Inventory of Fish Species in the Brazos River and Tributaries between Possum Kingdom Lake and Lake Whitney, Texas, 1953–1954

--- Page 1 --- BA Zos Ki VER. STATE Texas PROJECT NO. F-4-R-1, Job B- PERIOD June 1, 195u - May 31, 1954 Job Completion Report by Leonard D, Lamb Project Leader Robert N. Hambric Assistant Project Leader TITLE Inventory of species present in those portions of the Brazos River and tributaries lying between Possum Kingdom Lake and Lake Whitney and in- cluded in the following counties; Palo Pinto, Parker, Hood, Somervell and Johnson. OBJECTIVES To determine the distribution of species present, their relative abundance and the factors influencing their distribution. METHODS Seine stations were astablished on the Brazos and tributaries be- tween Possum Kingdom and Lake Whitney and were visited when water conditions would permit. (Figure 1). Specimens collected were preserved in 10% formalin and transport- ed to the laboratory for identification and tabulation. These specimens have been retained for further and more detailed study should time and per- sonnel permit. Lack of chemical equipment until the last few weeks of the pro- ject period prevented the determination of data pertaining to the dissolved gases present in the water. RESULTS The collections from the Brazos River watershed total 882 speci- mens, representing 18 species, 12 genera and 7 families. (Table 1) The plains red shiner (Notropis lutrensis) was most abundant in the collections (58.28%), followed by blacktail shiner, (Notropis venustus (16.67%), bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), 8.05%, river carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio) £.44% and black stripe topminnow (Fundulus notatus) 3.51% in that order. The remaining 13 species make up a total of 8.05% of the collection. (Table 2.) This watershed is situated in both the West Cross Timbers and the Grand Prairie ecological regions but there is little difference in the type of vegetation and land use in these separate areas. The streams are largely sand and gravel bottomed with variable banks that may be shallow and sloping at one point and change abruptly to a sheer faced rock cliff many feet in height. The runoff is rapid and drouth conditions for the past three years --- Page 2 --- a. ha® kept the stream flow to a minimum in all but the Brazos where the oper- ation of the hydro-electric generators in the Possum Kingdom Dam produce a variable flow. This flow may almost fluctuate from flood stage to practi- cally no flow, depending upon the power production needs. The uncertainty of flow on the Brazos, together with the almost total absence of water in the tributary streams during the greater part of the project period made collections rather inadequate. The rains of April and May provided water for the tributaries but also filled Possum Kingdom Lake to a point where constant release of water prevented collections except in the backwater on the edge of the river. The collections show a slight difference between the ecological regions. The species collected only from the West Cross Timbers were small- mouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus) and ribbon shiner (Notropis fumeus) while those collected only from the Grand Prairie were: river carpsucker (Carp- iodes carpio), Texas gray redhorse (Moxostoma congestum), palid shiner (Notropis amnis), silvery minnow (Hybognathus nuchalis), yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) and longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis). The difference in species may be due to the inability to obtain an adequate sample because of water conditions. The locations from the Grand Prairie region were made in three tributary streams: Squaw Creek, Paluxy River and Fall Creek. There were no collections made from the Brazos River in this area because of the swift current and the absence of backwater. The collections from the West Cross Timbers Region were made in the backwater pools on the Brazos River since there was no water in the tributaries that could be reached. The use of rotenone was considered to be impractical since there are no accessible pools and it was considered unwise to attempt this method in a stream with considerable flow. Data collected from a representative station is included in the following data sheet and is typical of the data col_ected from all the stations. SUMMARY 1. Collections were established on the Brazos River and tributar- ies between Possum Kingdom Lake and Lake Whitney for the purpose of coliec- ting date regarding the species present. 2. A total of 822 specimens representing 18 species, 12 genera and 7 families were collected. 3. Five gpecies made up 91.95% of the total collection. They were: plains red shiner (5%.28%), blacktail shiner (16.67%), bluegill sunfish (8.05%), river carpsucker (5.44%) and blackstripe topminnow (3.51%). 4, This watershed is located in two ecological regions. The upper part is in the West Cross Timbers and the lower portion is in the Grand Prairie. There is little difference in the vegetation types and type of land use found in the two regions. 5. Drouth conditions plus the uncertainty of releases of water from the dam at Possum Kingdom Lake prevent adequate sampling of the watershed and cause variations in type of collections made. --- Page 3 --- FISH CARD Coll. No. BSs5 Locality: Brazos - Sta. 2 Date: 5-28-53 Collector: Lamb Time: 2:30 PM - 3:40 PM Deseription Shoreline: Sandy and sloping on north side - steep and rocky on north Bottom: Sandy with gravel and rock in pools Cover: Little other than salt cedar and some grass on margins Weather: - Present - Clear and hot Preceeding: Partly cloudy. Water temperature: Color: Surface: 76°F Turbidity; none Bottom: ‘760F Vegetation Submerged: a very snall amount of algae. Floating: One small patch of pondweed observed. Emerged: Salt cedar, black willow and button willow fairly abundant Predators: Snakes, soft-shelled turtles, snapping turtles and gar observed in backwater pool in Dark Valley Creek just above mouth. Parasites and Disease; None observed, Tackle Used: Bag seine Length: 30 ft. Depth: 8 ft. Mesh: z" No. of Hauls: 4 Length of Hauls: Average 40 ft. Species Taken Dorosoma cepedianum 3] Notropis fumeus 2 Notropis lutrensis 213 Ceratichthys sp. 3 Fundulus notatus 1 Gambusia affinis h Lepomis macrochirus 3 --- Page 4 --- Table 1. <A Check List of the Fishes Collected from the Brazos Watershed. Scientific Name Dorosoma cepedianum Ietiobus bubalus Carpiodes carpio Moxostoma congestum Notropis Pumeus Notropis amnis Notropis venustus Notropis lutrensis Hybognathus nuchalis Ceratichthys sp. Ameiurus natalis Pundulus notatus Gambusia affinis Hileropterus salmoides Lepouis eyanellus Lepomis punctatus Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis megalotis Common Name Gizzard Shad Smallmouth Buffalo River Carpsucker Texas Gray Redhorse Ribbon shiner Pallid Shiner Blacktail Shiner Plains Red Shiner Silvery Minnow Yellow bullhead Blackstripe Topminnow Common mosquitofish Largemouth Black Bass Green Sunfish Spotted sunfish Bluegill Sunfish Longear Sunfish --- Page 5 --- Table 2. Results of Seine Collections on Brazos River Watershed. Species Squaw Paluxy Fall Brazos at Brazos at No. % Creek Creek Creek Palo Pinto Dark Vall. Dorosoma cepedianum HE 3 5 9 1.02 Ictiobus bubalus 1 1 sil Carpiodes carpio 43 5 h8 5.44 Moxostoma congestum i): 1 sb Notropis fumeus 2 2 +23 Notropis amnis 16 16: 4.61 Notropis venustus 93 10 ho HY 147 16.67 Notropis lutrensis 102 189 5 5% 213 514 58.28 Hybognathus nuchalis 1 1 idk: Ceratichthys sp. \ 1 i 3 9 1.02 Ameiurus natalis 1 1 Pil Fundulus notatus 21 1 8 1 31 3.51 Gambusia affinis 1 a2 4 6 ©.68 Micropterus salmoides 1 ne wld Lepomis cyanellus 6 1 7 «719 Lepomis punctatus 2 2 623 Lepomis macrochirus ho 20 3 3 3 71. 8.05 Lepomis megalotis 6 9 15 1.70 Totals 272 289 71 14 236 882 99.98 --- Page 6 --- FIGURE 1. A Map of the Watershed of the Brazos River Showing the Seine Stations where Collections were made, eee ioe | Jack | | ¥ a —— | ! | | ste rheas| , if Farker | ale fnto i . AHS | AC eo ie | go” i “s a a Eyath Hooda | JoAnseon | j Eas? 2 \ oi Taal $ | | Eastland # } % ; oy : Some tt \ ‘A { \ a i. ’ \ \ \ “N \ X \ > Ne \ v _? ow ¥,