TPWD 1954 F-3-R-1 #83: Job Completion Report: Inventory of Species Present in Tyler City Lake, Project F-3-R-1, Job B-4

--- Page 1 --- STATE Texas PROJECT F-3-R-1, Job B-4 PERIOD July 1953 - May 1954 Job Completion Report by Robert J. Kemp, Jr. TITLE Inventory of Species Present in Tyler City Lake. OBJECTIVES To determine the species present and their relative abundance as well as to determine the ecological factors influencing their distribution. HISTORY OF LAKE Tyler City Lake was formed in January 1949 on completion of the dam. The lake is approximately eight air miles southeast of Tyler. It was built by the City of Tyler for their public water supply. Several hundred lake shore lots are now privately owned and many lake homes have been built. An estimated 2,000 boats are now located on Lake Tyler. Many boats are used by fishermen to put very heavy fishing pressure on the lake. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Lake Tyler is located on Prairie Creek, which drahs into Mud Creek and eventually into the Angelina River. The lake covers an area of 2,500 acres and contains 42,500 acre feet of water. The watershed covers 45 square miles. Besides Prairie Creek, the lake is fed by Gilly and Hill Creeks. The average annual rainfall for Tyler is 40.2 inches. Even though city water is heavily used, the lake level does not fluctuate over four feet, The soil of the Lake Tyler watershed in order of predominance iss Bowie F. S. L. Deep Phase Norfolk F. S. Bowie F. S. L. Ironton F. S. L. Karyin F. S. be - Nacogdoches ° OA FWwWN Land use of the watershed is: 1. Pasture, 40% 2. Cultivation, 40% (corn, cotton, roses and tomatoes) 3. Timber, 20% (3/4 hardwood and 1/4 pine) The lake has a maximum depth of 45 feet with an average depth of over 20 feet. The bottom is mostly sand and clay, with a few places in the Creek areas with soft silt bottom. --- Page 2 --- The water is very clear except in the upper ends of the three "fingers" of the lake. In these areas after heavy rains turbidity may read 30 ppm on a Jackson turbidimeter. CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS Due to the lack of equipment, water analyses were run only during the last phase of this study. The pH range from January through April was 7.0 to 7.3. However, pH records taken by the city show an annual pH range of 6.8 to 8.3. ‘The dissolved oxygen content was from 8.8 to 10.4 ppm. Carbon dioxide ran from 5 to 5-5 ppm. City records show total hardness to vary from 48 to 67 ppm and total alkalinity from 40 to 60 ppm. AQUATIC VEGETATION A number of aquatic plants were found in Lake Tyler, some of which may prove to be a nuisance. The two most common submerged species were Najas flexilis, the bushy pond weed and Chara sp., a musk grass. The energent vegetation includes the following: Nuphar variegatum - the yellow waterlily Zizaniopsis miliacea - Saw grass Typha latifolia - Common cattail Polygonum densiflorum - Smartweed Cephalanthus occidentalis - Button bush Eleocharis sp. - Spike Rush Carex sp. - Sedge Cyperus erythrorhizos - Sedge Scirpus validus - Softstem Bulrush All of the plants listed here are only the more common species found in Lake Tyler. There are doubtless many others of lesser importance found there. COLLECTING METHODS Random sampling of the fish population by gill nets and seines was con-~ ducted from July 1953 through April 1954. The gill nets were 3 inch mesh, 2 inch mesh and 14 inch mesh which were 8 feet deep and 100 feet long. Some nets were experimental type with 25 foot sections of mesh from one to three inches in dia- meter. These nets were 8 feet deep and 125 feet long. Seining collections were made with a 26 x 6 ft. bag seine with a 4" inch mesh. --- Page 3 --- 2 oe Scale samples were taken from all game fish taken in gill nets. Annuli were read and this data will be compared with similar data from other sections of the State. Stomachs of game species were taken in nets, preserved and later examined in the laboratory. Table No. 1 records the checklist of 31 species collected by the above meth- ods. However, the spotted bass, included on the check list, was only taken by hook and line, never netted or seined. SEINING COLLECTION RESULTS Even though the lake level fluctation was comparatively slight, a rise or drop of a foot or so often made stations unusable. For this reason, seining was pretty much at random, depending entirely on which locations could be used at the time of the collection. Kighteen seining collections were made on the lake between July 1953 and April 1954. No collections were made from November 1953 through March 195) due to the lack of waders. These collections yielded 1,407 specimens, including 16 dif- ferent species. The results of these collections by number and percent are found in Table No. 2. NETTING COLLECTION RESULTS One hundred and forty-eight gill net were set on Lake Tyler from July 1953 through April 1954. These nets caught 2,553 fish, weighing a total of 2,537.44 pounds, Table No. 3 records the numbers, weights and percentages of total number and weight of sach species. It should be noted that the game species (Centrarchids and channel cat) made up only 11.7% of the total number and 5.05% of the total weight. The sucker type fishes made up 49.6% by number and 68.5% by weight. Bullheads made up 36.5% of the total number and 21.4% of the total weight. DISCUSSION There is obviously a serious overpopulation of rough species in Lake Tyler. The black bullhead was the most abundant single species by number and may be a direct cause of the depletion of the crappie. Repeated observation of the east Texas area has shown that where bullheads are present in appreciable numbers, the crappie are almost certain to be few in number. The spotted sucker, which made up slightly more than half the total weight of the netting collections, may be at its peak population. No young spotted suck- ers were taken during the survey; all specimens weighed at least a pound and a quar- ter. The chub sucker, however, were found in all size groups and may be increas- ing in numbers. From observations, largemouth bass were very numerous and catches by fisher- men good. However, thre are many small bass and their condition was comparative - ly poor. This is seen in Table No. 4 which gives dength, weight and coefficient of condition of the game species collected in Lake Tyler. The poor condition of the small bass may be due to the absence of shad as a forage species. This has possibly affected crappie as well. --- Page 4 --- 4, The bluegill and redear were both in good condition, but have not reached a maximum size. This is probably due to too much competition for the available food supply. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Stock an appreciable number of adult Opelousas (flathead cat) and/or blue channel catfish. They are very good predators and enough of them would help keep suckers and bullheads under control. 2. Increase sport fishing pressure on bullheads and sunfish (bream). This might be helped by advertising campaign or fishing contest. 3. Close crappie fishing from February 15 through May 15 to give remaining crappie a better chance to spawn. 4. Stock channel cat 9 inches or longer. The building, by the City of Tyler, of rearing pond to feed channel cat is a step in the right direction. Stocking with channel cat fingerlings is useless until the bullhead population is reduced. D- Placing of crocks, tile pipe, kegs, etc. in lake as Spawning devices for channel cat. 6. Experimental stocking of threadfin shad as forage species. They are more desirable than gizzard shad since they do not get too large. SUMMARY 1. Lake Tyler is a 2,500 acre lake located eight miles southeast of Tyler. It is owned by the City of Tyler and is that city's public water supply. 2. The water is very clear and varies from slightly acid to very alkaline. 3. The most common aquatic plants found were Najas flexilis (bushy pond weed), Chara sp. (musk grass), Nupher variegatum (yellow water lily) and Zizaniopsis mil- iacea (saw grass.) 4, There were 31 species of fish collected by netting, seining, and hook or line. 5. Bass and sunfish made up approximately one fourth of the seining collec- tions. Forage species (minnows, darters, etc.) made up the remainder of the sein- ing collections. 6. Game species made up only 11.7% by number and 5.05% by weight of the net- ting collections. Sucker-type fishes made up 49.6% by number and 68.5% by weight of the collections. Bullheads made up 36.5% of the total number and 21.44 of the total weight of the netting collections. 7. Collection records and poor fishing results by fishermen resulted in the following recommendations: a. Stock large number of adult Opelousas and/or blue catfish. --- Page 5 --- Increase fishing pressure on bullheads and sunfish. Close crappie season from February 15 to May 15. Stock channel cat of 9 inches in length, or longer. Place spawning devices for channel cat in the lake. Stock with threadfin shad as a forage species for game fish. --- Page 6 --- 6. Table No. 1 Lake Tyler Species Checklist Family Amiidae 1. Amia calva - Bowfin Family Catostomidae 2. Moxostoma poecilurum - blacktail redhorse 3. Minytrema melanops - spotted sucker 4. Erimyzon sucetta - lake chubsucker Family Cyprinidae 5. Cyprinus carpio - carp 6. Notemigonus crysoleucas - golden shiner 7. Opsopoeodus emiliae ~ pugnose minnow 8. Notropis atherinoides - emerald shiner 9. Notropis roseus - central weed shiner 10. WNotropis venustus - blacktail shiner ll. Notropis lutrensis - red shiner 12. Notropis atrocaudalis - blackspot shiner 13. Pimephales vigilax - parrot minnow Family Ameiuridae 14, Ictalurus punctatus - southern channel catfish 15. Ameiurus melas - black bullhead 16. Ameiurus natalis - yellow bullhead Family Cyprinodontidae 17. Fundulus notti - starhead topminnow 18. Fundulus notatus - blackstripe topminnow Family Poeciliidae 19. Gambusia affinis - mosquitofish Family Atherinidae 20. Labidesthes sicculus - brook silversides Family Centrarchidae 21. Micropterus punctulatus - spotted black bass 22. Micropterus salmoides - largemouth black bass 23. Chaenobryttus coronarius - Warmouth bass 24. Lepomis punctatus - western spotted sunfish 25. Lepomis microlophus - redear sunfish 26. Lepomis macrochirus - bluegill sunfish 27. Lepomis auritus - redbreast sunfish 28. Pomoxis annularis - white crappie 29. Pomoxis nigromaculatus - black crappie 30. Centrarchus macropterus - flier Family Percidae 31. Etheostoma gracile - western swamp darter --- Page 7 --- (es Table No. 2 Seining Collections Species % of Total No. Totals 1,424 98.5% 1. WNotropis venustus 134 09.4% 2. Notropis lutrensis 299 20.9% 3. Notropis atrocaudalis 9 00.6 | 4, Notropis easeus 117 08,2 5. Notropis atherinoides 5 00.3 6. ©. emiliae 1 00.1 7. Pimephales vigilax 339 23.1 8. Labidesthes sicculus 76 05.3 9. Micropterus salmoides 22 O1L.5 1O. Lepomis macrochirus 309 21.6 11. Lepomis microlophus 37 O40 12. Lepomis punctatus 12 00.8 13. Lepomis auritus 5 00.3 14. Fundulus notatus 15 00.9 15. Fundulus dispar 5 00.3 16, Etheostoma gracile 2 00.1 17. Gambusia affinis L7 OL.1 --- Page 8 --- B. Table No. 3 Gill Netting Collections Species No. % of Total Weight % of Tota Number Weight Bowfin Chubsucker 401.26 Spotted sucker 1309.24 Blacktail redhorse 20.61 Carp ° 7-37 Golden shiner 7.05 Black bullhead 504.72 Yellow Bullhead 38.85 Channel catfish 2.31 Largemouth bass P 65.05 Warmouth 1.12 Bluegill 30.88 Redear 17.94 White crappie . 20.34 Black crappie 38.85 Flier Totals By 553 100.0 2,537 44 99.9% --- Page 9 --- ele [S°E - ST’2 662 20S - SQ HE? €Le - 9yT ST etddezo aqrty Love LG°E - Lor™] LLT OLE - €€ LAT. 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