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

--- Page 1 --- —_ era STATE Texas PROJECT NO. F-5-R-2, Job B-10 PERIOD June 22, 1954 - May 1, 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 Forty-nine 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 ‘ntervals beginning with a one-inch mesh section and terminating with a three-inch 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., rah 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 4 ft. common sense 1/16" mesh fry seines were taken. Water analysis to determine dissolved oxygen content and the quantity of dis- 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 scale 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 identi- 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 ronfluence. The structure was completed in September 1951 by Freeze and Nichols Con- struction Company of Dallas, Texas for the Colorado River Municipal Water District. The reservoir impounded it's first water, about 4,000 acre ft. volume, in August 1952, and --- Page 2 --- 2s by July 1953 about 11,000 acre feet of water was in storage. When work was initiated on this job, in July 1954, the lake had increased to about 47,890 acre feet; and since that time has continued to rise to a volume of 134,480 acre feet in May 1955. The maximum storage capacity for Lake J. B. Thomas is 220,000 acre ft. and the reservoir has fiocd 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 maxi- mum temperature is 82° F. and the average annual minimum is 41° 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 wells 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: 8.25-and total solids are about 150 ppm. Minimum recorded dissolved oxygén content recorded during the ségment 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 49 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 cepedianun ) were the most numerous fish taken in gill net collections, and nume bers of yellow bullheads (Ameiurus natalis), river carp suckers (Carpiodes carpio), fresh- water drum (Aplodinotus grunniens), and Southern channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) followed in that order. Although this lake is less than two years old white bass (Morone chrysops ) are more numerous than largemouth black bass. River carp suckers are second to gizzard shad in percent of the total weight of the catch. Seining Results: Thirty-three seining collections at eight seining stations in the lake captured 1,958 individuals of twenty-three species. Mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis), red shiners (Notropis lutrensis), blacktail shiners (Notropis venustus), gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) and bluegiil sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) were the most abundant of all fishes taken. Mosquito fish catches apparently declined during the latter months of the segment. Remarks: Sixty-nine 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 l. Forty-nine 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 thirty-three collections captured 1,958 individuals and indicate high percentages for mosquito fish, red shiners, and gizzard shad. 3. A continuation for this job has been requested and approved for next segment. --- Page 3 --- Table 1. Netting Collections from Lake J. B. Thomas casa = oeccer oe fey hey Species _Aug. Sept, Oct. Nov. Dec. = dan. Mar. May Total. Dorosoma cepedisnum 52 23 12 @) 1h 9 170 »=—- 620 900 49.47 22.28 177 Carpiodes carpio 7 1 5 26 @) 5 hQ 160 253 13.90 29.12 239 Cyprinus carpio fo) 0 fe) 5 C fe) 7 20 32 261.75 4.75 253 Moxostoma congestum e) 6) 0) 13 O ©) 0) @) 13 o(2 2.15 2ho Lepisosteus osseus 0 @) @) O @) 0 fe) 3 3 16 92 320 Aplodinotus grunniens 18 20 27 ©) 5 1 5 61 137 7-53. 733 288 Ameiurus natalis ©) 1 0 0 3 0 hg 87 iho = 7.69. O84 2k7 Pilodictus olivaris ¢) fe) ) ?) 2 ) 3 2 7 238) 1.55 254 Ictalurus punctatus 6 4 11 0 33 O 16 140 210 11.54 12.10 199 Micropterus salmoides fe) @) 1 ) 2 ) 9 31 43> 2.36 =) -.3..19 236 Morone chrysops ©) 0 0 ©) 31 fo) 11 18 60 3.29 3.46 216 Chaenobryttus coronarius e) e) 0 0 0 1) 8) 2 2 ell -06 420 Sunfishes re) ) fe) ©) 4 ) 10 5 19 1.04 46 408 Totals 83 Fre) 56 4h 94 15 329 1,149 1,819 99.94 100.0 --- Page 4 --- Table 11. Seining Collections from Lake J. B. Thomas Gambusia affinis 121 140 60 23 ) 6 23 Notropis lutrensis 38 26 31 L7 16 21 134 Notropis venustus 6 ll 4 0) 6) 9 Wh Pimephales promelas fo) 0) 22 4 21 20 16 Hybognathus placitus ) @) 0 6 @) 0 10 Notemigonus chrysoleucas' re) 13 ) ¢) re) 14 Cyprinodon sp. 1) 2 1) e) 0 0) 25 Dorosoma cepedianum 14 6 11 2] oh 3 16 Carpiodes carpio O 0 ) 2 6 O 3 Cyprinus carpio 0 2 2 0 6) 0 8) Aplodinotus grunniens 10) 2 6) 5 6) 0) 0 Lepisosteus osseus 1) 1 0 e) 0 e) 3 Ameiurus natalis 0 0 0 4 0) 2 al Ictalurus punctatus 0 1 0 i ie) 8) 2 Micropterus salmoides 2 6 ) 6 9 y 18 Morone chrysops fe) ) 0 1 ) 14 6 Pomoxis annularis 3 8 6 5 2 2 1h Chaenobryttus coronariusl 2 2 1 5 0 13 . Lepomis macrochirus 28 10 13 6 fo) 4 ah ” somis cyanellus 4 16 3 3 2 8 31 --- Page 5 --- Table 11. Seining Collections, Lake J. B. Thomas, Page 2. Species us Oct. Dec. Jan. March May _ ___% by Number Lepomis micro- lophus 6) Lepomis megalotis 6 Lepomis auritus 13 Totals 2he