TPWD 1957 F-2-R-4 #282: Basic Survey and Inventory of Species Present and Their Distribution in the San Saba River, Texas

,3 fl ‘1 JOB COMPLETION REPORT Investigations Projects STATE OF TEXAS Project Noo PERM Name Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 6-Bo JOb Noo B-17 Title Basic Surve and Invento of 8 ecies Present and Their Distribuw tion in Those Portions of the-San Saba River within the Bound- aries of Region RB and the Upper Portion in Region 3MP;o Period Covered: February 12 1956 through January 312 1957, ABSTRACT Fiftyeone seine, and twenty gill net collections produced a total of 19,817 specimens fer studyo Thirty-four species of fresh water fish were found to occur in the San Babs Rivera Rough and forage species are extremely abundant throughout the drainage, The game fish population was found to be inadequate, but no management prac- tices to increase this population appear feasible at this time, OBJECTIVES To gather fundamental data on these waters including their physical, chemical and biological aspects. To determine the fish species present, their relative abund- ance, and the ecological aspects influencing their distributiona TECHNIQUES Two collecting methods were used in sampling the fish population of the San saba Rivero Seining produced the greatest number of specimens for study, while netting with esperimental type gill nets proved more effective for collecting many of the larger fish specieso A total of El seine and 20 gill net collections were made during the segment periodo With the exception of April and November, 1956 and January, 1957 when no collections were made, three days a.month were spent on the river, Thirty foot by six foot straislt seines andEK)ieet by h feetbobbinet seines were used in collecting the seined material, while eXperimental type gill nets, 125 feet by 8 feet were used exclusively to take the netted.specimenso Random sampling was intended but due to limited access to the river, collecting stations were estabm lished, although these stations were sampled.eiairregular intervalso All material collected in seines was taken to the laboratory for identificam tion and studyo Netted specimens were identified, weighed, measured, and checked for gonadal develOpment in the fieldo 'With each fish collection observations on bottom type, water temperature, wegw station present, stream width, depth of water, available cover and physical descrip- tions of the immediate shoreline and surrounding country were made and recordedo The chemical characteristics of the water were determined from water analyses at five stations and included dissolved oxygen, dissolved carbon dioxide, pH, and salinitvo PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION The San Saba River rises in eastern Schleicher County and flows in a northeastm erly direction for approximately 100 miles to its confluence with the Colorado River on the San Saba-Mills County line, The river is confined to the hill country, or Edwards Plateau region of Texaso Thin limestone derived soils are characteristic of this area, with wool and mohair production providing the chief incomeo Vegetation is composed chiefly of short grasses, shin oak, and live oak with numerous pecans along the river bottomo @very six years of drouth has reduced thousands of acres of this region to barren ground with only sparsely scattered grasseso With the lack of ground cover, the watershed of the river is susceptible to heavy tepsoil wash with every rain. The river is fed from springs of the Edwards and associated limestones'formationo With the exception of Clear Creek, all tributaries are intermittent, although numerous springs are present in at least the upper third of the river, Aquatic vegetation is heavy in the headwaters of the river but becomes quite sparse in the lower reacheso The principal aquatic forms are gyriophyllum.§po, Chara spa, and several species of Potamogetonu Abundant cover is provided by aquatic vegetation, roots, logs and rock outcropso Undercut banks from water erosion also provide cover for a variety of specieso The San Saba River floods periodically, and causes widespread damage to farms and cities along its courseo Floods of 30 feet over normal water level are not un- common and one such rise took place during this segment period, The San Saba River valley is quite scenic throughout its course and draws a great number of anglers annuallyo Although there are few public parks on the river, camping and fishing privileges may be obtained from landowners either free or at very nominal feeso Because of its location on the fringe of the more arid West Texas region, the San Saba River serves many small stream anglers from West Tomaso CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS Five water sevples were taken and analysed during the segment periodo In addition, six dissolved oxygen determinations were run in May after a heavy rise had recededo The water of the San Saba River was found to be slightly alkaline, with an average PH of ?,70 With the exception of may, l956, water quality was adequate to support fish life, On May 2, rains of up to eight inches on the watershed had caused heavy floodm ing on the entire rivero On May 9, shortly after the water had receded to normal level, water analyses were made on five water samples taken between Menard and the headwatersa One complete analysis and four dissolved oxygen determinations were made, Two of the samples showed dissolved oxygen at three popsmo and three samples indicated less than one popoms There was evidence of a fish kill but the extent of the kill could not be immediately determinedo 3o Investiagation as to the cause of the oxyten deficiency revealed heavy con« centration of sheep and goat manure in the river bed, The watershed had received ‘ittle rainfall in many years and the eight inch rains washed several years accumulaw ion of manure into the river, For nearly a month the water stayed a rich coffee-brown color, probably due to the decomposition of the tons of organic material, No fish were taken in seines during the may collecting period, although some fish were taken in gillinetst The water had cleared by June and for the remainder of the segment period, water Quality was satisfactoryo No evidence of municipal or industrial pollution was found during the study period, FINDINGS A total of 3% species representing ten families of fresh water fish were taken from the San Saba River during the segment period and a Checklist of species included as Table lo Mbst species are apparently distributed throughout the drainage but Gambusia figs? Etheostoma spectabile, and Etheostoma lepidun seemingly have a more limited dis- tribution, E, lepidum and E, spectabile were taken only in Schleicher and the western portions of Mbnard Countieso Gambusiagpo was taken form one locality in Mhnard County, Rough and forage species excluding sunfish dominated the catch in both seine and net collections (Tables 2, 3, and A), This group comprised 86°99% of the total pounds and 8ho30% of the total numbers collected in gill nets° In the seine collections 95°ll% of the collected material consisted of rough or forage specieso Channel catifsh were the most abundant of the game species making up 5,6h% of the total number and 8,89% of total weight taken in the net collections, The estimate of relative abundance (Table l) is based entirely on material gathered by Texas Game and Fish Commission personnel, In Table l, estimated relative abundance is shown by the following symbols: VA, very abundant; A, abundant; C, Common; and R, rareo If there is a noticeable shift in relative abundance between river secs tions, these shifts are noted, Table 5 shows success of gill netting on the river in terms of both number and pounds of fish per net and foot of note Map A through E present distribution by new ice of the 34 species collected during the segment periodo RECQMMENDATIONS Although the game fish population in the San Babe River is limited, and is competing with an overwhelming rough fish population, little can be done to improve this condition at the present timeo Several basic changes in the river are necessary before any management practices can be carried outo The primary need is for better soil menu agement on the watershed to prevent the runoff which destroys fish habitat and causes periodic fish killso Second in importance is the need for a barrier to prevent rough fish from moving in to the San Saba River from the-Colorado Rivero Two dams have been proposed for the San Saba River and if developed would prove effective fish barriers, If a dam reaches the construction stage it would be advisable to carry out a short pre-impoundment survey to determine the status of the pepulation at the time and plan a management program based on collections from this stagnant period and the pram impoundment survey a / Prepared by John Ea Tilton Approved by M sm/ .. Assistant Project Leader Chief Aquatic Biologist Date May 21: 1957 __ _____._______________________ Table lo Checklist of Species Found.to Occur in the San Saba River. Scientific Name Common Name Estimate of Relative Abundance Lepisosteus osseus Dorosoma cepedianum Ictiobus bubalus Carpiodes carpio Hexostoma congestum Cyprinus_carpio Notemigonus crysoleucas Notropis roseus Notrcpis venustus Notropis lutrensis Dionda episcopa Pimephales vigilax Pimephales promelas .ICampostoma anomalum- Ictalurus punctatus 7Ictalurus natalis Pylodictus olivaris Gambusia affinis Gambusia apo Roccus chrysops Micropterus punctulatus ' ropterus treculi Micropterus salmoides Chaenobryttus gulosus Lepomis'cyanellus Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis humilis Lepomis auritus Lepomis megalotis Pomoxis annularis Porcine caprodes Etheostoma spectabile Etheostoma lepidum Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum Symbols: (M) - Taken only in Menard and Schleicher Counties loaguose gar gizzard shad smallmouth buffalo river carpsucker gray redhorse sucker carp golden shiner central weed shiner spottailishiner redhorse shiner roundnose minnow parrot minnow fathead minnow stoneroller southern channel catfish yellow bullhead flathead catfish common mosquitofish Clear Creek mosquitofish white bass Kentucky spotted bass Texas spotted bass largemouth black bass Vermouth green sunfish bluegill orangespotted sunfish yellowbelly sunfish longear sunfish white crappie 'logperch orangethroat darter -greenthroat darter Rio.Grande perch COG)“ Restricted to Portions of Clear Creek (88)" Taken only in San Saba County 'QOObebb <24 {bib m :3 w flflm IEIZIK WWW on asoHo mo Echoes ow moooHsooe amass Ho mousse woos five men mods deoec mooasoow dweosmw woocsoosc memo Meow mpoowoe Woodsmsw_3maow mono uoH% bsmcme mowoosooc oodooos aoeoH pounced ow HoomH w mor Hr a Hr : . mew H.mo .. owes amass o 4 Hem. 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Picture 1. Typical riffle area of San Saba River, Menard County near Schleicher County line. Picture 2. Pool on Saba San River, four miles West of Menard, Mhnard County.