(1954–1955) Job Completion Report: A Basic Survey of, and Inventory of Species in, the Big Wichita River and its Watershed in North-Central Texas

--- Page 1 --- W 1c bj 7 Ki vee, Big . . STATE ‘Texas” be PROJECT NO, FeT=Rae, Jobs Eae and Bo PERIOD June Cs Toth: tO May 31, 1955 JOB COMPLETION REPORT Leo D. Lewis and Walter W. Dalquest TITLE A basic survey of, and inventory of species in, the Big Wichita River and its watershed in northecentral Texas, lying in the following coutiass Cottle, King, Foard, Knox, Wilbarger, Baylor, Wichita, Archer and Clay. OBJECTIVES To gather fundamental data on the above waters in regard to their physical, chemical and biological aspects, and to determine the species of fishes present im them, as well as the relative abundance and ecological factors influencing the distribution of such fishes. SCOPE The antire length of the Big Wichita River is included in the present study, from the uppermost headwaters to its confluence with the Red River of Okishoma. Excluded are the three major impoundments, Lake Kemp, Lake Diversion and Lake Wichita, of the river or its tributaries, The fisheries. biology of these three bodies of water has been discussed elsewhere (Completion Reports » PoleRel, jobs Bel, B=a2, and Fe7=R=2, Job Be7). TECHNIQUES A general survey of the river was carried out by traveling along the river as closely as possible, by walking in the upper parts, by car when possible 9 and by flatebottomed skiff in the lower parts. At irregular intervals along the wiver, samples of fishes and water were taken. Samples of fishes and water ware also taken at every tributary stream or spring. If the tributary had rreeeenaah yolume, a sample of water was taken in the river above the mouth of tributary, a sample of the tributary, and a sample of the river at the first pids downstream from the tributary, where waters of river and tributary were oughly mixed, This spotesampling gave us an overall, areal picture of the 1 xy of the river as it changed by increased salts or was diluted by the “4 vputane 85, and a qualitative inventory of the fishes of the various parts of the wivrar sys tem. A 7 uantitative and seasonal inventory was made by establishing nine permanent, collecting stations on the river, between the headwaters and the mouth : LVEIy and visiting these monthiy to take samples of fishes and water. amples showed seasonal changes in water quality, relative abundance and shengee in the populations of fishes at the various stations, and also abet migrations from upstream or downstream. --- Page 2 --- O, 5 Samples of the smaller fishes were taken in minnoweseines and preserved in a formalin solution. Identifications and counts were made in the laboratory. Larger fishes were taken in gill nets, coarssemeshed seines, hoop nets or by hookeandeline fishing. The larger fishes were weighed and measured in the field. Stomach contents and ripe ovaries were saved for laboratory examination, and careful notes were kept of spawning, pathological conditions, ete. This data is given elsewhere (Completion Report, Pe7-Re2, Job Beli). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We wish te thank Dr. Carl Gray, Soils Scientist of Midwestern University and the Wichita Coumty Water Improvement Districts, for making the many detailed water analyses listed in this report. Mr. Fred Parkey, General Manager of the Water Improvement Districts, furnished access to all data in his files and cooperated in other ways. Mr. John Joerms, United States Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, furnished the information on water flow. INTRODUCTION The Wichita River is the major stream draining northecentral Texas. This honor would belong to the Red River were it not that, politically, the Red River where it, forms the common boundary between Texas and Oklahoma lies in Oklahoma. The Wichita River is the largest tributary of the Red River in Texas, Unlike most Texas streams, that drain southward or southeastward to the Gulf of Mexico, une Wichita River runs northeastward to the Red, and the Red River flows eastward along the Texas-Okiahoma boundary, and into Arkansas and Lowisiana before tuming southward. Though the Wichita River and some parts of the Brazos and Trinity wivers are, at their headwaters, quite close together, the Wichita follows a widely divergent course to the Gulf of Mexico. The Wichita is not a large river, its straighteline length from permanent flowing headwaters to its confluence with the Red being only about 165 miles. Nevertheless it drains more than ),000 square miles of northecentral Texas and, located along the river or its tributaries, are three of the moderately Lave impoundments found in northern Texas. Geologically the entire Wichita River drainage area lies within the Red Beds of the Texas Permian, These are largely marine and delta sediments of sandstone, shale, dolomite, limestone, gypsum, salt and conglomerate. Locally there are small beds and Jenses of Pleistocene sand and conglomerates, Largely sonsis ting of reworked Cretaceous materials. Except where removed by erosion, ne older rocks and sediments are covered with a thin layer of Quatemary sposits, partly derived from disintegration of mderlying rocks and partly of olian opigine The Permian gsology is especially important in a study of the ey of the Wichita River, for the vast bulk of the solids, both dissolved and suspended as weil as bottom materials, are of Permian origin. The salts, especially sodium chloride and caleium sulfate, so important to the ecology of the wiver, its water, and the surrounding land, are Permian. The relative hardness of the successive strata of Permian rocks and the srosional history of the area have determined the geography of the Wichita RL Near the headwaters of the river the land is extremely rough and broken. The wiver flows in narrow canyons, bordered by high cliffs, The land is typified by sxpossd rock, steep hills, deep gulleys and almost no level Landy pt for the floodplains of the river. Farther eastward the land is level to ° ntiy polling and the river has a broad valley, many miles in width. --- Page 3 --- 7 5 The Land form has determined the nature of the river. Near the headwaters the streams ars swift and crystaleclear, descending over beds of rock, sand or gravel in a series of rapids separated by deep pools. Farther downstream the wiver bed becomes braided sand and quicksand wmtil it enters Lake Kemp. The xiver between Lake Kemp and Lake Diversion is dependent for flow on the release of water from the floodgates of the Lake Kemp Dam. When the gates are closed, as they are during much of the year, the river is but an inch or so deep over a mid or sandyemud bottom. Below Lake Diversion, the river becomes a mature stream, turbid, slow and deep, flowing over a sand or mud bottom in a series of wide meanders » The entire Big Wichita River drainage lies within the Mesquite Plains Biotic District, as defined by Blain (1950). However, there are striking changes in vegetation type as one follows the length of the river. Near the headwaters, in Cottle, King, Foard and Knox counties, the cedar forms the dominant vegetation of the uplands and the area is usually termed the "Cedar Brakes." Further east, away from the desicated canyons and rocky bluffs, where the ground is more level, the mesquite is dominant. Dowstream from Lake Diversion the uplands are still covered with mesquite but broad-leafed trees, bramble thickets and vines occur in the river valley. Still farther downstream, between Wichita Falls and the mouth of the river, the mesquite gives way to grassy prairie and_the broad river valley is forested with oaks and elms and has a typical, thomy, mderstory vegetatione The land immediately adjacent to the river is a sandy floodplain from the headwaters almost to Wichita Falls. In this sandy soil the salt cedar is the most prominent plante East of Wichita Falls, where the banks are more muddy, a Sandy=Loam, streamside vegetation consists of cottonwoods and willows that grow almost to the water's edge. The most striking feature of the Big Wichita River is the burden of dissolved salts carried by its waters. The water is far too salty for human consumption. This dissolved salt is the major factor affecting agriculture in the Wichita Valley and offers enormous problems to irrigation engineers and ehemists, The problems of fisheries management are no less challemging. Nearly s third of the length of the river is unsuited to freshewater game fishes because of excessive salt. Game fishes do live, often in abundance, in the lower twoethirds of the river and the impoundment lakes, but they are adversely affected oy the salt. The salt may permit saltet olerant species of rough fishes, such as thegizsard shad, to become abundant at the expense of the sports species, Local inersasss in salt concentration, at critical times, result in the death of great numbers of black bass and other game species, When the natural salts are augmented Lts from oilewell waste water, the sports fisheries is seriously menaced. Tn the following pages we have attempted to summarize the results of our nsive investigations of the past year. Because dissolved salts so greatly » the fish population as well as the aquatic biology of the river, we have sized the chemistry of the water and viewed the fish populations against 4 kground of salinity. bag BASIC SURVEY OF THE BIG WICHITA RIVER Throughout its length, from sources in the cedar brakes and dessicated asext hills to Lts mouth in the post oak forest of Clay County, the Big Wichita ; constantly and greatly, physically, chemically and biologically. sunvenience we have referred to three general divisions of the river, each rated geographically by artifical dams. These are: (1), the upper river, including headwater streams and tributaries, domstream to Lake Kemps; (2), the --- Page 4 --- \ .< river, between Lake Kemp and Lake Diversions (3), the lower river, below = Lake Diversion Dame In the upper river the stream gradient is high. The river and its major outaries flow through deep valleys or steepecliffed canyons, The stream beds sist of sand, gravel or solid rock. The streams are shallow and swift, and in many places consist of deep, broad pools separated by rapids or waterfalls, Salinity is generally very high, but each tributary stream and large spring entering the major streams either dilutes or increases the salt concentration so the streams differ chemically from mile to mile, Except for a few sweet water headwater springs and pools, the upper river is devoid of game fishes, or of any fishes of large size. Small fishes of the "minnow type abound in this part of the river, where they have no predatory fishes to.contend withs The middle river is dependent on human agency for its volume. Lake Kemp, at the upper end of the middle river, is a storage reservoir for Lake Diversion. When water is wanted in Lake Diversion a considerable flow is maintained in the viver. At other times the middle river is almost drye In spite of the irregularity of flow, however, the middle river supports numerous large fishes, including game species, in deeper pools. There is a great deal of sports fishing in the middle river, especially just below Lake Kemp Dam, and great, numbers of white bass, black bass, crappie and channel catfish are taken there. The middle river has a sinuous course through a rather broad valley. The bed of the middle river is mud and quicksand with some firm sand and gravel where the current is swift. The lower river is a mature river, flowing to the Red River in a belt of bread meanders with scattered oxbow lakes, The water is generally turbid, deep, and only moderately saline. The bed is sand, quicksand or mud, depending om local conditions. Large fishes typical of the Red River drainage system oscur here, The main stream of the Big Wichita River begins with the jumction of two principal branches or "forks® in Baylor County. Of these the North Fork is approximately ten times the volume of the South Fork under normal conditions. The North Fork itself is formed by four tributaries: the North Fork proper, Sait Creek, Cottonwood Creek and the Middle Fork. Contributing springs and tiny spring creeks probably are responsible for as much of the water volume of the river as are the tributaries, The South Fork originates from springs and has no major tributaries. Tne North Fork begins as a dry wash or series of dry washes and arroyos in Dickens County but does not become a true valley until it passes from King County to Cottle Commty. Where crossed by State Highway 70, south of Paducah, the bed broad and there is a wide floodplain. We judge the river bed to measure at least LOO feet and the valley ons mile. However, this river bed is dry through st of the year. The presence of floodeguards at the bridge indicates that a large volume of water passes here in times of heavy rains. but we did not find water here during the past projcet year.. Undoubtedly the soft, sand carries some water in underground flow, Near Snesdville, in Cottle Gomty, the first Swe" stream enters the “ko This is Buck Creek (sample locality 1), However, Buck Creek flows sate the sand of the North Fork, sinks inte it, and vanishes. There is water in the river itself until the springs two and one-half miles west of Vy Gcttle Comty, are reached. rom these springs, the true source of the river, for a distance of three > there are numerous contributing springs. This area is at the very i Eke aD --- Page 5 --- WL edge of the Blain Formation, the main salt-contributing strata of the Wichita Yalley. The Hackberry springs are not excessively saline, The water is clear anc cold, smning swiftly between deep, clear pools. In these pools we found clack bass, bluegill sunfish, longear smfish, and other fishes (see records for Hackberry Station, table 3). In this three miles alone, of the North Fork, do game fishes live. The insect fama is also very large, including midges, cranefliies, damselflies, dragonflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies as well as the usual aquatic beeties, To owr knowledge, this is the only area on the Wichita River drainage where stoneflies occur,. About two miles downstream (straight line distance) from Hackberry Station the North Fork is joined by Salt Greek. This creek bears an enormous burden of dissolved salts and from the point where it joins the North Fork to Lake Kemp, it destroys the entire river for game fishes, . Below Salt Greek the North Fork consists of a series of deep, green pools separated by low falls or rapids. In these deep pools one sees ledges of rock, i boulders, and in places the deep, green water is too deep to detect the ttome The river looks ideal for game fishes but the only "biting" fishes present are green sunfish, rarely weighing as much as 100 gras o . A few miles below Salt Creek, Cottonwood Creek enters the river. This is another broad creek but it is sloweflowing and has a much smaller water volume than Salt Creek, It is relatively sweet water, and contains white crappis, and reputediy black bass also. The waters of the North Fork become slightly less Saline where diluted by Cottonwood Creek, For details of the contamination of the North Fork by Salt Creek see sample Locality water analyses 7, 8 and 9. For details of the dilution of the North Fork by Cottonwood Creek see sample locality analyses 15, 16 and 17. Below the mouth cf Cottonwood Creek the North Fork receives water from a large number of springs. The salt content of each spring tested was slightly different so that the salinity of the river differs slightly every few hundred yards, By the time Johnson Oil Field Station is reached, most of the springs ende A few miles below the Johnson Oil Field Bridge, a tiny spring with its origin in the Johnson Oil Field enters the river. Though small, this stream is so salty that it actually changes the salinity of the river. At times the - total salts of this stream are in excess of 27% For details of contamination of the river, see sample locality water analyses 35, 36 and 37. Eelow Johnson Oil Field Creek, no important tributaries are found until the Middle Fork joins the river, in Knox County. The Middle Fork drains the and south of the North Fork but north of the South Fork. The stream contains only about half as much sodium chloride as does the North Fork, and the waters of the North Fork are appreciably diluted. The Middle Fork does contain a large anount of calcium sulfate (gypsum). The South Fork of the Wichita River begins west of Gut rie, in King Comty, in a series of moderately saline springs. This water is not too salty to support game fishes and black bass are said to occur thers. By the time the water reaches Guthrie it is quite Salty, especially after long dry spells when sp does not flow at Guthrie and the water in the pools evaporates, thus ng the salts. Some less saltetolerant species of fishes, such as @ black bullhead and red shiner, oceur at Guthrie after floods, when they are washed from upstreame As drought continues, these forms die off and leave in the pools only the salteresistant species > East of Guthrie extremely salline springs smerging from the Blain Formation pollute the water but result in a constant flow for several miles. What happens %o this salty water we do not know, Th does not reach Benjamin Station, on --- Page 6 --- Zz 7) tate Highway 283, in Knox County, in dry periods for the river is then dry there and the dry, rock bed of the river is exposed, The strata are Level and there is no way in which the water could go underground. In any event, water analyses show that it does not do soe ; From Benjamin Station eastward, sweet water springs dilute the saline waters of the South Fork, For example, On April 23, 1955, we took water samples at Benjamin Station, ten miles eastward, and twenty miles eastward, Successive sereases in chloride weres 14,777 ppm, 11,893, and 8,387. Total salts tested ecreased as followss 27,782 ppmo, 21,968, and 17,938. After heavy rainfalls the South Fork becomes a raging torrent, red with mud. This is in extreme contrast to the North Fork which, with the same rains, rises only about twice its volume and becomes, at most, discolored. In dry periods the South Fork is dry except between Guthrie and Benjamin and near its iouth. However, when the South Pork rises so greatly following rains, the water is quite sweet (see Guthris Station records for December 10, 195). When the river floods, water from the uppermost reaches flushes away the salty water and then runs sweet, and this sweet water reaches the North Fork. In drought, when the only water reaching the North Fork from the South Fork comes from the springs of the lower part of the river, the water is not excessively sailine. Summarized then, much of the salt of the South Fork does not reach the North Fork and Lake Kemp, but we do not know what becomes of it. As a result of dilution by the fresh water east of Benjamin, the South Fork where it joins the North Fork is quite similar in quality (see sample locality water analyses 51, 52 and 53). The South Fork and the North Fork Join in an inaccessible area on the Wagoner Ranch, We visited this place on March 5, 1955» after a long journey through the mesquite. The junction is in a broad, sandy river floodplain and the joining is wmeventful. Fishes present are the usual species of the upper rivere Below the junction of the forks » the Wichita River becomes slightly larger, flowing through a braided sand valley to Lake Kemp. In some places the river bed is quicksand. The fish population, however, is unchanged. O. The middle river is the shortest of the three sections discussed. It is approximately seven miles in length (straight-line distance), The river flows in a bed of braided sand, mud and quicksand with but little surface flow when the floodgates of the dam are closed. Large game and rough fishes occur in the deeper holes and there are usually some fishermen attempting to catch them. Gresks that enter the middle river are usually small, except for Spring Creek .d Cottonwocd Creek (there are two Cottonwood Creeks entering the Big Wichita yer) and the water quality is fair to good. Although the river itself is, Oh CoUrsé, a navigable stream whose bed belongs to the stats, the land around the wid river, except where crossed by the bridgs on U. S. Highway 283, is the property of the Wagoner Ranch, Exeept at the bridgs mentioned and by boat from Lake Diversion, fishermen cennot gain aecess to the middle FLVEre The lowar river begins at the Lake Diversion spillway. Although but a Stall quantity ef water enters the river her ing most of the year, there is a Japge plungespocl where large Fishes are cmmone Below the plungespool, water enters the river a little at a time Prom irrigation seepage waters, small springs and tiny tributary streams, The first large tributary stream is Beaver Greske Below Beaver Creek's month, numerous small tributaries enter the river 36 Sampie stations 66 to.85), Just east of Wichita Falls, Holliday Creek ‘ges the water velume of the river considerably. Another major source of Water and an important factor in the dilution of salts is the waste water of the of Wichita Falls. --- Page 7 --- 7 From Lake Diversion Dam to Wichita Falls, the river becomes constantly more Saline as a result of escape of irrigation water and polintion by oil well salt waters At times, total salts double between Diversion Dam and Wichita Falls. Witt. the entrance of the waste waters of the city of Wichita Falls, the salts are again diluted to approximately their concentration in the water at Diversion Dam. The lower river is a mature stream, moving slowly in a series of meanders. Large fishes are numerous in the deeper holes, In the lower reaches, almost all the river is deep and pools are numerous. Aquatic life of all kinds is numerous , including such vertebrates as frogs, snakes, turtles, ducks, geese, beavers, miskrats, minks and raccoons, Zooplankton oceurs in the larger pools, Crayfish are abundant, as are several species of freshwater mussels but there seem to be no aquatic snails. Insects are abundant. The usual aquatic species are founds dragonflies, damselflies, midges, eraneflies, whirligigs and water beetiles of several kinds, backswimmers and water boatmen, and vast numbers of water striders In the rapids we found large numbers of Dobsonfliss but we did not find the Larvae of caddisflies. However, tiny caddisflies are found about lights in ichite Falls in the summer months and these probably spent their larval life in 8 rivers The wiver below the mouth of Holliday Creek has few tributaries, and none of any sige. The lower ten miles (following the curves of the viver) seem to be “ee of any tributarges except for a spring at the very viver mouth, There are numsrous oxbow lakes in the lower river valley but we did not check these, The confluence of the Big Wichita River and the Red River is in a broad, During most of the year the Red River rums as a small charmel jin @D ‘ & A ed SAMPLE LOCALITIES UPON WHICH THE BASIC SURVEY WAS BASED The following brief paragraphs list the principal sample localities taken oy us on the Big Wichita River and its tributaries. Each number is the key for the water analyses from those stations, listed in the table at the end of this sount. The given date is the date of the first sampling, If additional water S were taken and analyzed, they are listed under the same number as the 5» ows by the actual date of sampling. vast amount of detailed notes and investigations have gone into the ta here condensed. In general, arrangement is from west to east, beginning i the North Fork and taking wp each station or tributary to the eastward, The | is often varied and scarcely comparable, but, in most instances, is jLanatory.s One hundred typical sample localities are listed here, re of the nine regular stations that were studied once each mon tho dU SAMPLE LOCALITIES ON THE NORTH FORK (numbers 1 through 16) March 9, 1955. A small stivsam, running from pool to pool ile, entering the dry bes the river to sink from sight y in times of flood doss the river have water hers. However, tain fishes 9 Fondulus kansas L9 ¢ --- Page 8 --- ww 8 2, North Fork, 23 miles above Hackberzy Station, May 20, 1955. The large bat spersed springs here are the actual hsad of the psrmanent river, where the water that flows all year, even in the dry season, emerges from the ground, Fishes were praesent but we did not take a sample. 3. North Fork, 14 miles above Hackberry Statdon, May 20, 1955. Water volume of the river is somewhat greater but conditions otherwise very similar to those at Hackberry Station. ie North Fork, + mils above Hackberry Station, May 20, 1955. Essentially like Hackberry Station in all features. HACKBERRY STATION. For details see tables 3 and he 5. Between Hackberry Station and the mouth of Salt Greek, January 31, 1955. Here the North Fork flows swift and clear over sand and gravel beds with some bare rock and small waterfalls. Between the rapids there are deep, green pools with osks and ledges visible. The river flows through sandy flats and gypsum vlifts. We noted some immense schools of heded tert placita, numbering tens of thousands of fish. No water sample was tal £ the water should be the same as that at Hackberry Station. A fish sample from the foot of a rapids includeds in Einapets asstivalis 75 Notropis baird. 8 Notropis lutrensis 77 Notropis oxyrh chugs 17 Notropis ier 90 Fime hates Vigliax S kansas 3L rinodon rubrofluviatilis 6. A small spring in a denuded flat, extremely salty, located just west of the mouth of Salt Creek, on the north side of the river. The stream from the spring contained no fish on January 31, 1955. SALT GREEK, This is one of the major tributaries of the North Fork of the Wichita River. It enters the north side of the river about six miles downstream from Hackberry Station, and is the principal saltecontributing stream of the Big Wichita River, For this reason it was studied in some detail and over some time» aa Salt Gresk is Large, approximately l, eubic feet per second flow in normal stagse It emerges from numerous springs, some largs, in the Blain Formation and ; deep pools, some of them 50 fest wide, % mile Long, and ten feet or more in » The salinity is excessive but the stream contains vast numbers of Saltetolerant. fishes and large quantities of aquatic vegetation. No game or pesdatory fishes occur in Salt Creek, and its mingling with the waters of the main am so increase, the salinity of the river that mo game or predacious fishes sot the green sunfish occur anywhers between the mouth of Salt Creek and Lake Kemp » 65 wiles to the eastward. Some tributary streams and impoundments do have game fishes, but not the main river. . Ta Sait Creek itself we found only ese kansae and oY, a iatilis, but these two species of LL as were present Schools of tens oe and formed scolumms in the water a yard or more in ere and 31. yards long, with the small. fishes so densely packed in the schools that “ne schools appeared to be black cylinders gliding through the waters Sever ?, The North Fork, just above the mouth of Salt Creek, January 28, 1955. --- Page 9 --- ? 8, The mouth of Salt Creek, where the water was not mixed with that of the North Fork, January 28, 19550 Jo The North Fork, just below the first rapids below the mouth of Sait Gras, where waters of river and creek were thoroughly mixed, January 28, 1955. 10. A moderately large spring on Salt Cresk, % mile above the mouth of the eresek, January 22, 1955. lle A large spring, one mile above the mouth of Salt Creek, January 22, 19550 L@e A large spring, 13 miles above the mouth of Salt Creek, January L955. 13. West Fork of Salt Creek, above the spring located 14 miles above the mouth of the eresk (no. 12). Many Fundulus kansse and Cyprinodon rubrofluviatilis ware noted here on January 22, 1955. Oe Lie A small stream from a large spring on the south side of the North Fork, ited just across the river from the mouth of Salt Creek and 250 yards wnstream, July 19, 195k. A fish sample includeds ; 80 Notwopis bairdi Lo Fmdutus Kansas 2hg9 Cyprinodon rubrofluviatilis ao COTTONWOOD CREEK. The second major tributary of the North Fork, this stream is smaller than Salt Greek, and slower-flowing, It also enters the north side of the river but is relatively “sweet” water. In fact, it greatly dilutes the North Fork salts. The deeper pools on Cottonwood Creek were too deep to seine with the small seines we were able to carry on our shoulders but we noted many iggard shad (Dorosoma cepsdianum) and one white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) in s deep pools and fave heard that black bass are sometimes taken from the creek. Of the smaller fishes, we took the following sample on January 2h, 1955s 6 Derosoma cepedianum 70 Notrosis cos 539 Aybognathus piacita ee mephales Vigllax 303 Findulus kansae 29 Cyprincodon rubrofluviatilis i Pomoxis annularis 150 North Fork, above the mouth of Cottonwood Creek, January 2h, 1955. 16. Cottonwood Creek, near its mouth, January 2h, 1955. 3 2 ¢ py) L7o North Fork, just below the first rapids dowmstream from the mouth of rmod Creek, where waters of river and cresk are thoroughly mixed, January SPRINGS BETWEEN THE MOUTH OF COTTONWOOD CREEK AND THE JOHNSON OIL FIELD 1& Small spring on south side of river, just across river from mouth of mwood Creek, January 24, 1955, Emerges from under rock. Flow rate about Zale/minutey estimatede o --- Page 10 --- bold LO Los Moderately large spring, 100 yards east of no. 18, and on same side of elven, January 2h, 19556 Drains to ten acre marsh and pond, and then to river, any fish in stream and pond, all Fundulus, Cyprinodon and Gambusia. 20. Small spring on south side of river, 200 yards east of no. 19, February 12, 1955. Drains to small marsh before seeping to rivers about 2 gal. /minute. Fish include Fundulus, Cyprinodon and Gambusia. ele A smalls seepage spring entering a deep pool at the base of a gypsum eliff beside the river, February 12, 1955. No apparent surface runoff te river but, as level is two feet higher, must reach river beneath ground. Fundulus and uw Gyprinodon notede 220 Double spring arising from sonylomarave layer about two miles east of th of Cottonwood Creek, February 12, 1955. Flow about 5 gallons per minutes taken includes Notropis ae No Lutrensis , Baton lee eee and Gambusias 235 Small spring, about one gallon per minute flow, Located 100 yards east of number 22e February 12, 1955, Marked odor of hydrogen sulfide. 24e Beautiful, crystal-slear, cold, spring emerging from two areas at & of a conglomerate cliff. Water falls from cliff ten feet to deep pools, then gh series of rapids to river. Flow estimated at 20 gallons per minute on bruary 12, 1955. Fish are abundant and includes Notropis bairdi ctropis Lutrensis Pime fates vigilax Randers kansae Cyorinodon rubrofluviatilis Gambusia, affinis te ve Saimoides ea In pool under waterfall. omis cyanellus e= In pool under waterfall. 25. Spring slightly smaller but otherwise similar to no. 2h, located 1 eastward, The fish population was similar except that there were no black pe too? ruary 12, 1955. 262 A large spring, emerging from the face of a conglomerate cliff nine ab ova the ground, on the south side of the river about five miles west of the id bridge, February 13 550 Fish present included only Notropis i ¢ JON» ein 1 the wiver bank 1 mile a ga. Lion per second oft » February 13, 1955. ol » Geatde é the river appeared te ssined and took several as), Fundulus kansae and t of noo 275 a deep pos: “feom the ee: rise of _the eiye oP 3 ted ip 3 oO a A small 6: reek on the north side ef the x river with its present surface iné river slight, probably not mers than 1 palion per minutes It is smile east of no. 27. February 13, 1955. --- Page 11 --- dak 29o A small creek, now almost dry, emerging from a nowecollapsed gypsum care through a thick gypsum strata. There are indications of heavy runoff in rainy seasons, On north side of river. February 13, 1955. 30. A small, stagnant creek with no present surface flow to the river but doubtless some underground flow through the sand. Heavy odor of hydrogen sulfide on February 13, 1955. No fish present. JOHNSON OIL FIELD STATION. For details see tables 5 and 6. 3L. Deep hole in riverbank at Johnson Oil Field bridge, possible soring, on ganuary 29, 1955. The pool is broadly connected with the river. JOHNSON OIL FIELD CREEK. A small but extremely salty stream that enters the river 1 mile below the Johnson Oil Field bridge. Strangely enough, both Funduius and Cyprinddon were noted in this stream, where salt concentration on Some ossasions reachas 27%6 320 Head of main branch of Johnson Oil Field Creek, March 9, 1955. 330 Creek at crossing of Farm Road 567, July 19, 1954 and other dates. 3le Tributary of ereek, entering the main branch 1 mile below the bridge on farm road 567, January 31, 1955. 350 Creek near its mouth, March 13, 1955. 360 North Fork, just above mouth of Johnson Oil Field Creek, March 13, 1955. 370 North Fork just below first rapids below jumction of river and Johnson Oil Field Creek, where waters of river and creek are thoroughly mixed, March 13, 2050 384 North Fork, five miles above mouth of Middie Fork, February 26, 195%. River flows swiftly through cliffs of friable red rock, blue clay and gypsum a Ngerse Some deep, green pools exist, where we could not see the bottom, Ssining tooks 7] a Hybopsis aestivalis e=8 common in riffles. @) ErOpis bairal e= Common to abundant. Notropis oxyrhynchus «= Common in riffles. Notropis OLVEPL we Scarces Hybogna thus pliacita == Common and large, up to six inches. fundulus Kansas -= Abundant. Cyprinodon rubrofluviatilis e= Extremely abundant in shallows. Caen 370 Middle Fork on Jack Brow Ranch, several. miles above mouth, Marsh 9, Water sample taken by Dr. Carl Gray. “ee 40. North Fork, just above the mouth of the Middle Fork, February 26, 1955. Middle Fork at mouth, February 26, 1955, The stream is deep, slow dy only 35 cme on the Seichi Disk, There is no definite valley here, ily 4 slotelike gulley through the mesquite flats. Fish Samples where we could seine were identical to those of the North Fork (no, 38) but we have no idea what wight be in the deep, blue holes. --- Page 12 --- a2 42. Worth Fork at the first rapids below the mouth of the Middle Fork, February 26, 1955. The turbidity of the Middle Fork vanishes abruptly on the missing of the waters of the two streams. li3e Good Creek, February 26, 1955. A stream of some size but dry save for a few remaining pools at the time of our visit. One hole was seined and fishes taken incliudeds 2 Dorosoma cepedianum 1h Notropis Tarcrets 1 ime Se Sreaed VWigllax 2 Lepomis © Se 3 Lepomis humitis lh, River at mouth of Good Greek, February 26, 1955. Here the river is a swift, clear torrent running over a rough, solid, rock hed. The water was shallow but so swift that we had difficulty in crossing from one side to the other. We were mable to seine in the swift current but netsd numerous gizzard shad and found about 20 pf them freshly dead, apparently killed in trying to ascend thse rapids o l5. Foard City Creek, February 26, 1955. A small, intermittent ersek flowing over gypsum and red beds. There’ are some Lene, rather deep pools but we found no fish. 46, River near mouth of Foard City Creek, February 26, 1955. The river hera runs through gravel flats and looks very much, like it does at the Crowell. Station, a few miles dowmstream, Fish were collected but seem about the same as ecour at Crowell Station. CROWELL STATION. For details see tables 7 and 8. GUTHRIE STATION, ON SOUTH FORK. For details see tables 9 and 10. SAMPLE LOCALITIES ON THE SOUTH FORK. (Numbers 7 through 50) 7, Humble Lease, ten miles east of Guthris, Jnly 19, 195). Here the var 1s narrow, about ten feet in width, flowing swiftly through a deep canyon tn eypsum and soft Sands bens, Pish taken includes is BENJAMIN STATION, For details see tables LL and ie. 8. An arroyo, ordinarily dry but carrying rainwater after even moderately hnaty rains, sampled January 16, 195 239 to che eck the salts of ordinary rain "Waters As suspected, the water was very high in calcium and sulfate but sspeclally high in sodium and chloride, de South Fork southeast of Guillliland, on Parm Road 267, Jume 18, 195h. rar is shallow and flows through a muddy valley but has a firm sand bede a here and tooks --- Page 13 --- a ; 13 4 Pmdulus kansae ra et = Tt Se iis 50. South Fork north of Vera, April 23, 1955. The river flows rather slowly through deep pools in a broad, sandy valley. Fishes seined included Notropis baivdi, Ne o oxyrhynchss , Hybognathus lacite, Fundulus, Cyprinodon and Lepomis Cyan. US o JUNCTION OF NORTH FORK AND SOUTH FORK. Sl. North Fork just above junction, March 5, 1955. 52. South Fork just above jumetion, March 5, 1955. 53. River just below first rapids below junction, where waters of both s are thoroughly mixed, March 5, 19556 River at Cleghorn Ranch, above Lake Kemp, March 13 and other dates. is broad and shallow ea a Lace bottom. Fishes taken includes Saaremaa 31 cron is S eens 25 Fandulus kansae srofluviatilis 10 Cypranodon. ry THE MIDDLE RIVER, BETWEEN LAKE KEMP AND LAKE DIVERSION (numbers 55 through KEMP DAM STATION. For details see tables 13 and lh. Small creek, usually dry, contained water on June 1h, 1955. Losated j yards below the Lake Kemp Dam. 562 Stream about one mile below Lake Kemp Dam, with source in cliffs sowth of river. Measured about 6 feet wide and 18 inehes deep on June 1h, 1955. Wide, deep cresk but scarcely flowing on Jue 1h, 1955, Mouth is » Ly feet wide and three feet deep, lovated three miles below Lake Kemp Dam. 58. A smail stream about fowr miles bellow the Lake Kempe Dam, on the north side of the river. Very sloweflowing on June 1h, 1955. 592 Whisky Creek, July 13, 1955. Amos % dev but, thers was water in the deeper pools remaining in the stream bottome The water sample was taken from a hole about sight by ten feet in area. ot 60. Spring Creek, July 13, 1955. A very bread, still, turbid stream, aimost stapnante Ib was about 50 feet wide at a4 weds from its mouths Sle Cott somMoo d Cresk, July 13, 1955. wide ab a point a mile from the Scie sluggish creek, about 25 fest THE LOWER RIVER, BELOW LAKE DIVERSION. DIVERSION DAM STATION. For details s --- Page 14 --- ai, het. BEAVER CREEK. This a major tributary of the Big Wichita River, with its weee on the Wagoner Ranch. Near its sowrss the creek is dammed to form Santa sa, Lake 2e Headwaters of the creek, above Santa Rosa lakes, March 5, 1955. 630 Santa Rosa Lake, March 5, 1955. The lake contains black bass, sunfish of several species, gizzard shad, river carpsuckers, and other species. It was t sampled during this study, as far as the fish population is concerned, but water Was sampled. 6lie Beaver Creek on U. S. Highway 283 crossing, July 9, 1954. The averages about 25 feet wide and lk feet deep, and has a muck bottom. Tf | in a valley heavily wooded with cottonwoods and willows. Fishes taken iodes carpl C Cyprinus carpio 2 opLs eee ensis Prime) hales vigilax Lepomis humilis Lepomis me alotis OmOxXLS annularis A bLodin otus i “a DO Le a Se Beaver Creek, 3 mile above its confluence with the river, July 26, The creek is deep byt slow, with a soft mud bottoms Fishes includes ii Doresoma cepedianum 81 A. Lu Lrabilis 2 at hales vigilax Totaturus puncta tas 5 ars kansae 87 Gambusia at nis 3 Lepomis ec: anette 17? Spom. S » MEPaLO otis BIG WICHITA RIVER BETWEEN THE MOUTH CF BEAVER CREEK AND WICHITA FALLS 66. River at Valley View Bridgs, April 30, 1955. The viver was very Low and many bars of sand and quicksand were exposed Huropean carp were common. _ §To A small, swift creek about 4 mile below Val.lsy View Bridge, April 30, L955, The water was muddy and the only fishes taken were igizerais, [eaalieeh tie eaiteclbme dd e Creek, April 30, 1955, A lares eresk entering the south side oa fa eb wide and three Lest desp but siluggis Not seined, iowa Park sewer entranss, April 30, 1955. Trseted sewer water that a bi, an nate of oo erom & inch pipee We found many green --- Page 15 --- 15 (0. A broad drainage ditch on the north side of the river, April 30, 1955. This is obviously artificial, and contained deep, browm water. Not seined. (le A small, clear creek on the south side of the river, April 30, 1955. (20 & deep, sluggish creek on the south side of the river, April 30, 1955. An oil well was being drilled near this creek and there was a slight oil slick on the water. However, Notropis lutrensis and Gambusia affinis were common here. 73e A large, clear, swift creek on the north side of the river. This may be irvigation water, for much irrigation was being done on this date, April 30, 1955—e We seined here and took hundreds of Notropis lutrensis. Tho A large, muddy creek entering the south side of the river, April 30, i955. This is a permanent creek, with large sandstone boulders near its mouths We are surprised to find it not named on our maps. 750 A small, swift stream, possibiy irrigation overflow water, located % mile above Deadman Bridge Station, April 30, 1955. 760 River just above Deadman Bridge, April 30, 1955. DEADMAN BRIDGE STATION. For details see tables 17 and i8, Deadman Creek, July 13, 195. This small, permanent creek that enters the iver on the north side, at Deadman Bridge, contained the only resident popuiation of spottail shiners know to us in the Big Wichita River drainage systeme On the above date we seineds 3 Dorosoma cepedianum lh, @arpiodes carpio Lé ae carpio lok Netropis Tutrensis 2 L LOPLS Venus bus geen CAT er a Hybog me, Eau 5 Phenacobius mirabilis l, Cyprincdon rubrofluviatilis soe See ne Cn Oe oneal sa — eee 8 Lepomis eyanelius 780 A small ereek, 12 inches wide, on the scuth side of the river one mile bslow Deadman Bridge, May 1, 1955. 79. A small, swift, clear eresk on the north side of the river, May i, L755 Seining revealed hundreds of Netropis lutrensis only. a = oe ~ 80. A small, swift stream on the north side of the riv %, possibly all ivelgation escape water, May 1, 1955. Ble A broad (6 feet wide), muddy stream entering the river on the south side, May 1, 1955. This stream has a largs valley but no name on maps available tO UWS e 825 Pleasant Valley Creek, May 1, 1955. A large, swift, muddy ereek on the north side of the river. This stream was greatly swollen by irrigation escape ‘ater on the day checked. 85. Seven Springs Creek, May 1, 1955. A short stream about six feet wide ad Gwo feet desp at the mouth. It was seined August 3, 1951, and the following fisnes were takens --- Page 16 --- 16 fe Doresoma cepedianum 28 Notroois Totrensis 77 Plime re Setise S vipilax 1 Te Tetatares ie 7 pring on rubrofluviatilis 7 oneness affinis r Wicropterus salmoides Lepomis anel tus 1 Eevomis eee 19 Eepomis megalo is Bho A small creek, about two feet wide, entering the north side of the river $ mile above Wichita Falls, May 1, 1955. No fish present. Possibly irrigation escape waters 85. Wichita River at lOth. street bridge, at western edge of tom, May ly 1955. HOLLIDAY CREEK, This important tributary is dammed southwest of Wichita Falls to form Lake Wichita. For details of the fishes of Lake Wichita see Completion Report, Fe7eRe2, Job Be7, There is some industrial pollution of Holliday Creek and this is deseribed in detail in Completion Report, Pejahed, dob Ca2, part 2). 86. Holliday Creek at State Hospital, July 26, 195i. The ereek hers is deep, sluggish, mud-bottomed and cattail Lined. Seining books 2 Lepisosteus hae) duc tus L Dorosoma eepedianum 3 €arpiodes carpio 5 Gyprinus carpio 13 Notropis Lutrensis 18 Notemigoneus crysoleucas talurus as l, Gambusia inis 18 Meropterus Salmoides macrochi rus 2 Lepomis mega aLOvLS 87. Holliday Creek at Hampstead Bridge, July 20, 19540 Asp pring enters the ereek here and the water of the creek is diluted by the fresh water of the sorings Fish taken includes 13 Dorosoma cepedianum 10 Notropis Tut PONS 1.5 a ctalurus punctatus 1 Mcropterus Salmoides . 3 Lepomis megalotis LO AplLodinotus grumiens eek at cliffs, 1 mile below Pesan Street Bridge, July 20, Lit ed RSres Seining in a deep hole tocks 2 carpio _ 88 Helliday Cr 19540 The creek is si L s buehanani 3 > beaten peatatesesmenaiag anand LO ; Lubrensis Lot bius Mirabilis 1 Pinephales gtee --- Page 17 --- 1? i Ameiurus melas 7 Gambusia affinis 1 Lepomis cyanellus L Lepomis humilus 1 Lepomis megalotis 2 Aplodino us grunniens THE BIG WICHITA RIVER BETWEEN WICHITA FALLS AND THE RED RIVER PLUM CREEK, This small stream is an extremely important pollution effluent ditch, and several industrial concems are located beside the creak, Water quality varies greatly from day to day. There are no fish presente For details see Completion Report, Fe7-Re2, C#2, part 26. 89. Wichita River at Ohio Street Bridge, April 12, 1955. 90. Small spring on south side of river, + mile below Ohio Street Bridges Estimated flow 5 to 6 gallons per minute. Sle Flume of city disposal plant. 920 Another flume of the city disposal plant. Six feet wide and very swifte 930 A broad, slow creek, 1h feet wide by three feet deep, April 12, 1955. Sie A small spring, about two feet wide and six inches deep, on north side of river, April 12, 1955. 950 Another small spring with a broad plunge pocl beside the river beneath a steep bank, April 12, 1955, 960 A large pond or small lake beside the river with pverflow pipe to the river, not flowing to river at present. April 12, 1955. Fie & small creek entering the river on the north side near Iron Bridgs, nowth of Petrolia, April 12, 1955. Estimated flow 30 to lO gallons per minute, 98. Another smail creek on the north side of the river, 3 mile below no. 97. 990 Another stream, only 6 inches wide, entering the river on the north side one mile upstream from the Tron Bridges 100. A small spring beside the Wichita River 200 yards above the junction of the Wichita River with the Red River, --- Page 18 --- 18 TABLE IT. WATER ANALYSES AT SAMPLE LOCALITIES LISTED ON PRECEDING PAGES Le 3/9/88 1079 208 28h, 2501 160 h, 228 7.80 2. 5/20/55 588 252 nnn 1138 2h 2,666 és 30 5/20/55 548 252 61 1030 Zbl 2,535 ° ho 5/20/55 562 512 799 15 232 35250 8.00 5e (1/3/55 6 i/31/55 269) 11859 20058 3872 12 38,725 78h To 1/28/55 1392 ihoh 3106 1902 205 8,009 7695 8. 1/28/55 3hl2 10100 18327 Wh8 13h 36,150 ToT 9, 1/28/55 2282 5353 91Lh0 112 216 21,103 7.87 10. 1/22/55 79, 12462 21080 11100 134 48,570 7290 lie 1/22/55 1916 1157 19037 2656 1h0 35, 206 7.66 12. 1/22/55 2608 12563 20725 1378 119 hO, 393 7030 13. 1/22/55 1912 9191 15220 3158 12h 29,635 7090 the 7/19/5h 617-3723 5991 1001 179 11,517 7.75 15. 1/24/55 1612 5100 87))2 2535 192 18,181 7.85 16. 1f/2h/55 616 765 1376 1060 392 009 7685 L7. 1/24/55 1290 998 8032 2516 188 17,02) 1298 18. 1/2/55 23. 1556 2263 1010 2h 551196 Ta 19. 1/2h/55 318 988 129 830 1.66 3, 761 2 20. 2/12/55 5h0 988 1598 998 260 hh, 38) 8.10 2le 2/12/55 2710 7070 13135 288 266 25,669 8.30 22, 2/12/55 320 168 692 620 220 25326 8.hi5 23, 2/12/55 08 68 861 590 57 258k 8.10 Zhe 2/12/55 262 20 52h 600 250 2056 8430 25. 2/12/55 320 321 26 677 2h0 1, 98k 8,20 264 2/13/55 28h, 276 231 682 330 1,803 8.15 27. 2/13/55 612 36h, 666 1150 228 2,970 Be10 28, 2/13/55 13h0 79h 7810 2515 153 16,612 8.00 29. 2/13/55 667 30 116 1483 38 2, 33h 8.630 30. 2/13/55 1636 6h 7900 2505 5h,0 17,222 8.70 Ble 1/29/55 1065 = 8h8 7455 2430 200 155996 7082 320 3/9/55 2593 1380 4750 2577 182 11, 482 7.88 330 7/19/54 = 2762 ~«=26026 = 88351 ~=—Ss1059 125 113,186 020 9/25/54 67956 33000 170090 1895 93 273,03l i°30 1/31/55 8770 2550 = 51520 2503 135 87,478 Folio Sao 1/31/55 6745 085k 26980 2280 112 6, 980 7063 350 1/31/55 103 998 83k3 2391 165 L7.5300 7070 360 I/s/55 723, «=—12060 29368 2730 103 51,495 7.80 376 1/31/55 1628 hohs 8132 2699 165 17,869 To75 38 2/26/55 1090 5094, 75h 2832 160 16,720 7075 390 3/9/55 1307 2295 3860 2607 173 10, 22 hOe 2/26/55 13hK6 79h 7633 2805 12 16,720 7695 Wig 2/26/55 108, 2550 368), 2610 2 10,076 7085 h2, 2/26/55 1552 3009 5280 2675 15h 12,60 7095 l3_ 2/26/55 62 90 222 912 10h 1.5790 7.80 hhe 2/26/5. iho ho29 6610 2805 153 15,037 To 75 L50 2/26/55 860 520 L68 2125 190 h 343 8.05 h6. 2/26/55 bbb 208 652k, 3310 10 15,626 7095 ‘Fo 7/19/54 = 1548 = 8888 = 15691. 90h, 139 275181 7060 8, 1/16/55 933 598 925 206, 110 1,630 8,00 --- Page 19 --- 7a 98.6 a0 FIO L006 4/23/55 4\/23855 a 1/12/55 h/13/55 20h, lie 2h0 hi72 312 120 7180 17 180 125 1h0 L7L 180 125 238 16h, 161 134. 10 159 229 L3L 152 137 81 255 1h0 152 201 201 162 158 101 315 186 125 573 o Oo 98 i" 8S AS EXaN 2 ° 2 "ANS Lod Lo Ww LL © Fw HMO DMDMDMMM~AOCc @ 6 3° iw We £ o eo 9 Sh Oo Orso wie CO £0 OO T™! CO OO oo 0 0 a 8 Us lt Ge Go Gr Le AS XO Fo BRS Q pS °o CS © UL AS oc ¢ ° WE fh UL OoOwW Oo o C8 OO CD CO CONT I ON OO CO OD OO ° o 5 --- Page 20 --- 20 TABLE II, VOLUME OF WATER IN THE BIG WICHITA RIVER AT WICHITA FALLS, OCTOBER, 1952 TO SEPTEMBER, 1953 Mean daily discharge in October 83.0 Mean daily discharge in November 78.0 Mean daily discharge in December 58.1 Mean daily discharge in January 38.6 Mean daily discharge in February 3500 Mean daily discharge in March 103.0 Mean daily discharge in April 5h1.e3 Mean daily discharge in May Bok Mean daily discharge in June 109.0 Mean daily discharge in July 155.0 Mean daily discharge in August 168.0 Mean daily discharge in September Tle iéeyear average discharge 322 Total »moff in October 5,100 Tetal runoff in November hy 640 Total rumoff in December 35570 Total rmoff in January 9 310 Total runoff in February 1, 950 rooff in March 65360 al ronoff in April 35 230 L runoff in May 6,050 Total runoff in June 6,490 Total rmoff in July 95530 Tetal r…