(1954–1955) Inventory of Species Present in Lake Wichita, Texas: Job Completion Report, Project No. F-7-R-2, Job B-7

--- Page 1 --- STATE TEXAS PROJECT NO. F-7-R-2, Job B-7 PERIOD June 1, 1954--May 31 1955 JOB COMPLETION REPORT fo a Oy, Leo D. Lewis and Walter W. Dalquest ‘. Aas TITLE Invensory of species present in Lake Wichita, Texas. OBJECTIVES To determine the species present and their distribution, as well as the ecological factors that influence their distribution. TECHNIQUES At least once each month, and usually twice each month, four to six gill nets, each 125 feet long, with mesh sizes ranging in each net from 3/4 inch to 3 inches, were set overnight and run the following morning. Each time gill nets were set, seine samples were taken of the smaller fishes with 30-foot bag seines of 1/4 inch mesh. In addition, all possible observations were made of the fish populations when opportunity offered, including data made available by commercial fishermen, data obtained by the use of large eines, and hook-and-line fishing. On each occasion when gill nets were set, the air temperature and temperatures of the surface water were recorded as was the light penetration as measured by a 200 mn. Seichi disk. Water samples were taken and analyzed by Dr. Carl Gray, Soils Scientist of Midwestern University, Wichita Falls, and the Wichita County Water Improvements Bee. tricts. Smaller fishes were saved in a formalin solution and identified in the laboratory. Larger fishes were measured and weighed in the field. The stomachs, if they obviously contained fooc, were saved in formalin for laboratory analysis. The stages of repro- duction development were recorded and, if females contained large eggs, the gonads were saved and the eggs counted in the laboratory. Pathological conditions were noted and tissues were dehydrated and sectioned with a microtome for microscopic examination when this seemed desirable. — At irregular intervals samples of plankton, bottom fauna, littoral fauna and vegeta- tion were taken for laboratory analysis and identifications. Detailed notes on eco- logical conditions were taken. Data pertaining to food habits, ~cproduction and comparative physical condition are reported elsewhere (Job Completion Report, F-7-R-2, Job B-). BACKGROUND Lake Wichita is the oldest lake in the Wichita Falls area, having been constructed origainally as the water supply for the city of Wichita Falls in 1901. It is a lake of 2,500 surface acres, formed by an earthen dam several hundred feet in length. The dam crosses Holliday Creek, a tributary of the Wichita River. The lake lies in Wichita and “vtcher counties, about half in each county. The reputed fishing history of Lake Wichita has varied tremendously from time to time. Since the lake is located only three miles from the city of Wichita Falls, it is subject to tremendous fishing pressure. In spite of this, fishing has gerere’ly been excellent in the lake previous to 1953; the lake is extremely fertile and highly productive. --- Page 2 --- 2. In 1952 the volume of Lake Wichita was greatly reduced by drought but game fishes were still abundant and were being caught in numbers. Drum were extremely abundant but in poor condition; channel catfish and large white bass were common and in good shape; vappie were common but rather small; black bass were not common. By the summer of 793, however, *he volume of the lake was so greatly reduced, from 13,964 acre-feet ca- . pacity to approximately 1,425 acre-feet, that the remaining fish were greatly crowded and fishing, except for drum and channel catfish, was poor. Gars were extremely abund- ant and one sweep with a gill net resulted in the capture of 142 gars. Netting showed rough fishes to be abundant but game fishes scarce. No white bass of small or medium size were taken, which indicates that the mud banks left by the retreating lake offered no suitable areas for the spawning of this species. At this time a selective kill of rough fishes resulted in the kill of approximately 73,000 pounds of drum and gizzard shad (see Job Completion Report, F-7-R-1, Job E-1, page 3). Following the selective kill, thewater in the lake continued to drop until areas in the center of the lake became islands and the water warmed greatly in July and August. , Heavy rains in thefall of 1953 filled the lake to capacity but it is thought that few® or no game fishes except catfishes, survived the summer. Several over-night gill net- tings took only gizzard shad, carpsuckers, buffalos and gars. Following the refilling of of the lake, white bass were stocked by Wildlife Conser- vation students from Midwestern University; crappies were stocked by some mewbers of the North Texas Field and Stream Association; black bass were stocked on several oc- casions by the Dundee Hatchery of the Texas Game and Fish Commission. Reproduction of all of these species was noted in June 1954, and catchable fish of all three species were being taken in June 1955, in fair to large numbers. FINDINGS The rains of the fall of 1953 covered large areas of the old lake bed, much of « which had been dry for years. Weeds and brush growing on the exposed flats were drowned d decayed. Emergent vegetation, once present around the borders of the lake had -anished without a trace two years before and auto races had been held on flats that were once extensive tule and cattail marshes. Other than the great rise in lake level, to spillway level, no other changes were readily apparent in the lake previous to the beginning of the present investigations. In June 1954, the emergent vegetation again grew, apparently from persistent under- ground roots. By July tules and cattails again covered the shallow flats about the lake and there were beds of water lilies (Neulembo) in deeper areas. Numerous ducks, geese, and marsh birds wintered at Lake Wichita. In the spring of 1955 the emergent vegetation spread deeper and denser than before. Green algae of several species was abundant in the J9ke in 1954, especially filamentous types. In the winter and spring of 1954-55, an extremely heavy growth of Cladophora formed on almost all exposed hard objects such as pilings, rock, the face df the dam, and even on the bottom where it was shallow and firm. The Cladophora mat became so thick and dense that it formed a green carpet over a large area, making fishing difficult in many parts of the lake. By May 1955, much of the mat died away leaving only traces. Plankton of Lake Wichita is extremely rich. The phytoplankton of several species of diatoms and desmids imparts a green color to the water at times and is responsible for much of the turbidity of the lake. Zooplankton is equally rich, far richer than that of other large lakes in our area, Most of the dominant forms are small, rotifers, small copepods and Bosmina. The aquatic insect fauna is rich and Chironemus larvae are especially abundant. Backswimmers, especially a small, black fish, nocturnal form which we were unable to identify, are present in the millions along the dam at night. --- Page 3 --- 3% The nature of the lake bottom was determined with an Eckman dredge. We were sure prised to find that those places that had been exposed by the drying up of the lake in 1952.and again immersed in 1953 were still firm. Even thoush the soil had been beneath he\water for two years, it looked like it had been coverea with water for only a few .ays.\..In contrast the bottom that had never been exposed to the air was a jellylike silt except at the heads of channels where the bottom was mixed sand and mud. Turbidity varied greatly in the lake. In summer, when the lake is usually calm, turbidity is probably the result of plankton. Our greatest reading of an eight inch Seichi disk was 348 mm., on August 12, 1954. Over most of the summer , except after heavy winds or rains, readings average slightly more than 300 mm. In the fall and winter strong winds are the rule and often blow for several days and weeks at a time. Turbidity, probably due to suspended solids, averages less than 200 mm. at such times and sometimes fall to only slightly more than 100 mm. Water quality of the lake is generally good. At the beginning of the present pro- ject year the quality was excellent. During the year, dissolved salts increased in dry periods, due to concentration through evaporation, and were diluted by each heavy rain. Salt concertration gradually crept up through the months until the heavy spring rains of 1955 restored the water quality to approximately what it was the year before. For details see Table 7. The fish population of the lake during the project period was, qualitatively, about what it had always been in recent years but wac quantitatively quite different. In general, gars were less abundant than previously, cough fishes of the sucker and carp type as abundant as usual, catfish scarcer than they have been, black bass, white bass and crappie present only because they were stocked, and sunfishes far more abundant than before. Details of the fish population are as follows: Lepisosteus osseus (Longnosed Gar) --Still, as previously the dominant gar but now scarcer than in past years. Only 105 were taken over the year. In the past we have taken more in a single sweep of one gill net. Lepisosteus platostomus (Shortnosed Gar) ~--This species was second in numbers to the Longnosed Gar. This is most unusual; usually it is a species rather scarce in lakes and less common than the other following species. Lepisosteus productus (Spotted Gar) --This species was found to be rare in Lake Wichita. In the past in Lake Wichita, and at present in other nearby lakes, the spotted gar is more common than the shortnosed gar. Dorosoma cepedianum (Gizzard Shad)--This species has always been very abundant in Lake Wichita, but during the past year. specimens have seemed to be smaller than in the past. In 1952 shad weighing more, than four pounds were not uncommon. In the past year, few were taken that weighed more than three pounds. Astyanax fasciatus (Rio Grande Tetra) --Two specimens were taken at different times of the year but were almost certainly released bait. The tetra is commonly re- leased in local waters but does not survive ordinary winters. , Ictiobus cyprinellus (Bigmouth Buffalo) --This species is far less common than the smallmoutlL buffalo. A commercial fisherman that worked on the lake for three months estimated one bigmouth buffalo to 50 smallmouth buffalos The bigmouth buffalo seems to grow more rapidly than the smallmouth buffalo. In a seine haul in May 1955, 7 cyprinellus and about 100 bubalus were taken. All were less than a foot in standard length. The cyprinellus averaged more than an inch longer and half again as heavy as the bubalus. --- Page 4 --- 4, Ictiobus bubalus (Smallmouth Buffalo)--The most abundant rough fish in the lake, both in numbers and by weight. Carpiodes carpio (River Carpsucker)--The second most abundant rough fish in the lake, both in numbers and by weight. The carpsuckers of Lake Wichita average larger than those of any other local lake. Cyprinus carpio (European Carp)--As in other local lakes, the carp is not numerous enough to be a serious problem, probably because the species encounters such heavy competiton from the buffalos and the carpsucker. Some extremely large in- dividuals were taken by the commercial fisherman in February, March and April 1955. Notemigonus chrysoleucas (Golden Shiner)--This species is rarely a common lake fish in our area. We suspect that when the white bass grow larger, golden shiners will become scarce in Lake Wichita. Pimephales vigilax (Parrot Minnow)--This is usually a moderately common minnow in local waters. The present population of Lake Wichita is about as large as we would have expected. Hybognathus placita (Plains Minnow)--This species is primarily a river form but does breed in some saline lakes. We suspect that the few specimens taken in Lake Wichita were released bait minnows. This is the most popular bait minnow in our area. Notropis buchanani (Ghost Shiner)--This species has always been a moderately common form in Lake Wichita and now seems to be about as common as usual. Notropis deliciosus (Sand Shiner)--The small resident population of this shiner seemed to disappear from Lake Wichita in 1952. The single specimen taked in 1955 may have been a released bait minnow. Notropis lutrensis (Red Shiner)--In Lake Wichita, as in all local waters, this is the most abundant forage species. Pilodictus olivaris (Flathead Catfish)--Lake Wichita was once known for its large flathead catfish. We took no flatheads in our gill nets in the past year but did take two young fishes of this species in a seine drag. Ictalurus punctatus (Channel Catfish)--Once abundant in the lake, this form now seems to be much less common. Although we took few specimens in our gill nets, fishermen regularly take them on trot lines. Ameiurus melas {Black Bullhead)--This catfish was once rare in the lake but now seems to be quite common. Numerous individuals are taken on trot lines. Gambusia affinis (Mosquito Fish)--Abundant in the shallows and heavy cover. Fundulus kansae (Plains Killifish)--This form was once fairly common in the lake, but we took no specimens during the present investigations. Even if now absent from Lake Wichita the killifish will almost certainly be restocked as released bait minnows in the near future. Morone chrysops (White Bass)--This game fish was once common in the lake and grew to large size. The resident population died out in 1953. The present large population is the result of stocking, by students of Midwestern University, of white bass from Lake Diversion. --- Page 5 --- 5. Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Black Bass)--Rare or absent from the lake in 1953, thousands of fry and fingerlings stocked by the Texas Game and Fish Com- mission's Dundee Hatchery in 1954 reached small but "catchable" size the next year. The black bass is now common in the lake. Chaenobryttus coronarius (Warmouth)~--Rare in Lake Wichita in the past, this fish now seems to be fairly common. We saw one specimen of almost a pound in weight. Lepomis cyanellus (Green Sunfish)--Once rare except in heavy cover, the green sun- fish now is rather common. Lepomis humilis (Orange-spotted Sunfish)--We have no previous records of this sunfish from Lake Wichita. It is a widespread but rarely common fish in our area. Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill Sunfish)--Once rare in Lake Wichita, the bluegill is now abundant. We saw several specimens of approximately a pound in weight taken by fishermen. Sunfishes of this size are extremely unusual in our area. L2pomis megalotis (Long-eared Sunfish) --Once uncommon in the lake, this species is now abundant. We have seen few specimens, however, that would have weighed more than 100 grams. Pomoxis annularis (White Crappies)--Crappie were greatly reduced or even exterm- inated in the lake by 1953. The North Texas Field and Stream Association held a "Crappie Catch" at Lake Diversion in the winter of 1953. Biologists and hatchery personnel of the Game and Fish Commission transported the 400-odd fish individuals taken to Lake Wichita. Crappie are now common in the lake. Percina caprodes (Logperch)--This small fish has always been rare and difficult to take in Lake Wichita. Aplodinotus grunniens (Freshwater Drum)--This was once one of the most abundant fishes in Lake Wichita, but its numbers were greatly reduced. It seems to be on the increase at present. Specimens taken by fishermen were examined and seemed to be fat and healthy, in contrast to their condition in 1952 and 1953. --- Page 6 --- Bs ° TABLE I. CHECK LIST OF FISHES OF LAKE WICHITA SPECIES Large and Important Forage Fishes Casual Forms Lepisosteus osseus “ongnosed Gar xX wepisosteus platostomus Shortnosed Gar Xx Lepisosteus productus Xx Spotted Gar Dorosoma cepedianum Gizzard Shad Xx Astyanax fasciatus Rio Grande Tetra X Ictiobus cyprinellus Bigmouth Buffalo x Ictiobus bubalus Smallmouth Buffalo xX Carpiodes carpio River Carpsucker x Cyprinus carpio European Carp x Notemigonus chrysoleucas Golden Shiner xX Pimephales vigilax Parrot Minnow x Hybognathus placita Plains Minnow x Notropis buchanani Ghost Shiner xX Notropis deliciosus ind Shiner x Notropis lutrensis Red Shiner Xx Pilodictus olivaris Flathead Catfish xX Iectalurus punctatus Channel Catfish x Ameiurus melas Black Bullhead xX Gambusia affinis Mosquito Fish Xx Morone chrysops White Bass x Micropterus salmoides Largemouth Black Bass x Chaenobryttus coronarius Warmouth xX Lepomis cyanellus Green Sunfish xX Lepomis humilis Orange-spotted Sunfish x Lepomis macrochirus Bluegill Sunfish X Lepomis magalotis Tong-eared Sunfish X moxis annularis White Crappie x Percina caprodes Logperch Xx Aplodinotus grunniens Freshwater Drum Xx --- Page 7 --- TABLE IT. PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION AND SMX RATIOS OF LARGE FISHES FROM LAKE WICHITA TAKEN IN GILL NETS SPECIES Number Taken of Total Males Females Lepisosteus osseus 105 9.8 75 25 Lepisosteus platostomus 36 3.3 53 47 Lepisosteus productus fe) 8 hy 56 Dorosoma cepedianum 178 16.5 33 67 Ictiobus cyprinellus 7 af 100 -- Ictiobus bubalus 226 21.0 84. 16 Carpiodes carpio 173 16.1 57 43 Cyprinus carpio ho 3.7 60 Ke) Ictalurus punctatus 4 ms 75 25 Ameiurus melas 14 1.3 50 50 Morone chrysops 121 12.2 46 » oh Micropterus salmoides 32 3.0 34 66 Pomoxis annularis 86 8.0 he 58 Aplodinotus grunniens 45 4.2 33 67 TOTALS 1,076 101.0 TABLE III. WEIGHTS, PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION BY WEIGHT AND MEAN WEIGHTS OF LARGER FISHES FROM LAKE WICHITA TAKEN IN GILL NETS SPECIES Weight Taken of Total Weight Mean Weight Lepisosteus osseus 356.5 lbs. 16.7 3.4 lbs. Lepisosteus platostomus 63.1 2.9 Ls Lepisosteus productus 12.3 6 1.4 Dorosoma cepedianum 292.6 13.2 1.6 Ictiobus cyprinellus 26.5 1.2 3.8 Ictiobus bubalus ; 704.9 32.9 3.2 Carpiodes carpio 383.7 17.9 2.2 Cyprinus carpio 58.2 2.7 1.5 Ictalurus punctatus 9.4 4 2.4 Ameiurus melas 20.4 9 1.5 Morone chrysops 103.9 4 9 micropterus salmoides 26.1 1.2 8 Pomoxis annularis 30.7 1.4 4 Aplodinotus grunniens 49.8 2.3 1.1 TOTALS 2,138.1 99.2 --- Page 8 --- 8. TABLE IV, ROUGH RISHES TAKF? IN OUR GILL NETS IN LAKE WICHITA BETWEEN JUNE 1 1954 AND MAY 30, 1955 SPECIES Number Taken % of Total Weight Taken of Total Mean Weight Gars (all spevies) 150 19.4 431.9 lbs. 22.8 2.2 lbs. Gizzard Shad 178 23.0 292.6 15.4 1.6 Buffalos (2 species) 233 30.1 731.4 38.5 3.1 River Carpsucker 173 2233 383.7 20.2 2.2 European Carp Ie) 5.2 58.2 3.1 1.5 TOTALS 774 100.0 1,897.8 100.0 pr te eRe nn TABLE V. ROUGH FISHES TAKEN BY COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN C. E. WALSTON IN LAKE WICHITA BETWEEN FEBRUARY 1 AND APRIL 30, 1955 SPECIES Number Taken of Total Weight Taken % of Total Mean Weight ars (all species) 387 3.5 2,309 lbs. 6.6 6.0 lbs. Gizzard Shad 3,649 33.4 7,936 22.7 2.2 Buffalos (2 species) 3,282 30.0 13,947 39.9 4.3 River Carpsucker 3,534 32.3 10,062 29.1 2.8 European Carp 75 7 645 1.7 8.6 TOTALS 10 ,927 99.9 34,899 100.0 --- Page 9 --- TABLE VI. COMPOSITION OF FORAGE FISH FAUNA OF LAKE WICHITA DETERMINED BY SHINING SPECIES Number Taken Percent of Total Astyanax fasciatus 2 ol Notemigoneus crysoleucas 82 4d Pimephales vigilax 28 1.4 Hybognathus placita 6 :3 Notropis buchanani 101 5.0 Notropis deliciosus ue .05 Notropis lutrensis 893 Whey Gambusia affinis 216 10.8 Chaenobryttus coronarius 23 1.1 Lepomis cyanellus 110 5.5 Lepomis humilis 22 1.0 Lepomis macrochirus 324 16.1 Lepomis megalotis 199 9.9 Percina caprodes i 205 TABLE VII. SEASONAL VARIATION IN WATER QUALITY OF LAKE WICHITA \TE Calcium Sodium Chloride sulfate Carbonates Total pH 6/21/54 43 34 83 3 84. 247 7.65 7/14/54 59 100 160 54 96 472 = 8.20 8/12/54 259 Yd 786 381 98 1,986 7.70 8/17/54 252 518 825 470 104 2,181 7.75 9/9/54 89 159 293 OT 55 693 8.56 9/22/54 119 168 327 108 104 826 «8.43 10/6/54 116 196 337 139 108 896 8.81 10/19/54 115 198 342 133 113 901 =7.78 11/25/54 122 208 350 156 122 958 8.23 12/15/54 336 198 387 121 135 1,177 7.78 12/21/54 114 222 364 149 113 962 «8.15 1/12/55 103 222 355 130 122 932 ©6820 1/26/55 132 216 360 187 122 1,017 7.80 2/1/55 154 252 426 221 128 1,181 7.60 2/25/55 220 192 384 215 120 1,131 7.90 3/4/55 248 204 375 413 125 1,365 7.85 4/29/55 128 258 462 116 159 1,123 8.50 5/9/55 128 26h 476 89 152 1,109 8.h9 5/25/55 64 76 12 43 98 423 «7.70 --- Page 10 --- LO. Lake Wichita is an artificial impoundment of 2,500 surface acres and 13,964 sre-feet capacity, located in Wichita and Archer counties in north-central Texas. whe lake was constructed in 1901 and has had an extremely varied fishing history. Since it is located only three miles from the city of Wichita Falls fishing pres- sure has been unusually heavy. The lake is astonishingly fertile and productive and fishing has generally been excellent previous to 1952. In 1953 drought so reduced the lake volume that game fishes except for catfishes apparently died out. Heavy rains in the fall of 1953 again filled the lake to its spillway capacity. In the spring of 1954, emergent vegetation again grew along the lake borders, apparently from persistent underground roots. Water lilies and green algae, espec- ially Cladophora, were abundant. The plankton, and the insect faunas of the bottom and the littoral zones, are rich. Turbidity is great, andan cight-inch Seichi disk ean rarely be seen at more than 300 mm. Water quality is generally good. Dissolved salts increase during dry months but are again diluted following rains. Chlorides Yanged from 83 to 476 ppm. during the study period. Twenty-nine species of fishes were found in Lake Wichita. Three of these are game species, reintroduced to the lake since 1953. These, the white bass, black bass and white crappie all reproduced in the summer of 1954, and large numbers of specimens in excess of one pound were taken by fishermen in 1955. The channel catfish is now uncommon and the flathead catfish rare, but the black bullhead, once rare in the lake, is now common. The freshwater drum is less common than in the past but now seems to be increasing in numbers. Three species of gars occur in the lake: longnosed, shortnosed and spotted. Only the former is common. Rough fishes include the gizzard shad (abundant), bigmouth buffalo (rare). smallmouth buffalo (abundant), river carpsucker (abundant), and the European carp (moderately common). |. Fourteen species are of small size. Of these, five are too uncommon to be impor- unt forage species. Three of these. are probably released fishermen's bait (Rio Grande tetra, plains minnow, and sand shiner). The orange-spotted sunfi-h and log- perch are native but rare. The nine more important forage species include: golden shiner, parrot minnow, ghost shiner, red sh: ner (most abundant species), mosquito Tables include a checklist of species. percentage composition and sex ratios of larger fishes, weights, percentage composition by weight and mean weights of larger fishes, rough fishes taken by commercial fishermen, rough fishes taken in gill nets, composition of forage fish fauna, and the seasonal variation in water quality of the lake.