TPWD 1955 F-2-R-2 #165: Inventory of Species Present in the Belton Reservoir, Texas

--- Page 1 --- STATE ___rexas _ PROJECT F-2-R-2, Joo B-l It f PERIOD June 1, 1955 through May 31,1955 Job Completion Report by Kenneth C. Jurgens TITLE Inventory of Species Present in the Belton Reservoir, Texas. OBJECTIVES To determine the species present and their relative abundance, as well as to determine the ecological factors influencing their distribution. METHODS Since the Belton Reservoir is a newly impounded body of water, and since it had not filied to the expected normal pool elevation during the study period, and since the lake level varied considerably from month to month, no regular netting or seining stations could be established. All net and seine collections were therefore made at random, with the purpose of making as many collections as possible from the varied habitats during the alloted e. Specimens were collected through the use of small meshed seines, experimental and regular gill nets, and fyke nets. Seined specimens were preserved in a solution of formalin (10 per cent) for later identification in the laboratory. Netted specimens were identified, weighed and measured at the lake. Data was recorded for netted indivi- duals of the game spécies and in some cases for individuals of the forage and rough species. This data included: length, weight, sex and stage of sexual development. If any game fish specimens were found to have food in their stomachs, these stomachs were preserved for laboratory examination. Water samples were collected regularly from a station established soon after the gates on the dam were closed and water began to be impounded. A one day creel census was made on Armistice Day, November 11, 1954, in order to sample the type of fishing pressure presently being exerted on the fish population in the reservoir. DESCRIPTION OF THE BELTON RESERVOIR The following description of the Belton Reservoir Area was taken in part from material provided by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, in that portion of the Master Plan for the Belton Reservoir entitled Biological Potentialities. "4-03. Soils and vegetation.- The soils in the pro- ject area represent various stages of development. The alluvial soils of the bottom lands are sandy loams and clay loams. The residual soils are clays, stony clays, and rocky soils... --- Page 2 --- “ ‘ + 2. 4-O4. Only remnants of the bottom timbers remain since a large percentage of the bottom lands have been cleared or selectively cleared for cultivation and pecan production. Tree growth and ground cover of the lowlands consists principally of pecan, American elm, cottonwood, willow, walnut, box elder, sycamore, bur oak, hackberry, water ash, buckeye, Johnson grass, bermuda grass and ragweeds. Vegeta- tive cover on the slopes and uplan’s consists princi-~ pally of blackjack oak, post oak, live oak, cedar, hackberry, persimmon, skunkbrush, buffalo grass, grama grass and bluestem. These rough slopes and uplands have been subject to overgrazing and burning and the better areas provide only fair pasture. eames CHEESY RARER ENE NONRTORRAR Same The reservoir lies in the Lampasas Cut Plains, a physiographic subdivision of the Great Plains Pro- vince. To the east of the Belton project is a roll- ing prairie and to the west is a heavily timbered region. The major streams have cut sharply into the terrain leaving U-shaped valleys varying in width from about one-quarter to more than one mile, and varying in depth from about 70 to 200 feet. 4-05. Physical features of the reservoir area.- 406. Physical features of the reservoir basin. - The reservoir lies in the narrow and tortuous valley of the Leon River and the relatively straight valley of Cowhouse Creek, the principal tributary of the Leon River. At the top of conservation pool, ele- vation 569, the lake will extend about 22 miles up the Leon River Valley and about 8 miles up the Cow- house Creek Valley. The irregular shoreline will be about 110 miles in length. Most of the shore is steep, and only a small amount can be considered Plat." At the end of the study period the reservoir had filled to elevation 554 and covered 5,170 surface acres with 118,000 acre feet of water. At conservation pool elevation the lake will cover 7,400 acres with a maximum depth of 99 feet. Of this area 21% will be less than 10 feet in depth, indicating large areas of shoal which should provide adequate spawning grounds for the game species. "Access to the west side of the lake between Cowhouse and Owl Creek will not be available to the general public..., except by water craft. The Cowhouse Creek arm of the reservoir which includes about one-fourth of the water surface of the lake will be needed for military use in the proposed military expansion program.” FINDINGS Table I contains a checklist of the species found to occur in the Belton Reservoir. In all, a total of 56 seine and 75 net collections were made during the two years the lake was under study. These collections provided a total of 9,607 ined specimens and 1,084 netted specimens or a grand total of 10,688 specimens, representing 38 species and 10 fish families. The results of these collections are presented in Tables II and III. In Chart A. are presented the results of analyses made on the stomachs of 36 white crappie and 51 channel catfish. --- Page 3 --- ’ 3. Of the large mouth bass collected, only the stomachs of six were found to contain food remains. This food had a total volume of 69 ml., of which 44 ml. was composed of the remains of white crappie, 21 ml. was composed of gizzard shad remains and 4 ml. com- posed of the remains of small sunfish. The stomachs of four spotted bass contained food remains totaling 14.5 ml. This was composed of gizzard shad, 8.0 ml.; white crappie, 6.0 ml.; and unidentified fish remains 0.5 ml. ; Three drum stomachs contained 20.62 ml. of food remains. Earthworms make up the bulk of the total with 14.0 ml. Sunfish remains were next with 6.5 ml. while the remains of dipterous or fly larvae and vegetation comprised the other 0.12 ml. Two flathead catfish stomachs contained a total volume of 33.0 ml. of food re- mains. Most of this, 24.0 ml., was composed of fish to badly digested to identify. Cockleburrs and algae made up the other 9.0 ml. A single yellow bullhead stomach containing food was found. This food totaled only 1.02 ml. and was made up entirely of insect remains including damselflies, beetles and chironomids. Only two warmouth bass stomachs containing food remains were examined. These specimens contained a volume of 12 ml. of partially digested food. The bulk of this food was composed of earthworms (9.0 ml.) and the remainder was composed of crayfish (3.0 ml.). Data recorded at the temperature and water sampling station are presented in Tables IV and V. This station was established in the open lake near the dam in July, 1954 and the data shown are for the period from July 1954 through May, 1955. Sechi disc readings were taken during the same period as temperatures and water samples. These varied from 19.5 inches to 72.0 inches, with an average of 39.25 inches for the year. The readings were obtained from the lower end of the lake where the water is normally the clearest. The upper end of the lake, which is rapidly af- fected by rises on the Leon River, often turns red with silt when runoff is heavy. Chart B. presents a monthly reading of reservoir elevation, the approximate surface acreage and the acre footage for the months June, 1954, through May, 1955. At its highest level, in May 1955, the Belton Reservoir covered 5,170 acres and contained 118,000 acre feet. of water. Its greatest depth during the period was 63 feet. Tables VI through X present data concerning weights and "K" factors for indivi- duals of given total lengths for 19 of the species collected in the reservoir. Total lengths are given in inches and weights are given in pounds and tenths of pounds for most of the specimens. The weights of some smaller individuals are given in grams where they weigh less than 0.1 pounds. "K" factors were based on standard length in mm. and weight in grams. In Table XI are given the results of a one day creel census taken in an effort to sample the type of fishing pressure being exerted on the fish population. The table shows the number of fish caught, the number of hours spent fishing and the return per unit of effort in numbers of fish per man hour, for the various species taken, the methods of fishing employed and the types of baits used. It needs to be pointed out that the figures shown are based only on pure catches of each species shown, or as in the case of sunfish, for all types of sunfish, and for fish caught when only a single method or type of bait was used. % --- Page 4 --- DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Work during the study period conclusively proved the existence of a large crappie population in the reservoir. These fish were frequently seined and netted and ranged in total length from 2 to 14 inches, and from 1.5 grams to 1.6 pounds in weight. Of the netted crappie, the average total length was 12 inches and the average weight was 0.9 pounds. Crappie accounted for 15.2 per cent of the specimens netted during the period June, 1954 through May, 1955 and for 14.2 per cent of the specimens netted over the two year study period. Regardless of their apparent abundance, however, this species has not yet been taken in appreciable numbers by sport fishermen. This may be due in part to the abundance of forage fish in the reservoir. For example: Gizzard shad taken in nets accounted for 12.7 per cent of the total netted catch over the two year period. (Table I) Redfin shiners and blacktail shiners together comprised 55.4 per cent of the seined specimens and the other ten forage species increased this per centage to more than 67 per cent. (TableII) Of the 36 crappie stomachs found to contain food, 91 per cent of the food was composed of shad. (Chart A.) It seems plausible that a species, such as the crappie, which prefers dense cover and is provided with both excellent cover, in the form of brush and trees left standing in the reservoir basin, and with an abundance of food fishes to prey upon, would be difficult to take on the rod and reel with either live or artificial bait. So far this has been the case in the Belton Reservoir. Carp and carpsuckers are also very abundant in the Belton Reservoir. The two species accounted for more than 30 per cent of the specimens netted during the two years of the study. The average size for carp was 9 inches in total length and for carpsuckers was 15 inches. Fortunately, many fishermen of the Temple-Belton area do not object to these species and large numbers of fishermen specifically go the lake to fish for carp and sucker type fish. The method commonly employed when fishing for carp or suckers has been bank fishing with pole and line, baited either with doughbait or worms. There is no doubt, however, that these two species along with the gizzard shad will have to be controlled in the near future. Since the lake now covers large areas of what were formerly cultivated fields of sandy loam, it might be possible, in the future, to bait areas which could be dragged with large haul seines. If this were done during the spawning season, it is concievable that the populations of carp and carpsuckers could be effectively cropped. ; Gizzard shad comprised better than 12 per cent of the netted specimens and nearly 5 per cent of the seined specimens over the two years. For the present, at least, this species is not a major problem although their future control will be necessary. This could be effected through the use of rotenone as a selective poison. Like the gizzard shad, the combined species of sunfish comprised approximately 12 per cent of the netted specimens and more than 13 per cent of the seined specimens. The bulk of these specimens were under seven inches in total length and are of a size not desirable to most fishermen. Some form of control of these species which will help to crop the population also needs to be devised or it is certain that these fish will soon be overly abundant. Like the crappie, channel catfish are more abundant in the lake than is apparent in the catch of the sport fisherman. The species accounted for nearly 10 per cent of the total netted specimens during the study period. --- Page 5 --- 5. The channel catfish taken ranged in size from 9 to 25 inches and in weight from 0.45 pounds to 6.9 pounds. The average netted catfish was found to be 15.5 inches long and weighed 1.6 pounds. This species has not been frequently taken by fishermen. Perhaps the most apparent reason for this is the fact that the lake bed, as it was covered by the rising water level, contained many earthworms which, when covered by water, tried to escape by coming out of the ground and were eaten in quantities by channel catfish. Earthworms were found to be more than 36 per cent of the diet in the contents of 51 channel catfish stomachs examined. (Chart A.) Likewise, yellow, or flathead catfish, are relatively abundant, making up ap- proximately one per cent of the total catch. The presence of this species is a definite asset to the lake both as an effective predator and as a desirable sport species. Large mouth bass, though not taken in large numbers in either seine or net col- lections are apparently fairly numerous in the Belton Reservoir. Judging from the number taken during one day's fishing by 74 fishermen, the relative abundance of this species seems to be fairly high. (Table XI.) The fact that the Belton Reservoir was not full during the study period made work in the area relatively difficult. Much of the shoreline and much of the shoal area of the lake was covered with peach, plum and pecan orchards as well as scrub cedar and scrub oak. It was not until the last month of the study period that sufficient water was impounded to place the shoreline at a level where the trees and brush had been removed. If this level is maintained, or if the lake level rises, it should be somewhat easier for fishermen to fish the lake and the fish may be forced to leave the heavier cover, with which the floor of the reservoir basin is covered. The one day creel census, taken on Armistice Day, 1954 revealed the following information: Seventy four fishermen, in 176.5 hours caught 62 fish. This was at the rate of one fish every 2.9 hours or 0.35 fish per man hour. Sunfish were caught at the rate of 1.3 fish per man hour, largemouth bass were caught at the rate of 1.0 fish every 2.5 hours and carp were caught at the rate of 1.1 fish per hour. Of the total hours spent fishing by the 74 fishermen, 140.5 hours out of 176.5 hours, or 79 per cent of the time, was spent in still fishing from the bank. During only 21 per cent of the hours fished, were the people engaged in trolling from boats. The average fishing trip lasted 2.4 hours and produced 0.8 fish per fisherman. The fact that most of the fishing in Belton Reservoir was done from the shore indicates either one of two things. Either the fishermen using the lake prefer shore fishing to boat fishing or there are not enough boats to go around. The latter is more probably true. This strongly indicates a need for additional boat liveries to supplement the service now being given by the existing two dock operators. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. It is recommended that further study of the Belton Reservoir be made to determine a method or methods of controlling the gizzard shad, river carpsucker, carp and sunfish populations. 2. It is also recommended that this lake be opened to contract fishermen, 3. It is further recommended that both state and federal fish hatcheries be instructed not to stock any of the species of sunfish or crappie since both types of fish are already present in relative abundance. --- Page 6 --- ON SUMMARY 1. Belton Reservoir lies in the rough, tortuous valley of the Leon River and the relatively straight valley of Cowhouse Creek, Texas. 2. The Reservoir now covers approximately 5,000 surface acres, or roughly 71% of the surface acreage expected at conservation pool elevation. 3. About one fourth of the surface acreage of the lake will be used for mili- tary purposes and shall not be available to the general public. 4. 10,688 specimens, representing 8 species of fish were collected during the study. 5. Catfish and crappie are present in greater abundance than the results of sport fishing would indicate. 6. Largemouth bass also are relatively abundant. 7. Gizzard shad, river carpsuckers and carp are multiplying rapidly and will need to be controlled in the near future. 8. Of the crappie collected, 91% of their food, based upon the contents of 36 stomachs, was composed of gizzard shad. 9. Of the channel catfish, earthworms comprised the most frequent food, being 36 per cent of the total volume of food remains in 51 stomachs. 10. Based on one day's creel census data, 79 per cent of the time spent fish- ing on Belton Reservoir is devoted to bank fishing, the average fishing trip lasted 2.4 hours and fish were caught at the rate of 0.8 fish per fisherman per trip. --- Page 7 --- 0.08% insects crappie White unidentified Crappie ' fish 36 } Stomachs gizzard shad earthworms 36.4% nidentified fish, minnows Uu 6.64% : and suckers ‘Channel - ti Catfish 51 . Eg Stomachs i sunfish and crappie vegetation gizzard shad and detritus 29.7% Chart "A" ~ Results of Stomach Analyses, Belton Reservoir, June 1953 through May 1955. --- Page 8 --- ELEVATION | SURFACE AREA STORAGE AREA IN FEET JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR YI IN ACRES IN ACRE FEET Chart "B" - Reservoir Elevation, Surface Area Inundated and Storage in Acre Feet, Belton Reservoir, June 1954 - May 1955. --- Page 9 --- Checklist of Species, Belton Reservoir. Scientific name 1. Lepisosteus platostomus 2. Lepisosteus productus 3. Dorosoma cepedianum 4. Cycleptus elongatus 5. Ictiobus bubalus 6. Carpiodes carpio 7. Moxostoma congestum 8. Cyprinus carpio 9. Notemigonus crysoleucas 10. Notropis atherinoides ll. Notropis venustus 12. Notropis lutrensis 13. Notropis volucellus 14, Notropis buchanani 15. Pimephales vigilax 16. Pimephales promelas 17. Campostoma anomalum 18. Ictalurus punctatus 19. Ameirus melas 20. Ameirus natalis 21. Pilodictus olivaris 22. Schilbeodes mollis 23. Fundulus natalis 24. Gambusia affinis 25. Micropterus punctulatus 26. Micropterus treculi 27. Micropterus salmoides 28. Chaenobryttus coronarius 29. Lepomis cyanellus 30. Lepomis microlophus 31. Lepomis macrochirus 32. Lepomis humilis 33. Lepomis megalotis 34. Pomoxis annularis 35. Hadropterus scierus 36. Percina caprodes 37. Etheostoma spectabile 38. Aplodinotus grunniens Common name shortnose gar spotted gar gizzard shad blue sucker smallmouth buffalo river carpsucker grey redhorse carp golden shiner emerald shiner spottail shiner redhorse or red shiner mimic shiner ghost shiner parrot minnow fathead minnow stoneroller ; southern channel catfish black bullhead yellow bullhead yellow catfish tadpole madtom blackstripe topminnow common mosquitofish Kentucky spotted bass Texas spotted bass largemouth bass warmouth green sunfish redear sunfish bluegill sunfish orangespotted sunfish longear sunfish white crappie dusky darter Logperch orangethroat darter freshwater drum --- Page 10 --- Table II Results of Netting Collections, Belton Reservoir, June 1953 through May 1955. 1954 1955 % OF 1953- 1953- % OF SPECTES JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY TOTAL TOTAL 1954 1955 TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL 53-55 bt ee) fe ON L. platostomus cepedianum elongatus I. bubalus Carpiodes carpio 1 M. congestum Cyprinus carpio N. venustus N. lutrensis punctatus melas natalis Olivaris punctulatus salmoides coronarius cyanellus macrochirus humilis megalotis annularis » grunniens TOTALS WON ON © b tw WMoowon aye) De) FOOCDOO FHFOCOOCDOCOWOCONOCONN pe) AIFOOON SO bh fr ke in) WONMOCOWOO COCOOCCO0O°0 ke Ww NMOONOEROWND i tH WOONFEWNOWCO bk ne) kK OOO FO NOONNOACO fH bh bh NI bh oad NON OOM FWHENOFE DMOOCCO FF FPWNHNHONDFUONNEFFPANOO MOH i ms NON FOFWOrFRENOOKPFONH iw) NONFFAWNODDOOW OW W bt I A A P M M C. L L L L P A WONDODODDDOOOFKFOO FONDOFOOUFOCOFACDCOWOOWWO bh we) me © ON ON \o NFODBODDOVOOFOKFOCOHDOWONDOOWOO | FrFOODOCOODOO MOCO OWOO FM@ADOOCODOOFKFAOO NOWTOFODDOONADO FNOOONOFFOOOF NHWEFOFONNAE COCO 3 Xe) ne) De) (ee) SO a ke ho --- Page 11 --- Table TII Results of Seining Collections, Belton Reservoir, June 1953 through May 1955. 1954 1955 1954- 1953- GRAND 4% OF SPECIES JUNE JULY AUG SEPI OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY 1955 1955 TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL L. platostomus O 0 0 0 @) ) re) 0 0 0 0 1 1 16 17 0.18 D. cepedianum 21 23 6 ) 8 0) Oo 15 Oo 12 127 8 220 240 4.60 4.79 Carpiodes carpio 0 ) O 0 ) ) 0 0 ) 0 0 0 O 18 18 0.19 M. congestum 0 0 0 ) 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 3 7 10 0.10 Cyprinus carpio 3 0 © fe) 1 9) ) 3 @) 3 8 ) 18 14 32 0.33 N. crysoleucas LO 7 6) O wi 0) 10) O 0 ) O° 0 2h. 2 26 0.27 N. atherinoides O ) O O 6) O ©) O 0 ) ) 3 3 O 3 0.03 N. venustus 1 O 107 Oo 456 ) Oo eal 0 170 193 280 1228 366 1594 16.59 N. lutrensis 51 99 183 O 754 0 Oo 102 O 169 154 178 1690 20hk5 3735 38.88 N. volucellus re) ) 0 0 0 ) O 0 0 0 0 0 0 7h Th 0.77 N. buchanani 0 0 @) 0 ) @) fe) 0 O O 0 re) 0 71 71 0.74 P. vigilax 1 2 0 0 7 @) 0 i 0 0 O 1 12 341 353 3.67 P. promelas ) 0 O @) ) 0 re) @) 0 O 0 0 0 50 50 0.52 C. anomalum ) ) ) ) ) ) 6) fe) ) fe) 0 O ) 94 9h. 0.98 I. punctatus 0 O 0 O 0 fe) ) O 0 0 0 0) 0 150 150 1.56 A. melas 6) 0) 0) 6) 0) 0 0) 2 0 0) 0) 0) 2 ) 2 0.02 A. natalis @) 0 0 ) ) 0 0 ) 0 O 0 0 0 4 y 0.04 P. olivaris O ©) 0 0 0 0) @) 0 0 0 1 0 1 7 8 0.08 S. mollis fe) ) O 0 0 fe) ) re) 0 0 0 0 0 orn 9k 0.98 F. notatus O 0 0 0 0 0 ) 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 22 0.23 G. affinis 18 7 16 oO 168 ) ) 7 0 206 71 12 573 195 768 7.99 M. punctulatus 25 10 5 ) 6 0) ) ) O O @) fe) 46 64 110 1.14 M. treculi 0 @) re) Oo 15 O 0) 2 ) 1 5 1 2k 1 25 0.26 M. salmoides 12 ye k ) 1 ) ) 7 Oo ill 8 2 kg 9 58 0.60 C. coronarius 0 0 0 0 0 0 fe) 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0.01 L. cyanellus 22 fe) 6 re) 1 fe) fe) 5 0 1 7 fe) he 53 95 0.99 L. microlophus O ie) ie) O ie) O O 0 e) 0 O 2 2 0 2 0.02 L. macrochirus 97 24k 698 Oo 196 fe) Oo 34 O 31 175 8 663 We 680 7.08 L. humilis 6 O 0 0 ©) ) ¢) ) 0 0 0 ) 6 31 37 0.39 L. megalotis 25 52 «23 0 @) 0 ) 1 Oo. 28 2 7 138 375 513 5.34 P. annularis 62 56 2 ) 3) ) ) @) ) Oo 57 1 178 106 28h 2.96 H. scierus ) 0 0 @) @) 0 fe) 9) @) @) 0 O 0 10 10 0.10 P. caprodes 0 0 ©) ) 0 fe) fe) @) ) 0 @ 1 i 14 15 0.16 E. spectabile 1 iF 1 ) fe) ) ) ) 0 0 0 © 6 186 192 2.80 ToT 7s 355 356 451 O 1620 O ) ? O 632 809 506 4931 4676 9607 ¢ 9 --- Page 12 --- Table IV Temperatures-°F, Belton Reservoir, July 1954 through May 1955. DEPTH IN FEET JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. O 88 87 79-5 73 63 60 53 a3 60 1 87 87 79 73 62 60 53 53 60 ra 87 87 19 73 62 60 53 53 60 3 87 87 19 73 62 59 53 53 60 4 87 87 79 73 62 59 52.5 53 60 é, 87 87 19 73 62 59 52.5 on 61 6 87 86 79 73 62 59 52.5 52 61 7 87 85 19 72:5 62 59 52 52 61 8 86 85 79 72.5 62 58.5 52 52 61 fe) 86 85 79 72.5 62 58.5 52 52 61 10 86 85 79 72 62 58.5 52 52 60.5 11 85 6h. 78 72 62 58.5 52 52 60.5 12 85 8h 78 72 61 58.5 52 52 60.5 13 8h 84 78 72 61 58.5 52 52 60.5 LA 83 8h 78 72 61 58.5 52 52 60.5 15 82 8h 78 72 58.5 58.5 52 52 60 16 80 8h 77.5 72 61 58.5 52 52 59 by 80 83 77 72 60.5 58.5 52 52 vis 18 80 83 77 72 60 58.5 5e 52 56 19 79 83 76 72 60 50.5 52 52 55 20 79 82 76 71.5 60 58.5 52 52 55 21 719 81 76 71.5 60 58.5 52 52 55 22 79 80 76 71 60 58.5 52 52 55 a3 re) 80 76 71 60 58.5 52 ae 55 ah 19 19 76 TA 60 58.5 52 52 pa) a5 19 ae 75 rel 60 58.5 52 52 54.5 26 79 76 75 71 60 58.5 52 52 54.5 27 79 76 75 71 60 58.5 52 52 54.5 28 re) 76 75 Th 60 58.5 52 52 54.5 29 19 76 15 71 60 59 52 pe 54.5 30 19 76 75 71 61 59 52 52 54 a a= “= = oo “= 5 52 52 5h 32 -~ ~= “- = 2 59 52 52 54 33 -- ~~ ~- ~e =~ 59 pe 52 54 34 -- -- -- -- =o 59 -~ -= 54 35 = ~~ =e ~= ~- 59 = >= 54 26 a we — — —_ sats wuss se — 37 = == = ~~ ~= -- on ~< ~ 28 _ _ _ sc — _ -- ” _ 39 -- =~ ~~ -- -- ~~ -- - “= ho sine ~— _ _ = _ -- _ 7 kL ais —_ —_ — —_ we = — —_ ho _ _ —_ — — aitce 288 a —_ 43 _ = _ = mies _ _ _ _ yh aaa oe sa — ~ = — — 5 = WNT WAST Sn ST Ta --- Page 13 --- at GE O€ om ae oo on oo oe oo oS ee co on om co oe on G2 0g GT OT G 0 Mr PP ONOrRWO OCCO0C°0 O° Se ro) G fe NONFNOO COO00000 om co ae cae ho OOM OWN O O000000 oe ce om oe 1 OON AVIVIW i OO0OOMNO | oe CO WOHNWANN ° ° SO00000 oy oe om oe COW SAT WWW OO000000 rwWwwhnNnre . 8 1 O000000 NAN NM AWW SCO0000000 OF ANWW AH O CO000000 FFWSOO9COO0 COMNT00000 WAANODOSOCO SCO00000000 SUOTZBUTULIAZEG SPTXOTG uag.zre9 St On GE o£ Ge 02 ST OT G O t NANN © Go Oo 1 tO Rint pds 1 IANAN OHO 1 OFDOEW & 1 INANNA WO j NWO OW wo 1 ANNAN MO 1 ANNOWOO 5AN © 09 Co Od Co 1 00 oWwWww we OrRPNEFWOFNOS P Set OO bo te go 1 @MCMDO0OO00 NN Oo CON 2 CoN OND OP PeXn Oo—™N G9 09 09 CO Co Co OdOHOFAUW ADWDDDMMOWOMO NOW FU FTF Eww PAANAAN OHHH Fag etd BH hue we yd St On GE OF = oo ae oe one eae ees ce on ao ow oe on oe am oe oo me ce oo = a0ery Tot ON io) ay) Ge 02 GT OT G 0 OOFRAFA COCO 0COO0 0°O SCWwWwww OFFER o"0 eM FOCd WBoOocn HEIN ON OND FE oe on ow O°T ort Pind WU AW OO NOONDO O° eT md PRR SS0S56 COWMOFO O°OT i ie POWO0D00 1 OF@MDOO o° OL PRP Pee OPP ORHE WOONDO0O O°TT Pe AN OMSS5 ome) NNT OF EU O ° Ww NN Dowww S ) ANVDARAD OO OW OO 10 0 FOAONOFAD SUOTTeUTHUTEYEq UeBAxQ Leal NI Hidad ATOL LSnonv AUVOddHa AUVONVE YHEWHOMd UAEWHAON YHEOLOO YREWEIdaS TIYdV HOUVN AVN "GG6T ACW Usno1g4 4HG6T ATne ‘atoaresay uoqTeg A STaeL --- Page 14 --- Table VI Belton Reservoir, Total Lengths, Weights and "K" Factors, June 1954 through May 1955. (Weights given in pounds unless otherwise indicated.) INCHES NUMBER WEIGHT RANGE TOTAL WEIGHT WEIGHT AVG. "K" FACTOR RANGE TOTAL "Kk" AVERAGE "K" Lepisosteus platostomus--shortnose gar 6.18 10.61 13.42 3.74 1.58 2.49 3.93 749 Wed ° ° ° ° ° e e . ® « . . ° ° . ° FUWWNEP PRR HIO FU OnUM ooo nononononone WE FEE rwww AWIWNO OWN OCCOCCOOCOCO W furor ou = NPFUBDNMOWOOD FWOOTWEE oonenononononone WEEFEE EE EU NF w wo OMO OO FWWNE PREP FOO ONO MWO 4 7 8 2 L 1 i 2 1 Lepisosteus productus--spotted gar e ° . . . FWWNHE PEPER H ONO ONO OND ° O.44 O.bh 0.67 0.83 0.62 0.99 1.24 1.2h Lepomis cyanellus--green sunfish hk pms 5 gms 3 gms 3 gms 19 gms 19 gms 35 gms 0.12 0.11 0.18 0.31 0.37 --- Page 15 --- Table VIT Belton Reservoir, Total Lengths, Weights and "K" Factors, June 1954 through May 1955. (Weights given in pounds unless otherwise indicated. ) INCHES NUMBER WEIGHT RANGE TOTAL WEIGHT WEIGHT AVG. '"K" FACTOR RANGE TOTAL "K" AVERAGE "K" Ictiobus bubalus--smallmouth buffalo . * ° ° PREERHOOO DAN OC MMW OOUrD cy . 0.3 0.2 1.6 Kol 1.1 3.1 3-3 Ny ov - ° ° Ictalurus punctatus--channel catfish ° . . . ° ° . . 2 ° ° ° ° e ° ° * OWA AO ON AF FO OM FO i FPMM FW ONO O.\ONF OMOWN NFOW FN Ph NRFNOFEMFONNM OOUWD © NF ErOWAUD & AAKH AA AO-~0 VENA FO OW FAA ° . ° ° ° ° e WRWE ON NWW ° . . ONUNUNOALEFORAN FW e ° ° ° NONNMUVUNWIWOW FOWWUT NNMNNFRFPREPEPENNFENED WONOCAO DOOMWONDOWOOWOH ° ° WOrRAANA MO ° o ° NAWNFWNEFPEFPRFEFOOCOOOO ANFFNUNNNEFEFEOOOCO ANFWNMNMNFEFFODODOOCCO NMN EPR RP RP ENDER RE PE NVMUNNYFPNYONNYANANNNND VOM AOMNANIDOANUWO DY OoONUANAWO --- Page 16 --- INCHES NUMBER WEIGHT RANGE TOTAL WEIGHT OnA OW wi Pf Table VIII Belton Reservoir, Total Lengths, Weights and "K" Factors, June 1954 through May 1955. (Weights given in pounds unless otherwise indicated.) Dorosoma cepedianum--gizzard shad 1 0.11 0.11 3 0.29 0.37 3 0.31 O.41 3 0.37 0.51 7 0.56 0.74 11 0.74 0.93 9 0.87 1.18 1 1.37 1.37 5 1.204 1.74 0.11 0.97 1.10 1.39 4.79 8.68 9.68 ee 3% 7.86 WEIGHT AVG. "K" FACTOR RANGE ° . . ATA WDNOAN NAAN FE FrRrFOCOOO°0O WW ON NDFWW Micropterus salmoides-- largemouth black bass 3 0.02 0.03 2 0.03 0.07 6 0.07 0.18 5 0.31 O.44 2 0.52 0.59 15 0.56 0.77 7 0.74% 1.00 1 1.18 1.18 i 4.99 «4.99 0.09 0.11 0.76 1.84 1.12 9.94 6.02 1.18 4.99 Chaenobryttus coronarius --warmouth 2 28 gms 35 gms 3 85 gms113 gms 1 142 gmsl42 gms 1 170 gms170 gms 63 gms 311 gms 142 ems 170 gms Lepomis megalotis--longear sunfish 1 4 gms 4 gms il 25 gms 57 gms 1 27 gms 57 gms 4 ems 1.05 a7 gms 0.03 0.05 0.12 0.36 0.56 0.66 0.86 1.18 4.99 313 gms 0.23 0.31 0.37 4. gms 433 gms 0.12 ° MNNrFPRrFNRFE WY DWOO CO DAWOW OR HFWFOOW © ° ° e WNHNNMNNMYEEE MAOW AFA FEOHUOMMOFON . MMMM NMNNN Pw OW OW WW WW . cy e . SIR ON UNF © 2.19 2.49 3.87 2.92 2.73 2.79 2.64 2.74 3.54 TOTAL "K" 2.38 6.47 6.16 6.24 15 +39 24.05 20.46 2.31 11.51 6.10 4.19 15.92 13.40 D0 39 37.62 17.42 2.74 3.54 5.62 15.52 5.06 3.85 4 39 58.41 9-37 AVERAGE "K" 2.38 2.15 2.05 2.08 2.19 2.18 2.27 2.31 2.30 . . ° ° ° ° WNhNwMNMNMN NM MW WAN EV ANAC O FE OOM OMow . --- Page 17 --- Table IX Belton Reservoir, Total Lengths, Weights and "K" Factors, June 1954 through May 1955. INCHES NUMBER MF OM OA OO 13 14 15 10 12 13 15 16 WEIGHT RANGE (Weights given in pounds unless otherwise indicated.) TOTAL WEIGHT Carpiodes carpio--river carpsucker 3 i 15 10 3 h. 52 10 1 Cyprinus carpio-~-carp m 2 9 38 Lh 4 7 ded ww Po FrRrFOOCOO00 ° ry Re OOo oOo oO a . ° ° WENO COON FWW . NONWMENRHEH FON DAWONNMN ° . WI - . ° ° o ° . e PRR r OOo O °° ST ONID HEAT TNO PO 0.18 0.18 0.29 0.50 0.54 0.81 1.06 1.18 1.31 1.99 O.47 1.83 5.15 74 1.93 : 3.77 54.54 12.92 1.5 0.62 0.77 2.20 14.21 6.75 2.82 6.51 12.05 2.55 8.57 Ameiurus melas~-black bullhead 1 0 18 0.18 0.18 Aplodinotus grunniens--freshwater drum F Pow Pf 0.81 1.68 4.68 3.12 0.86 WEIGHT AVG. . ° OFFER OUY MPrRFrRFOOOOC°O WN OO DFW FH 0.18 "K" FACTOR RANGE ry ° . ° e ° OOO OF rR WE- © ° monMrynwmnmnmnwmnp OoNw AAAAAI-~ 2.92 ee 1.62 2.04. 2.47 2.71 2.63 2.58 24h 2.68 223 { es ° e MONMNNNE \Oo “A WS © hFNO OF ON 3.87 3.76 4.03 3.26 2.97 3.28 3.32 3.16 2.88 5.30 3.30 3.07 3.81 3.03 3.03 3.14 3.08 245 3-53 2.37 TOTAL "Kk" 9.93 13.84 50.59 29.74 8.48 12.03 148.59 28.02 2.88 15.96 13.33 22.78 111.79 38.95 11.30 20.62 31.43 4.89 14,84 2.37 4, 38 5.21 12.44 5.32 2.91 AVERAGE "K" 3.31 3.46 3.37 2.97 2,82 3.00 2.85 2.80 2.88 ° s . e VNNMNMNNN NM NW WO F ONO MANO OXNO AW ONY OO CO FW AO 2.19 2.60 2.48 2.66 2.91 --- Page 18 --- Table X Belton Reservoir, Total Lengths, Weights and "K" Factors, June 1954 through May 1955. (Weights given in pounds unless otherwise indicated. ) INCHES NUMBER WEIGHT RANGE TOTAL WEIGHT WEIGHT AVG. "K" FACTOR RANGE TOTAL "K" AVERAGE '"K" Ameiurus natalis--yellow bullhead i 85 gms 85 gems 85 gms 85 gms Micropterus punctulatus~--Kentucky spotted bass 6 ems 8 pms 21 gms El 7 gms 19 gms 186 gms 13 gms 29 ems 189 gms 0.2 0.2 4 4 0.2 0.5 1.6 0.2 0.5 0.8 8 Lepomis macrochirus--bluegill 1 gm 1 gm 3 gms 6 gms 28 gms 28 gms 28 gms 0.18 O«12 0.37 0.24 0.43 Pomoxis annularis--white crappie 6 4g 54 1 hy 8 2 27 37 9 4 10.23 106.26 131.19 2.70 10.34 21.40 9.87 87.98 122.78 31.69 14.03 3 gms 8 gms e ° 2 63] bh St = ta e WWrrFWNMENEF OF WNWOCTOT OA FOO mn bh \o 0 B nn ° ° e ° ° e e ° . ° DArPIAUN VB 3 9 FPrFODWDOOOONF ON OW OOO OA O%O WwW FWwWwwh Ww FW PP NO ODOOAFOADONA AW ONOAONMONOFH ° ° e --- Page 19 --- Table XI Results of Creel Census, Belton Reservoir, Armistice Day, November ll, 1954. SPECTES Sunfish Largemouth bass European carp METHOD Still fishing Trolling BAIT USED Minnows Worms Shrimp Lures Total fishermen--74 Total fish caught--62 Total hours fished--176.5 NUMBER OF FISH 22 2 56 2g HOURS FISHED 7.0 61.0 11.0 140.5 26.0 49.5 hh 0 27 <0 26.0 FISH/MAN HOUR O.4 0.2 0.6 0.02 0.3 0.2 Total fish/man hour--0.35 --- Page 20 --- I j a ; 7 | \ IN | wd is / ry / Hf fe q ut as ae iy MEADOR GROVE det Arc 6 BELTON RESERVOIR | TEXAS [% CS INUNDATED Roaps WS ROAD UNDER WATER AT MF Loop CONTROL LEVEL oes ts yo _caTesvitce TOP OF FLO — \ OF CONSERVATION POOL EL. 569 OD CONTROL POOL EL.63/ ——™, / FORT HOOD \. NN MILITARY RESERVATION \ —,