TPWD 1954 F-5-R-1 #69: Inventory of Species Present in Lake Brownwood, Brownwood, Texas

--- Page 1 --- \J STATE Texas PROJECT F-5-R-1, Job B-5 PERIOD June 22, 1953 - June 22, 195 Job Completion Report Lawrence S. Cempbell Ug TITLE Inventory of Species Present in Lake Brownwood, Brownwood, Texas. OBJECTIVES To determine the species present and their relative abundance and to determine the ecological factors influencing their distribution. PROCEDURE One hundred and sixteen gill nets were set for twenty-nine collections from Lake Brownwood. Experimental nylor gill nets, measuring 125 ft. long x 8 ft. in depth, and made up in five, 25 ft. sections were used. Mesh size for these nets increased progress-~ ively in each following section at one-half inch intervals beginning with one-inch mesh and terminating with a three-inch mesh section. Forty-three seining collections were made at sixteen seining stations in the reser- ir. In nearly all collections both 26 ft. 4" mesh bag seines and 15 ft. =" common sense seines were used. To estimate relative abundance a count was made of all individuals tak- en in two hauls with a 26 ft. ¢" bag seine for each collection. In addition to that work other seining collections were made to determine seasonal distribution of species and to secure samples of fry after the spring spawning season for fishes. For this latter work 4 £t, common sense with meshes of } inch and 1/16 inch were used. Water analysis to determine dissolved carbon dioxide and oxygen content was taken for each eolleetion and surface temperature, pH and the climatic conditions were recordd for each netting and seining collection. Turbidity was taken on four occasions. In netting collections samples from each collection for each species were weighed, measured and sexed in the field. A scale sample was taken and stomachs containing food were preserved for laboratory study. Similar work for seining collections included iden- tification and counting only and where identity of an individual was questioned the fish was preserved in 10% formalin. FINDING Lake Brownwood is located approximately 6.5 miles north of the City of Brownwood. The dam creating the reservoir is located about one-half mile below the confluence of Jim Ned Creek and Pecan Bayou, is earth fill construction and 1 ;500 £t. long. The reservoir was constructed by Brown County Water Improvement District anid the impounded,.water is pri- marily for the municipal and industrial consumption of Brownwood, Coleman and Bangs. Ilow- ever, about five thousand acres are irrigated either directly or by sub-surface seepage om the reservoir. When at emergency spillway level, the lake has 8,000 surface acres and contains an estimated 137,300 acre feet of water. When filled the lake has about 95 miles of shoreline --- Page 2 --- Po The contriouting watershed of 1,535 square miles is Coleman, Breckenridge and Cepps Limestone formation and top soils are usually alluvial deposits near streamways \ various clays, loams and sands on higher ground. There are fifty different soil types in the county. Vegetative cover for the watershed is predominantly oak-grassland association, and the area is currently employed for farming with a lesser acreage for ranching. Climate for the watershed is semi-arid. The average annual rainfall is aie inches, and the average annual discharge for Pecan Bayou and Jim Ned Creek is 166 c. f. s. A maximum discharge of 52,700 c. f£. s. was recorded in October 1930 and recent are were 20.6 c. f. s. for 1953 and 4.96 c. f. s. for 1952. Toe lake's water is clear, 0.0 turbidity. The maximum surface temperature re- corded was 84 degrees F. and a minimum of 41 degrees F. was recorded. pH was 8.4 - 8.5. Maximum carbon dioxide registered 18 ppm and the minimum oxygen recorded at that time was 2.5 ppm. Dissolved carbon dioxide was usually about 11 - 12 ppm and oxygen usually about 5 ~ 8 ppm. Principal species of aquatic vegetation in the upper lake shallow flats are bull- rushes (Seirpus sp.) and along the south shore arrowheads (Sagittaria latifolia and S. platyphylla) and pondweeds (Potomogeton natans and P. spirillus) are present in depths to eight feet. In several small protected areas, mainly boat docks, parrot feather (Myrio- phyllum sp.) and muskgrass (Chara sy.) occur. However, because of semi-annual fluctuations in the lake level dense concentrations of aquatics are rare and usually semi-permanent. Netting Results 14,500 ft. of experimental gill nets were set at 18 different stations and caught 1,971 individuals of eleven generas. As shown in Table 1, white bass (Morgne chrysops) and szard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) are probably dominant species for Lake Brownwood. How- zr a combined total for al’ types sampling indicate largemouth black bass (Micropterus salmoides) and white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) may be increashg and river carpsuckers (Carpiodes carpio), carp (Cyprinus carpio) and smallmouth buffalo (Ietiobus bubalus) pop- ulations may be declining. It is considered likely that the percentage by weight figures presented in Table 11 are more accurate in representing the importance of the latter spe-- cies. Thirteen species were taken and the average catch was .135 fish per foot experimen- tal net set. Table 11 may be more accurate in illustrathg the importance of flathead cat- fish (Pilodictus olivaris). Seining Results pecies were taken in seining collections. Thirty-eight collections caught i” als. The comparatively small number of individuals taken by seining as com- pared te other lakes is explained by a lack of suitable seining stations. Howeber, Table lil is probably more accurate in illustrating the importance of such species as mosquito- f (Gambusia affinis), plains minnow (Hybognathus placitus) and killifish, (Fundulus sp.) a cause of the apparent increases in largemouth black bass and white crappie and Ss believed that seining results are inadequate for accurate expression, it is hat this study be continued for another year. because recommen --- Page 3 --- 00° T e] ©) ob" Oo 0 C°? 09° O°T 2 seust yung 2 °ou OF id STASTNUUR STxXOWOg t mele os" gb Septomptes snzeqdoszop “STIBATTO snqotpottd . € e) 0 oo ie) T ‘ou OL’ $2 Hehe e° Te o°Se 6° He Oo Le 9°S2 GOS a" 9S $ sdosAiuo suoZop 90S é ua ee - o LET Tt TS ou oe = ONT Of °T 6) L°T G°T fe) OL’ LT g°t % snessa sneqsostdeyt snteqnq snaqot 1oy otdzeo snutadsg setoadsg 2) AT ® “ON % “oN % ‘oN % “ON & ‘oN G on % “ON % ‘ON L TB{0, aune ° dy ° TByy -qoq ‘uer ‘oad "400 “Bny TV SUOTPOSTTLON Sutqien T eTaeL, --- Page 4 --- S9°9- en" H Soaust sung 46° 469° 2 Sstze—Tnuue stxomog EL*e-Sa'°? 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White bass and gizzard shad apparently dominate much of the lake, however largemouth black bass and white crappie may be increasing. Because of the difficulty in locating suitable seining stations it is conclud- ed that the sample of 1,471 individuals taken in 38 collections is inadequate. However, trends indicated by seining results and increase in largemouth bass and white crappie may be important. Because of the apparent increases in largemouth black bass and crappie and because it is believed that seining results are inadequate for accurate expres- sion, it is recommended that this study be continued for another year. --- Page 7 --- I ON ~] Checklist of Species of Fish Taken from Lake Brownwood June 22, 1953 to June 22, 1954 Common Name Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo Black buffalo River carpsucker Gray redhorse sucker German carp Plains shiner Red shiner Blacktail shiner Plains minnow Parrot minnow Banded killifish Southern channel catfish Flathead catfish Common mosquitofish White bass Largemouth black bass Warmouth bass Green sunfish Spotted sunfish Redear sunfish Bluegill Western longear sunfish White crappie Logperch reshwater drum Scientific Name Lepisosteus osseus Derssons cepedianum Ictiobus bubalus Ictiobus niger Carpiodes carpio Moxostoma congestum Cyprinus carpio Notropis percobromus Notropis lutrensis Notropis venustus Hybognathus placitus Pimephales vigilax Fundulus notatus Ictalurus punctatus Pilodictus olivaris Gambusia affinis Morone chrysops Micropterus salmoides Chaenobryttus coronarius Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis punctatus Lepomis microlophus Lepomis humilis Lepomis megalotis Pomoxis annularis Percina caprodes Aplodinotus grunniens --- Page 8 --- Hiway #279 Lake | +) BYRDS STORE, Bown wood