TPWD 1954 F-3-R-1 #89: Inventory of the Species Present in Caddo Lake: Job Completion Report, Project F-3-R-1, Job B-1

--- Page 1 --- STATE Texas PROJECT NO. F-3-R-1, Job B-1 PERIOD Dec. 1, 1953 - June 30, 1954 Job Completion Report by Charles E. Gray TITLE Inventory of the Species Present in Caddo Lake. ee OBJECTIVES To determine the species present and their relative abundance as well as to determine the ecological factors influencing their distribution. METHODS Four netting stations were selected at widely separated sites in order to sample the various environments in the lake. (See attached map for location of stations). These stations were netted once each month using experimental type gill nets composed of 25 ft. sections of varying mesh, including 3/4", 1", 4", 2" and 3" square mesh. Hoop and fyke nets of 1/4" and 1" mesh were also used. Fish were kept alive until examined for length, weight, sex and stage of sexual development. Scale samples were taken and saved for future study and comparison with those from other sections of the State. Some doubt exists at present as to the reliability of annuli in age determination at this latitude. Stomachs of sport species were preserved for food analysis. Results of the analysis of ten species and recorded in Table No. 7. Ecological data recorded for each collection include: a. Temperature: air and surface water b. pH ec. Turbidity d. Depth of water e. Depth of net set f. Direction and strength of wind g. Dissolved oxygen h. Main cover types i Bottom type Because of the heavy vegetation in Caddo Lake seining stations were difficult to find. The five sites were chosen simply because they were about the only ones open enough to allow seining operations and even these become impossible at times because of thick mats of water hyacinths. Seining collections were made once each month after wad- ers became available. All seining specimens were brought to the laboratory for counting and identification. Ecological data recorded for each collection include the same items listed above for netting collections. --- Page 2 --- { lA u Hoody a bok 2. For the purpose of comparing populations and conditions in the different areas of the lake, the data for each netting station was treated separately. Five collections were made at each station during the period covered by this report. It has been proposed that this job continue into the next segment in order to obtain monthly collections for a full year period. Further collections will undoubtedly bring out seasonal aspects that fail to show up in this report. Netting Collections Station No. 1 - This site is located where the dense cypress breaks open into the waters of the Big Lake area. The area contains scattered cypress (Taxodium distichum) of a density of about four or five trees to an acre. Submerged aquatics occur here in dense beds although they do not cover the area completely. The more im- portant ones in estimated order of abundance include: pondweeds (Potamogeton) water millfoil (Myriophyllum), coontail (Ceratophyllum) and muskgrass (Chara). By early summer, dense beds of water lily (Nymphaea and lotus (Nelumbo) emerge to cover part of the area. Water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassippes)almost cover the area at times, de- pending on the time of year and wind direction and velocity. The bottom of this stat- inn is a sandy silt covered with organic litter. The water depth is normally 5 to 8 feet. Twenty-two species of fish, including nine families were collected at this sta- tion. Gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) were the mot abundant, making up more than half of the total collections both by weight and numbers. Table 1 shows the relative abundance of each species taken at this station. The pH at this station ranged from 6.2 to 6.7 with a mean of 6.5. Reasilts of complete water analyses for each station are recorded in Table 5. Station No. 2 - This station is located in the open water of the Big Lake area. There are some widely scattered cypress trees in the area but they are so few that the area may be considered open water. Depth of the water ranges from 4 to 8 ft. and due to wind action it is generally more turbid than the the other stations . Sub- merged aquatics are present but are much less abundant than at other stations. Water milfoil, (Myriophyllum), pondweeds (Potamogeton) Coontail (Ceratophyllum) and musk- grass (Chara) were found in the more shallow water. Mats of water hyacinths (Bichhornia crassipes) drift through the area with water and wind currents. The pH ranged from 6.4 to 7.0 with a mean of 6.7. Twenty-two species representing nine families of fish were taken at this station. Gizzard shad were the most abundant, making up approximate~ ly half of the total weight and numbers. Table 2 shows the relative abundance at this station. Station No. 3 - This station lies in the Clinton Lake area as shown on the attached map. Woody vegetation in the area consists of thick cypress breaks and open water dotted with scattered cypress trees. In warm weather, Clinton Lake becomes choked with submerged aquatics to such an extent that boat travel becomes very difficult. The major submerged species found here include: pondweeds (Potamogeton), water milfoil (Myriophyllum), coontail (Ceratophyllum) and muskgrass (Chara). Some scattered beds of water lilies (Nymphaea) and lotus (Nelumbo) emerge in the spring. The water in this area is very clear, becoming turbid only after prolonged rains and very high water. The pH ranges from 6.2 to 7.2 with a mean of 6.7. Water depth ranges from three to eight feet. The bottom is a sandy clay covered with organ- ic litter. Twenty species representing nine families of fish were collected at station “hree with the gizzard shad making up better than half of the total weight and numbers. --- Page 3 --- Station No. 4 - This station is located in the Carter Lake Area in the ex- treme upper end of Caddo Lake. Aquatic vegetation at station four is much the same as at station three. However, station four receives even less water from the bayou than station three. This can easily be seen on the attached map. Very seldon does all of the water in Carters Lake become turbid. The pH at this station ranges from 6.4 to 7.0 with a mean of 6.7. The bottom is sandy clay and sandy silt covered with organic litter. Nettng collections at station four produced 15 species of fish which include nine families. Again the gizzard shad was the most abundant, making up approximately 60 percent of the total weight and numbers. Seining Collections Due to the short period covered by this report the seining collection data is not sufficient to warrant full analysis of each station at this time. It has been proposed that this job be extended into the next fiscal year to obtain a full all-seasons aspect. Table 6 shows the relative abundance of species taken at all of the stations. The Micropterus salmoides recorded on the chart were approximately two to four weeks old. This indicates fair spawning success. SUMMARY In order to measure and compare ecological differences in various localities in Caddo Lake, data from each collection station was recorded and studied separately. Four netting stations and five seining stations were selected in widely separated areas for this purpose. Collections were made and ecological data recorded once each month at each station. It has been proposed that this job be extended into the next segment.. There- fore, the writer feels that conclusions should be withheld until data can be collected and studied covering a full year period. However there are two problems that are very obvious at this time. These problems both involve vegetation control. Water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassippes ) have invaded the lake and are spread- ing at a tremendous rate. These plants now cover large areas that were once good fish- ing waters and spawning beds. They have closed many of the boat roads to traffic. The other vegetation problem involves submerged aquatics. Some of the quiet- er waters of the lake become choked with these plants in summer to the extent that fish- ing and boat travel become extremely difficult. Data collected on this job in the next segment will be studied to determine any further effects these conditions may have on fish populations. --- Page 4 --- 0° OOT 0*O0T ZT TLE 69 "Te1OY, LL A A EA NS ANNE a NW hte noe sr ntti eee en A en CS 6°0 g°0 90°8 Q°T 12 GL° ST €°0 4°O 29°? £°O aT 92°2 Z°O 6°0 CH 0 ZT Hee 4°O 4°70 OS°€ T°O T°O $1." oy 2°OT LE°9€ Q°T T°’ OL" St S°0 £°0 QT’ £°? €°0 Ler? g°0 6°0 She, T°O T°O 9Q°T T°O T°O G2°0 t°0O 6°0 g9°e €°9 TS G2°SS Z°O T°O 0S°T L°€ 6"< 06° Ze 6°TS amie) GE SSh L°6T G°e 19° 9QT g°€ HT OL TE qUsTOM Zaqumyy spunog ul AG quedteg Aq queasteg qUSTOM G suatuunIs snacutpoTdy 6T SNYBTNOeMOASTU STxoMog ¢ sTzreTnuue sTxomog OT Snityooisem stwodet 9 snudoTo.1otTm stmodety 8 snTreucte. sna yArqouseey) ¢ soptoutes sniteqdozoty T . snzetnyzound snzeqdazorpw TL SL1dnitse1ut suo.royq +T sdoski1yo auo.oW ra STABATTO SNIOTPOTTd Z STTeLeU SsnIMmtoUy 9 seTou —— £ snzeqyound snanTerect T sBonaToséio snuostme10N 9 By280NS UGZAMIT IG 9€ sdoueTouw emer AUTH T snTeqnqg snqotyot 02g Jestu xosy Ont unuetpedsos emosoizog 2 snesso sne zsostdet OT snionpoid sneqsostdeT “on satosdg HS6T “GT eune ySno749 4S6T ‘og ‘use ‘sexey ‘Aqunop uostTazey ‘ayeT oppep ‘T ‘ON suoTyeqg ‘suoTYOeTTON BuT9A7eN Jo sqTnsey T “ON STQBL “t --- Page 5 --- %0°OOT %0° OOT oo 6°T 9°0 6°O 9°2 e°€ TO 2°O €°0 L°O oT ered 1°0 L°0 4°0 Z°0 or) €°te Q°s a°s ott o°T oO 3°0 qe) 9°T 1°0 Lane) oe T°’? oot G*e eT L*0 L°T L°0 ToL 4°0S S°0 o°O T°S o°T O° S‘T TUSTOM Te qumoN fq qyusoteg Aq queoreg 98° SHE CLL €9°T 66° TE*O 16°0O 9g°t 66°T Ge°T 69°? 998° 6T She ST 69°0 00°g 96°2 GL°OT TQ°HT 69° ge°9 TO°€9T tT 69°0€ 6T°LT spunog ul 4USTOM 6en 26 oo 9TzZ S 9 “ON TRIO] suetuunss sn joutpoldy snyeTnoemorstu stxomog STIeTnuue sTxomog STJYOTeBem stuodeT snityoortoem stmodeT snydotoiotm stwodeT soptomres snzeqdo.zoty snyetnqound snzeqdos0tW eqydn1fe4ut suoroW sdosfayo ouc.roW STICATTO snqgoTpoTtd snyeomng snainteyeor snyeqzound sninTeyeot eqyqzoeons uozAWT AG sdouetTom emer Aut otdzes sepatdze9 snTeqnq snqotyoT Ia8tu xosy unuetpedss emosc.1og STIOTYOOSAIYO BsolTy snesso snox.sostdet snzonpoid sneasostdey setoedg HS6T ‘ST eune yBnozyy 4G6T ‘9g *uRr ‘sexey, ‘fyun09 uosTazey ‘axel oppep *Z ‘oN uoTyZe4g ‘sUOTAZDeTTON BuTAyeN Jo sqTnsey co “ON STqBL AGO --- Page 6 --- Gs Table No. 3 Results of Netting Collections, Station No. 3, Caddo Lake Harrison County, Texas, Jan. 26, 1954 through June 15, 1954 Species Lepisosteus productus Lepisosteus osseus Dorosoma cepedianum Esox niger Carpiodes carpio Minytrema melanops Erimyzon sucetta Notemigonus crysoleucas Icatalurus punctatus Ameiurus melas Ameiurus natalis Pilodictus olivaris Morone interrupta Micropterus salmoides Chaenobryttus coronarius Lepomis microlophus Lepomis macrochirus Pomoxis annularis Pomoxis nigromaculatus ‘plodinotus grunniens No. 35 301 al 1g 15 el 14 LO Weight In Pounds 80.70 37-56 309.80 26.63 3-37 29.02 12.82 Percent By — Number 6.5 0.8 63.2 3.3 0.2 33 "Percent By Weight 13.74 6.4 52.8 4e5 0.6 5.0 2228 225 0.3 TOTAL 483 100.0% --- Page 7 --- Cs Table No. 4 RESULTS OF NETTING COLLECTIONS, STATION NO. 4, CADDO LAKE HARRISON COUNTY, TEXAS, JAN. 26, 1954 THROUGH JUNE 15, 1954 Weight Percent By Percent By Species No In Pounds Number Weight Lepisosteus productus 9 15.88 1.6 2.7 Amia calva 1 4,88 0.2 0.8 Dorosoma cepedianum 343 352.67 59.8 60.0 Esox niger 2h 34.31 hy 5.8 Minytrema melanops 36 56.68 6.1 9.6 Erimyzon sucetta ho 23.62 7 sl Wed Notemigonus crysoleucas 1 0.25 0.2 O.L Ameiurus melas 22 34.81 3.8 5.9 Ameiurus natalis 6 6.44 1.1 1.1 Morone interrupta 6 5.18 Led 0.9 Micropterus salmoides 3 6.07 0.5 1.0 Chaenobryttus coronarius 26 10.63 LT 1.9 Lepomis microlophus 13 5.67 2.3 0.9 Lepomis macrochirus 10 4.17 1.7 0.7 Pomoxis nigromaculatus 31 26913 5.3 eS Total 573 587.39 100.0% 100.0% --- Page 8 --- TABLE NO. 5 WATER ANALYSES, FOUR NETTING STATIONS, CADDO LAKE, HARRISON COUNTY, TEXAS ATR TURBIDITY ; DISSOLVED QYGEN CARBON DIOXIDE starion wo. x | "EtPs (rm.) WATER TEMP, F rURBIDMETER | Borrom sunrace | sorrom surrace | porrox _ SURFACE Maccimun | 7220 under 25 V2 7320 8.0 8,0 Minimum 5400 under 25 54 4520 405 400 Average 6201 under 25 6563 | 5867 6.5 608 605 19.0 13.2 5.0 Te7 300 Jot Aol STATION NO.II | Mexcimun 79,0 78,0 7220 ¥2.0 Minima 57,0 under 25 58,0 45.45 Average 65 26 655 61.2 STATION NO, III 77.0 77,0 746 li.l 8,0 65,0 5145 7.6 Te6 8,0 | M10 6307 76 905 8.0 Maximn Minimum Average STATION NO,IV * Meocizmn 78.0 10,0 3,0 ’ Hinimm 59,0 429 3,0 68.3 8.1. 320 --- Page 9 --- Table No. 6 Results of Seining Collections by Percent of Total No. Species No. of Total Esox vermiculatus 3 0.29 Esox niger 8 0.78 Notemigonus crysoleucas 1 0.10 Opsopoeodus emiliae 8 0.78 Notropis chalybeus 14 1.36 Notropis roseus 5 0.48 Notropis venustus 2 0.19 Notropis lutrensis 2 0.19 Notropis deliciosus 1 0.10 Notropis volucellus 1 0.10 Pimephales vigilax 15 1.45 Ameiurus melas 1 0.10 Gchilbeodes mollis 2 0.19 Fundulus chrysotus 5 0.48 Fundulus notatus 46 U6 Fundulus notti: 28 2.72 Gambusia affinis 59 5.72 Menidia audens 31 3.01 Labidesthes sicculus 115 11.16 Micropterus salmoides 237 22.99 Chaenobryttus coronarius 7 0.68 Lepomis microlophus 112 10.86 Lepomis macrochirus 318 30.84 Elassoma zonatum 2 Etheostoma proliare Totals --- Page 10 --- S ST ET 8 ST Cy 6 8ST (AS) ed TL 4 €T 6 val S LS € OS oS 9T S LT t 9€ LT Se ve FaCurs Care Cearece = 9 2 3 a | Bg : J if 5 i" : g = i B te S °o Ss g ~t a 67 97 Tt S| pou % Jou[% [ou[% Tous Ton] eooeqsnig BosnTon eireydoeto9 OT T 9T cA VL, €z LT T ce (5A g ze | @ ST % OT LT 6€T - {6 rad €9 On z| e2| | gz 5 8 eo 3 ES P| Fl] Bl sg 3 e | eR snyeTNosucorstu sTxowoj STreTaure sTxXouog SsnuITyooroem stuode'| snydoTozotu stuodeT sntreupioo sny7faqouscy) soproupes snzeqdozoTH enyetTnzound snzeqdoroTh eqdnitequEt euozo}] sdosf{1yo suot0H atestu xosy Sal 0ads YS6T ‘OE ome 04 EG6T *T seqmooed Sexe] opped ‘sepoeds uel ‘stsfreuy youmoys Jo sytnsey */, TIGVL --- Page 11 --- Bim BNO 3NVv1 O18 VNVISINOT TEXAS ast) BBM... 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