOTT 006 O00T O71 0°0 gil og sn °39¢ 00ZT 008 OOTT OZT 0°0 8° ZOE sexay °30LF Ssoupiey saqyeying SseprazojtyD "HIV Te30L “ATV 34d H ~ ~ UoTtzeIS L961 “Sz Arne AVTTeNh T9IeM ABATY sooeg G PT9FL --- Page 13 --- The Pecos River below Sheffield is suitable for survival of game fish, The water in the Pecos River south of Farm Road 1776 and north of Sheffield is unsuitable for survival of game fish. Acknowledgements Field work and compilation of tables and figures were accomplished with the able assistance of Technicians Charles Roberts and Joe Vasquéz. Assistance in editing was given by Assistant Project Leader, Ronald R. Anderson, Recommendations No fish should be stocked in the area between Farm Road 1776 and just above Sheffield. Efforts should be directed toward improving the quality of water in the entire Pecos River, whenever the opportunity arises, \ Ya plan Prepared by George G. Henderson, Jr. Approved by Bapcove A Project Leader Coordinator Leo D. Lewis Inland Fisheries Supervisor Date March 18, 1968 --- Page 14 --- COMMON NAME Longnose gar Gizzard. shad Mexican tetra River carpsucker Gray redhorse Carp Blacktail shiner Red shiner Proserpine shiner Sand shiner Roundnose minnow Bullhead minnow Channel catfish Flathead catfish Rainwater killifish Rio Grande killifish Plains killifish Pecos River pupfish Mosquitofish Tidewater silverside Largemouth bass Green sunfish Bluegill Longear sunfish Rio Grande perch -]?- Appendix A Checklist of Species SCIENTIFIC NAME Lepisosteus osseus Dorosoma cepedianum Astyanax mexicanus Carpiodes carpio Moxostoma congestum Cyprinus carpio Notropis venustus Notropis lutrensis Notropis proserpinus Notropis stramineus Dionda episcopa Pimephales vigilax Ictalurus punctatus Pylodictis olivaris Lucania parva Fundulus zebrinus Fundulus kansae Cyprinodon sp. Gambusia sp. Micropterus salmoides Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis megalotis Cichlasoma cyanogutattum