TPWD 1955 F-2-R-2 #174: Inventory of Species Present in Buchanan Lake

--- Page 1 --- STATE Texas PROJECT NO, F-2-R-2, Job B=13 PERIOD December 1, 1954 through May 30, 1955. Segment Completion Report by ic Richard H. Clark Assistant Project Leader TITLE Inventory of species present in Buchanan Lake. OBJECTIVES To determine the species present and their relative abundance. METHODS Specimens were collected by using 8 x 125 foot experimental gill nets with one to three inch square mesh sizes, which are graduated in one half inch intervals, ev- ery 25 feet. Gill nets, 8 x 100 feet, of square mesh sizes 13, 2, and 3 inch were also used. Seine collections were made with 30 x 6 foot bag seines, = inch square mesh, and seines of bobbinet, 1/8 inch square mesh. Both net and seine collections were made at random in all areas of the lake. Seine collections were also made in the San Saba River, and Falls Creek, which are major tributaries of the lake. Seined specimens were preserved in ten per cent for- malin and brought to the laboratory for identification and tabulation. Data recorded for individuals taken in nets included length, weight, sex and stage of sexual development. Stomachs of game specimens were preserved in ten per cent formalin, and later the contents were analyzed and recorded in the laboratory. Chemical and thermal conditions, including water and air temperatures, pH, dis- solved oxygen, and carbon dioxide were recorded for three water sampling stations on the lake, Each station was visited twice during the segment period. Ecological data was recorded for each fish collection. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Lake Buchanan is located in the Burnet-Llano Country, or Central Basin of Texas. The area is characterized by rugged granitic intrusions, and numerous cedar covered mountain ranges reaching six to seven hundred feet above the mesquite and post oak flats. Shallow soils vary from coarse grey to moderately heavy chocolate loams, which are seldom adapted to agriculture, except in a few valleys. The area supports a large cattle industry, and many sheep and goats are raised. Completed in 1938, Buchanan Dam has a length of 11,000 feet, and a height of 150 ‘feet. The lake is 33 miles long, reaches a maximum width of 8 miles, has a maximum depth of 132 feet, and impounds approximately 1,000,000 acre feet at spillway level. The mountain range to the north, chiseled deep by the Colorado, forms steep rugged banks often towering several hundred feet above the lake. This area is --- Page 2 --- as characterized by silt and clay mud bottoms. The lower portion of the lake is spread out over a large area with granite-gravel shoals extending up out of the water to form much of the shore line. Granite gravel and sand bottoms especially in the shallows of this area provide excellent spawning grounds for a number of fish species. The Lower Colorado River Authority reports a water fluctuation of little more than one foot for the months of December, 1954 through April, 1955. In May, 1955, the water level rose from 1008 feet, to its maximum capacity of 1020 feet above sea level. AQUATIC VEGETATION AND COVER Aquatic vegetation in Buchanan Lake is relatively sparse, except for a few areas. Filamentous algae, Spirogyra sp., are found in a few shallow portions of the lake where silt has settled over the bottom. Muskgrass, Chara sp. and coontail, Cerato- phyllum demersum were also found in a few scattered localities in similar association. Willows, Salix nigra, are very abundant in the lower part of the lake and provide con- siderable cover for fish. Numerous out croppings of rock, stumps, brush and drift= wood also provide excellent cover in all areas of the lake. CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS Water analyses, as recorded in Table I include data collected from three stations as shown on the accompanying map. Water temperatures in Lake Buchanan ranged from 52° Fahrenheit in December, 1954, to 81° Fahrenheit in May, 1955. The pH of Lake Buchanan ranged from 7.6 to 8.8, with an average of 8.1. Dissolved oxygen varied from a maxi- mum of 13.0 parts per million near the surface, to a minimum of 5.2 parts per million near the bottom of the lake. The average dissolved oxygen content was 10.3 parts per million. Dissolved carbon dioxide averaged 1.6 parts per million, with a variation of 0.0 to k.O parts per million, These data, as recorded herein, are not believed to indicate any unusual or ad- verse chemical or thermal conditions. Sufficient dissolved oxygen was present and no harmful substances were found in appreciable amounts. Buchanan Lake, early in the segment period, was normally clear. Sechi disk read- ings of 10 to 20 feet, in depth, were common in many areas of the lake. However, dur- ing April and May, 1955, with turbid flood waters from the tributaries filling the lake, sechi disk readings were recorded as low as 6 inches. FISH COLLECTIONS Table II contains a checklist of 33 species found to occur in Lake Buchanan and its tributaries. A total of 5952 specimens were provided for study by 85 netting and 60 seining collections. The enclosed map shows the location of the fish collections. The results of seining are presented in Table III and are broken down by species and by month. In all, a total of 3576 specimens were collected by this method from the lake and its tributaries. Of the 27 species seined, the blackspot shiner, N. venustus, was the most abun~ dant, making up 52. 43% of the total number of specimens. “The redhorse shiner, N. lutrensis, was the next most abundant, comprising 15.72%. The combined total of all species of sunfish follows third with 14.24%. Gizzard shad, Dd. cepedianum, was found to be fourth in abundance with 6.29%, while all other seined fish species totaled only L1.32% of the total number of specimens. Several seining collections were made in the same localities, therefore seining areas rather than seining stations were located on --- Page 3 --- the enclosed map. Table IV shows that a total of 14 species, excluding all species of sunfish, were 2ollected by gill nets. Included are the number of each species netted per month, the totals and the per cent of number. Of 2376 netted specimens, 16.96% were game fish including channel catfish, yellow catfish, white crappie, all species of sunfish, white bass, spotted and largemouth bass. All other species comprised 83.04% of which shad and river carpsucker formed a major portion, 51.59% and 23.86% respectively. The number of pounds of fish netter per month, total weight and per cent of weight for each species, is recorded in Table V. Game species including all sunfish, catfish, bass and crappie comprised 18.91% of the collections by weight. Rough fish species including gar, shad, buffalo, carp, suckers, mullet and drum totaled 81.09% of netted specimens, by weight. River carpsuckers and shad dominated the rough fish catch again with respective percentages of 35. 35% and 21.06% of the total catch. Table VI records the success of gill netting in Lake Buchanan in terms of number and pounds of fish from December, 1954 through May, 1955. Table VII contains the length, weight and coefficient of condition ("K") of fish species caught by gill nets in Buchanan Lake, during the segment. A number of rough fish specimens were not weighed and measured individually, and are not included in these data. DISCUSSION Fishing in Buchanan Lake appears to be better, on the average, than in the other lakes of the Colorado River chain, with the possible exception of Lake Granite Shoals, ‘hich was built in 1951. White bass fishing has been consistently good during the spawning season over a period of years. It is believed that a larger population of white bass exist in Lake Buchanan than the data on hand indicates, because of the large numbers of white bass taken by anglers near the head of the lake during the spawning migration in January and February, 1955. Great numbers of white bass were taken by anglers on spoons and live minnows, as the bass became active in moving toward the tributaries, during the early part of the segment period. Catfish catches have been good, especially in the more turbid waters of the upper portions of Lake Buchanan. After the rise of approximately 12 feet in May, 1955, even larger strings of catfish, channel catfish in particular, were taken in the more turbid waters that filled the lake. The collection data to date indicates that blue catfish (I. furcatus) may be absent from the waters of Buchanan Lake. Also, there have been no catches of blue catfish observed by this writer. Good catches of white crappie, taken on minnows, were observed on all portions of the lake before the rise in May 1955. Crappie provide considerable sport for anglers on Buchanan Lake throughout the year. Largemouth black bass are fished for extensively in all portions of Lake Buchanan, and many good catches are reported the year round. Shoreline fishing generally is very productive, but many bass are taken in shallow areas where partly submerged willow trees grow, and in the shallows around numerous islands in the lake. Good fishing in Buchanan Lake might be explained by the fact that the granite~- ravel shoals provide exceptional spawning grounds for black bass, crappie and sunfish. vata on hand indicates that the spawning success for these species is relatively high, and with the ample cover that the lake provides, many fish grow to desirable size. --- Page 4 --- Buchanan Lake maintains a high level of fertility, due to the fact that the Colo- rado River, flowing into the lake from the north, brings in large quantities of decaying rganic material from the water shed. This, in part, may account for the tremendous shad population of the lake. Shad are the most abundant species in the lake, and are second only to river carpsucker in total weight of netted specimens as recorded in these data. Large quantities of brush and driftwood offer excellent spawning cover for shad, carp, suckers and buffalo. Commercial fishing is believed to have kept the carp and buffalo populations in check to some degree but the river carpsucker which is of less market value is extremely abundant. Large numbers of river carpsuckers averaging approximately two pounds were taken in 14 and 2 inch gili nets and in the respective sections of experimental gill nets. Neither the results of stomach analyses nor management recomendations for Lake Buchanan have been included in this report. However these will be included in the Job Completion Report at the end of the next segment period. SUMMARY 1. Lake Buchanan, an impoundant of approximately 1,000,000 acres at spillway level, is located on the Colorado River in the rugged hill country near Burnet. 2. Submerged aquatic vegetation provides only meager cover except in a few shallow silted areas but willows (Salix nigra) and large quantities of brush, driftwood and rocks offer an abundance of hiding places. 3. There were no unusual or adverse chemical or thermal conditions recorded uring this segment period. 4, Buchanan Lake was normally clear but became turbid during the latter part of the segment period as flood waters flowed in from the tributaries. 5. A total of 145 fish collections provided 5952 specimens, which may be divided o into le families and 33 species. 6. Blackspot and redhorse shiners were the most abundant of 3576 seined specimens, totaling 52.43%. 7%. Gizzard shad and river carpsucker dominated the rough fish catch, totaling 75.45% of 2376 netted specimens. All species of game fish totaled only 16.96%. 8. White bass, largemouth black bass, channel catfish and crappie provide ex- cellent fishing on the lake. » Good spawning grounds and adequate cover provide a good opportunity for game species to reproduce and reach a desirable size. 10. High lake fertility due to an influx of decaying organic materials from the Colorado River may explain why the shad population is so high. ll. Carp and buffalo are believed to have been kept in check by commercial fish- .rmen but a large population of river carpsucker occur in the lake. --- Page 5 --- Table I Buchanan Lake Water Analysis, December 1954 through May 1955. December 16, 1954 1 ys 52 8.0 9.0 0.0 10 5 52 8.0 8.6 1.0 January 19, 1955 15 hs 52 8.3 8.2 1.0 20 ks 52 8.1 8.4 1.5 30 hs 52 7.9 5.2 2.0 1 68 54, 8.4 8.0 0.0 10 68 5h 8.4 8.8 1.0 February 1, 1955 15 68 54 8.5 9.8 2.0 20 68 54 8.5 8.6 2.0 30 68 5h 8.8 5.2 3.0 1 FL 59 7.9 13.0 0.0 10 al 58 7.9 13.0 0.5 March 15, 1955 20 71 58 7-7 12.5 1.0 30 71 57 7.9 12.0 2.0 ho val 55 7.7 11.0 2.0 50 71 55 7.7 11.0 3.0 1 80 72 8.2 13.2 0.0 10 80 72 8.3 13.0 0.0 a - 20 80 72 8.3 13.0 1.0 April 19, 1955 30 80 71 8h 12.5 2.0 4O 80 71 8.4 12.0 2.5 50 80 71 8.4 11.0 4.0 1 86 81 8.2 10.0 0.5 5 86 80 8.0 10.5 1.0 10 . 80 7.8 9.8 2.0 6 15 8 79 7.6 9.5 2.5 May 17, 1955 25 86 79 7.8 9.0 3.0 30 86 79 7.8 8.8 4.0 --- Page 6 --- Table II Checklist of Species Found to Occur in Buchanan Lake Scientific Name Lepisosteus platostomus Dorosoma cepedianum Astyanax fasciatus Ictiobus bubalus Carpiodes carpio Moxostoma congestum Cyprinus carpio Opsopoedus emiliae Notropis oxyrhynchus Notropis brazosensis Notropis venustus Notropis lutrensis Notropis deliciosus Notropis volucellus Hybognathus nuchalis Pimephales vigilax Campostoma anomalum actalurus punctatus Pilodictus olivaris Gambusia affinis Mugil cephalus Morone chrysops Micropterus punctulatus Micropterus salmoides Chaenobryttus coronarius Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis humilis Lepomis megalotis Pomoxis annularis Percina caprodes Aplodinotus grunniens Common Name shortnose gar gizzard shad tetra smallmouth buffalo river carpsucker gray redhorse carp pugnose minnow sharpnose shiner Brazos River shiner spottail redhorse shiner sand shiner mimic shiner silvery minnow parrot minnow stoneroller channel catfish yellow catfish common mosquitofish striped mullet white bass spotted black bass largemouth black bass warmouth green sunfish redear sunfish bluegill orangespotted sunfish longear sunfish white crappie logperch drum --- Page 7 --- Table ILI Number of Specimens Taken in Seines From Buchanan Lake, December 1954 through May 1955. Fish Species % of Number D. cepedianum ) 2 1 12 32 178 225 6.29 A. fasciatus 0 fe) 0 0 13 0 13 0.36 I. bubalus 0 1 0 0 ) 3 iF 0.11 Carpiodes carpio 0 34 0 1 0 6 kL 1.15 Cyprinus carpio 0 O 2 0 O 0 2 0.06 O. emiliae O 3 8) 0 0 0 3 0.08 N. oxyrhynchus 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0.06 N. brazosensis 0 18 @) ) 8 @) 26 0.73 T. venustus 184 106 h 773 4O5 403 1875 52.49 N. lutrensis 2 410 fe) 75 7 28 562 15.72 N. deliciosus @) 4 ¢) @) ) O h 0.11 N. volucellus fe) 17 ) fe) 8 @) 25 0.70 H. nuchalis O 6 ) 0 ) 0 6 0.16 P. vigilax O 8 0 1 13 3 25 0.70 C. anomalum O 67 fe) 0 ) ) 67 1.87 G. affinis 1 56 0) 11 6 4 768 2.18 M. chrysops ) 0 O 0 @) 9 9 0.25 M. punctulatus 6) L 0 6) 6) 6) 1 0.03 M. salmoides 0 2 7 3 4 62 78 2.18 C. coronarius @) 0) 0) 1 O 6) 1 0.03 L. cyanellus 1 6 ) 2 ) 3 12 0.34 L. microlophus ) ) ) 8 3 5 16 O.45 L. macrochirus 2 43 37 194 Ke) 68 392 10.96 L. humilis @) 7 O 3 ) @) 10 0.28 L. megalotis 0 32 2 6 22 17 79 2.8L P. annularis ) @) ¢) O ) 10 10 0.28 P. caprodes 0 0 0 0 8 2 10 0.28 Totals 189 825 53 1090 618 801 3576 100.00 --- Page 8 --- Table IV Number of Specimens Taken by Gill nets from Buchanan Lake, December 1954 through May 1955. Fish Species Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Total % of Number L. platostomus 3 8 8 6 18 17 60 2.53 D. cepedianum yh. 149 261 197 420 153 1226 51.59 I. bubalus 13 9 5 10 10 13 60 2.53 Carpiodes carpio 15 67 158 274 36 17 567 23.86 M. Congestum 1 1 y 6 6 1 19 0.80 Cyprinus carpio | 0 1 6 5 14 2 28 1.18 I. punctatus 2h 29 48 27 25 27 180 7.57 P. olivaris @) 1 @) O O 7 8 0.34 M. cephalus 0 ) 1 © fe) ) 1 0.04 M. chrysops 26 9 8 13 11 5 72 3.03 M. punctulatus fo) 5 3 7 2 fo) 17 0.72 M. salmoides | fe) 6 7 17 1 3 34 ints Lepomis (all sunfish) 0 2 0 6 3 8 19 0.80 P. annularis 17 - TL 2 6 7 30 73 3.07 A. grunniens 3 O ) @) 1 8 12 0.51 Totals 146 298 511 574 556 291 2376 100.00 --- Page 9 --- Table V Pounds of Each Fish Species Taken by Gill Nets From Buchanan Lake December 1954 through May 1955. a Fish Species Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Total % of Weight L. platostomus D. cepedianum I. bubalus Carpiodes carpio M. congestum Cyprinus carpio punctatus Olivaris cephalus chrysops punctulatus salmoides annularis Lepomis (all sunfish) A. grunniens Totals --- Page 10 --- Table VI Success of Gill Netting in Terms of Number and Pounds of Fish, December 1954 through May 1955. Number Number Number Number Average Average Average Average No. Month of Nets of Foot of Fish Ibs. Fish Number No. Fish No. Lbs. Lbs. Fish Set Net Set Caught Caught Fish/Net Ft. of Net Fish/Net per Ft. of Net. December 8 1000 146 136.3 18,25 0.136 17.03 0.136 January 12 1500 298 257.4 2h. 83 0.196 21.45 0.172 Febroary 20 2200 511 533.5 25.55 0.232 26.68 0.243 March 2h 2775 574 714.4 23.92 0.207 29.76 0.257 April 14 1550 556 482.8 39.71 0.359 34.49 0.311 May 7 800 291 288.1 41.57 0. 364 41.16 0.360 Total 85 9825 2376 2412.5 27.95 0,2k2 28.38 0.2h6 - --- Page 11 --- Length, W Fish Species Le D. platostomus cepedianum I. bubalus Carpiodes Carpio M. Congestum Cyprinus carpio Te P Sea punctatus Olivaris cephalus chrysops punctulatus salmoides Lepomis (all sunfish) Ps A. annularis grunniens Table VII eight, and Coefficient of Condition of Fish Collected by Gill Nets From Buchanan Lake, December 1954 through May 1955. Number of Spec. 60 1226 60 567 19 28 180 8 1 72 17 3h 19 73 12 | Standard Length Range 44.0~1000 1ll7- 397 133- 464 220- 383 2ho-~ 4O7 296- 450 85- 512 235~ 489 Ok 162- 323 228- 372 227- LLG 95- 159 85- 298 95- 369 Standard Length Average 727.6 207.3 336.0 304.2 309.8 361.5 294.1 366.5 494.0 260.3 322.1 315.0 116.5 169.6 171.3 Weight Range (grams ) 312-4876 38- 652 57-3742 227-1474 312-1701 680-220 10-2722 215-2353 2863 113= 922 284-1758 340-3033 28- 1he 7-1049 57-127 Weight Average (grams ) 1834.8 197.9 1387.6 701.4. 806.6 1306.5 518.8 1 <5 2863.0 529.8 1010.5 1041.5 70.5 189.0 183.3 meu Factor Range 0.338-4.641 1.036-2.595 0.351-3.962 1.090-3.277 2.186-3.028 1.967-3.048 0.645-3.359 1.658-2,110 2.376 1.196-3.782 2.203-4.,.066 2.509-3.615 2,800-5 4g 0.150-3.964 1.623-6.669 my Factor Average 1.923 1.854 3.164 2.436 2.420 2.667 1.645 1.822 2.376 2.764 2.866 2.988 4. OOK 2.432 2.534 --- Page 12 --- ~=2 = BUCHANAN LAKE _ o é qe (J ey ‘ Seaver Cece | 2 £" . a q 0 : Neary a Moasan | C@tek oe oe ‘o F sox ow a ) * oD ae LEeend @ Nerrine SITES x» «SEINING Areas Warer ANaALYyses ®@ stations