TPWD 1955 F-5-R-2 #161: Inventory of Species Present in Lake J. B. Thomas near Snyder, Texas

-*-r‘-r STATE Texas PROJECT N0. F-5-R-2Z Job BwlO PERIOD June 22, 1954 - May 12 1955 Segment Completion Report Lawrence S. Campbell Project Leader William G. McClellan Assistant Project Leader TITLE Inventory of Species Present in Lake J. B. Thomas near Snyder, Texas. OBJECTIVES To determine the species present and their relative abundance and to determine the ecological factors influencing their distribution. PROCEDURE Fortynnine gill nets were set at ten locations. Experimental nylon gill nets measuring 125 ft. long by eight ft. deep and made up in five, 25 ft. sections were used. Mesh size for these nets increased progressively in each following section at half inch intervals beginning with a oneminch mesh section and terminating with a threeminch mesh section. Thirty-three seining collections were made at eight seining stations in the reservoir. In nearly all collections both 26 ft., %” mesh bag seines and 15 ft., %" common sense seines were used. To estimate relative abundance a count was made of all individuals taken in two hauls with a 26 ft. %“ bag seine. In addition to this work, collections with h ft. common sense 1/16” mesh fry seines were taken. water analysis to determine dissolved oxygen content and the quantity of diam solved carbon dioxide was taken for each netting collection. Surface temperature, pH and weather conditions were recorded for each netting and seining collection. Turbidity was taken on four occasions. In netting collections, samples from each collection and for each species were weighed, measured and sexed. This work was done in the field. A.sca1e sample was taken from a sample number of individuals for each species and stomachs containing food were preserved for laboratory analysis. Similar work for seining collections included identim fication, weighing and measuring and preservation of all individuals whose identity was questionable in 10% formalin. FINDING Lake J. B. Thomas is located approximately 10 miles west of Ira, Texas. The earth fill dam impounds the Colorado River and Bull Creek about 2.5 miles above their :onfluence. The structure was completed in September 1951 by Freeze and Nichols Cone Struction Company of Dallas, Texas for the Colorado River Municipal Water District. The reservoir impounded it‘s first water, about A,OOO acre ft. volume, in August 1952, and 2G by July 1953 about 11,000 acre feet of water was in storage. When work was initiated on this job, in July 195h, the lake had increased to about £7,890 acre feet; and since that time has continued to rise to a volume of l3h,h80 acre feet in May 1955. The maximum storage capacity for Lake J. B. Thomas is 220,000 acre ft. and the reservoir has flood control potential of 255,000 acre ft. All impounded water is owned by the Colorado River Municipal water District and is to be used to fulfill the municipal and industrial demands of Big Springs, Odessa and Snyder, Texas. The contributing watershed of approximately 751 square miles is exclusively within the Permian Basin, and soil types are generally loose sands and red or brown sandy loams. Average annual rainfall is 21.15 inches, average maxim mum temperature is 820 F. and the average annual minimum is 410 F. Much of the watershed is utilized for ranching; however, in the northwestern ”Lamesa" area irrigated and ”dry land" farming is extensive. Four oil wells are surrounded by the lake; however, these walls are adequately protected by dykes, and no evidence of pollution has been discovered. The lake is usually slightly turbid having a reading of from 2 to 7; pH is about 8.2gcand total solids-arc about 150 ppm. Minimum recorded dissolved oxygen content recorded during the segment was 8 ppm and the maximum carbon dioxide was 12 ppm. Excepting‘algae and minute pelagic forms there is no aquatic vegetation in Lake J. B. Thomas. Netting Results: During the segment h9 gill nets were set at ten netting stations in the lake and captured 2,029 individuals of fifteen species. As shown in Table No. I, gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) were the most numerous fish taken in gill net collections, and name here of yellow bullheads (Ameiurus natalis), river carp suckers (Carpiodes carpio), freshm water drum (Aplodinotus grunniensi, and Southern channel catfish \Ictalurus punctatus) followed in that order. Although this lake is less than two years old white bass amorous chrysops} are more numerous than largemouth black bass. River carp suckers are second to gimzard shed in percent of the total weight of the catch. Seining Results: Thirtymthree seining collections at eight seining stations in the lake captured 1,958 individuals of twentymthree species. Mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis), red shiners (Notropis lutrensis), blacktail shiners (Notropis venustus), giszard shad {Qprosoma cepedianum) and bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) were the most abundant of all fishes taken. Mosquito fish catches apparently declined during the latter months of the segment. Remarks: Sixtywnine man days were spent working in the field and fourteen man days work was done in the laboratory. A continuation for this job has been requested and approved for next segment. SUMMARY 1. Fortywnine gill net collections captured 2,029 individuals of fifteen species. Gizzard shad, yellow bullheads, river carp suckers, and southern channel catfish are the most numerous species in the lake. 2. Seining results from thirtynthree collections captured 1,958 individuals and indicate high percentages for mosquito fish, red shiners, and gissard shad. 3. A continuation for this job has been requested and approved for next segment. aaowe H. 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