TPWD 1957 F-5-R-4 #326: Inventory of Species Present in Lake J. B. Thomas Near Snyder, Texas: Job Completion Report, Dingell-Johnson Project F-5-R-4, Job B-10

--- Page 1 --- “a7 Report of Fisheries Investigations Inventory of Species Present in Lake J. B. Thomas Near Snyder, Texas. by Lawrence Campbell Project Leader Dingell-Johnson Project F-5-R=-4, Job B-10 May 1, 1956 = April 16, 1957 H. D. Dodgen = Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Marion Toole Kenneth C. Jurgens & William H. Brown Coordinator Assistant Coordinators --- Page 3 --- Jot Completion Report State of TEXAS Project No. F=5-R-4 Name; Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3-B. Joo No. B=10 Title; Inventory of Species Present in Lake J. B. Thomas near Snyder, Texas. Period Covered: May 1, 1956 = April 16, 1957 ABSTRACT s From a fisheries standpoint Lake J. B. Thomas, a 220,000 acre foot, storage reservoir, has developed from a virtually unproductive body of water into the most productive public reservoir within Region 3-B. Most notable of the population trends included tremendous increases in the flathead catfish, white bass, largemouth bass and white crappie popula- tions. Corresponding decreases in yellow bullhead and freshwater drum occurred. Data obtained indicated probable inter-specific influences by yellow bullheads on the increase of flathead catfish and by gizzard shad on the increase of white bass. No managment or development program is considered necessary at this time. vSSECTIVES ¢ To determine the species present and their relative abundance and to determine the ecological factors influencing their distribution. PROCEDURE ; During the final segment, 39 gill nets were set at seven locations in the reservoir. Experimental nylon gill nets, measuring 125 feet long by eight feet deep and made up in five, 25 foot sections, were used. Mesh sizes for these nets increased progressively in each following section, at half-inch intervals, beginning with a one-inch mesh section and terminating with a three-inch mesh section. Sixteen seining collections were made at five seining stations in the reservoir. In nearly all collections, both 26 foot, + inch mesh bag seines and 15 foot, a inch mesh, common sense seines were used. To estimate relative abundance a count was made of all individuals taken in two hauls with a 26 foot, 4+ inch mesh bag seine. In addition to this work, collections, with a h foot, 1/16 inch mesh, common sense fry seines, were taken. Water analysis to determine dissolved oxygen content and the quantity of dissolved carbon dioxide was..taken periodically. Surface temperature, pH, and weather conditions were recorded for each netting and seining collection. Turbidity was measured on two occasions. In netting collections, samples from each collection and for each species were weighed, measured and sexed. This work was done in the field. Stomachs containing food were preserved for laboratory examination. Similar work for seining collections in- --- Page 4 --- cluded identification, weighing and measuring. Individual specimens not readily iden- tifiable were preserved in a 10 percent solution of formalin. These were later identified in the laboratory. FINDINGS s Lake J. B. Thomas is located approximately 10 miles west of Ira, Texas. The earthen dam impounds the Colorado River and Bull Creek approximately 2.5 miles above their confluence. The structure was completed in September 1951 by Freeze and Nichols Const- ruction Company of Dallas, Texas, for the Upper Colorado River Municipal Water District. The reservoir impounded its first water, about 4,000 acre feet, in August 1952, and by July 1953 about 11,000 acre feet of water were in storage. When work was initiated on this job, in July 1954, the lake had increased to about 47,890 acre feet. Since that time the lake has continued to increase in volume from 134,480 acre feet in May 1955, to 180, 000 acre feet November of the same year, and had 163,800 acre feet volume in April 1956 when the first year's work was completed. The included chart on hydrology and fluctuation provides more detailed data on the reservoir. The influences on fish populations will be discussed under that heading. The maximum storage capacity for Lake J. B. Thomas is 220,000 acre feet and the reservoir has flood control potential for 255,000 acre feet. All impounded water is owned by the Colorado River Municipal Water District and is to be used to fulfill the municipal and the industrial requirements for Big Spring, Odessa, and Snyder, Texas. The contributing watershed of approximately 751 square miles is ex- clusively within the Permian Basin, and soil types are generally sands and red or brown sandy loams. The average annual rainfall is 21.15 inches, average maximum temperature is 82°F, and average minimum is 42°F. Most of the watershed is utilized for ranching; how- ever, in the north-western "Lamesa" area irrigated and "dryland" farming is extensive. Four oil wells were surrounded by the lake; however, these wells are adequately protected and no evidence of pollution has been discovered. Drilling activity has increased the original number to seven wells now producing in the innundatable area, and exploration continues. During the year no recordable turbidity was observed, total solids were about 150 ppm and pH ranged from 8.3 to 8.4. Minimum dissolved oxygen content recorded was 7.2 ppm, and the maximum carbon dioxide content recorded was 8 ppm. Aquatic Vegetation Bull rushes are established in the upper reservoir areas and muskgrass, although not dense in any particular area, is present on many of the shallow, sandy beaches. Fish Populations A. Relative Abundance The following charts present the netting and seining data obtained during the survey and are arranged in such a manner as to best illustrate the population trends that are to be discussed later in the report. This data is entirely for comparative purposes. Distribution of species is included under a different heading. --- Page 5 --- Hydrology and Water Level Fluctuation Data for Lake J. B. Thomas for the Period From October 1955, through September 1957. Month Max. El. Min. El. Avg. Fluctuation Avg. Acre Feet October = 1955 55.7 53.8 54.75 1.9 179, 100 November 54.9 54.2 54.55 0.7 177, 500 December 54.2 53.8 54.0 0.4 173,600 January - 1956 53.8 53.4 53.6 0.4 170,750 February 53.4 53.0 53.2 0.4 167,900 March 53.0 52.3 52.65 0.7 164,150 April 52.3 51.8 52.25 0.5 160,100 May 52.6 53.5 53.05 0.9 166,900 June Ss. 52.8 53.25 0.9 168, 300 July 53.2 52.2 52.7 1.0 164,500 August 52.2 51.1 51.65 1.1 157,450 September 51.1 50.2 50.65 0.9 150,900 October 50.2 49.8 50.0 0.4 146,750 November 49.8 hO.1 4g 45 0.7 143, 300 December hO.1 48.7 48.9 O.4 139,900 January ~ 1957 48.7 48,3 4B.5 0.4 137,500 February 49.3 48,2 48.75 1.1 139,050 March 49.1 48.5 48.8 0.6 139, 300 April 48.8 48.0 48,4 0.8 136,900 May 54.0 48.8 51.4 5.2 155,800 June 55.5 54.6 55.25 0.9 181,000 July 55.3 54.6 54.95 0.7 180 , 400 August 54.6 53.6 54.1 1.0 174, 300 September 53.7 52.9 53.3 6.8 168,600 Averages 55.7 48.0 51.85 0.8 #160 ,250 * Maximum volume was 186 , 000 acre feet in October, 1955 Minimum volume was 134,500 acre feet in April, 1957 --- Page 6 --- Netting Collections From Lake J. B. Thomas May 1, 1955 through April 31, 1956 October No. % Species January Total Percent No. % Lepisosteus osseus Dorosoma cepedianum Carpiodes carpio Moxostoma congestum Cyprinus carpio Ictalurus punctatus Ictalurus natalis Pylodictus olivaris Roccus ¢ sops Micropterus salmoides Chaenobryttus coronarius Lepomis (sunfishes) Pomoxis annularis Totals --- Page 7 --- Species Longnose gar Gizzard shad River carp suckers Redhorse suckers Carp Channel catfish Flathead catfish Yellow bullheads White bass Largemouth bass Sunf ishes White crappie Total July 126 26 16 16 12 212 Netting Collections from Lake J. B. Thomas April 16, 1956 thru April 16, 1957 September On 31 31 id 28 30 145 November Lie 62 16 54 bi 295 January 114 29 38 27 11 104 342 March 28 38 29 19 Te 202 April 86 16 18 13 20 39 198 Total 497 eT 202 102 29 Wy4 52 15 29h 1394 Percentage 1.60 35-75 1493 0.43 0.35 1h .kg 7.37 2.08 10.42 3-73 0.76 21.09 100.00 --- Page 8 --- 6. Results of Gill Netting Collections taken from Lake J. B. Thomas from May 1, 1955 through April 16, 1957. Species Longnose gar Gizzard shad River carpsuckers Redhorse suckers Carp Channel catfish Flathead catfish Yellow bullheads White bass Largemouth bass Sunfishes White crappie Freshwater drum Total No. 25 740 on 256 113 re, 167 71 158 298 29 2,042 Percent by No. 1.22 36.23 4.60 0.34 0.24 12.54 5.56 3.86 OuLT 3.47 1-6 14.59 1.42 100.00 Average Percent Wt. by Wt. (ounces ) 47 hei 345 9.06 18 5.93 12 0.29 38 0.66 29 25.98 a7 22.53 3.5 0.96 12 7.03 26 6.45 3.5 1.93 13 13.55 15 1.52 100.00 Average Li kK" --- Page 9 --- T- Seining Collections from Lake J. B. Thomas May 1, 1955 through April 31, 1956. Species Dorosoma cepedianum Carpiodes carpio Notropis lutrensis Hybognathus placitus Pimephales vigilax Ictalurus punctatus Ictalurus natalis Roccus chrysops Micropterus salmoides Chaenobryttus coronarius Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis microlophus Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis auritus Pomoxis annularis Aplodinotus grunniens Totals July 201 21 al 279 October © o e) 24 12 ahh January 100 eh 50 oOo Oo NN WI 36 17 269 March a 50 12 12 285 April 8h 2h 50 13 11 20 Total 10 15 635 96 221 22 93 27 16 2h 112 46 10 1,312 Percentage 0.76 1.14 48.40 7«32 16.84 1.68 4O4 2.06 1.22 0.69 1.83 0.53 8.54 0.68 3.51 0.76 100.00 --- Page 10 --- Species Gizzard shad River carpsuckers Plains shiners Redhorse shiners Parrot minnows Channel catfish Yellow bullheads Gambusia White bass Largemouth bass Warmouth bass Green sunfish Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish Longear sunfish White crappie Freshwater drum Totals July 173 Seining Collections from Lake J. B. Thomas April 16, 1956 through April 16, 1957 October 28 12 19 11 13 11 ll 116 January 61 March le 14 13 al 18 al 26 16 158 Total 14 2h 86 40 131 20 4O 22 70 19 38 508 Numerical Percent 2.76 0.79 4.72 16.93 7.87 25.78 3.95 7.87 4.33 13.78 3.74 7.48 100.00 Total for 36 Months 24 19 120 fal 261 22 23 131 47 56 46 182 28 8h 10 1,820 Numerical Percent 1.32 1.05 6.59 39.63 14, 34 1.21 2.92 7.19 2.58 3.07 0.49 2.52 0.39 10.00 1.54 4.62 0.54 100.00 --- Page 11 --- Trends and Influences in the Principal Fish Populations Gizzard shad - Although these fish remained relatively constant in ratio to other species; the stomach contents of white bass contained shad only, and a marked uniformity in size in this species indicated that virtually all of these fish were in utilizable form. (i.e. they were small enough to be taken for food by the principal game species). River carpsuckers - As shown in the included charts; this is the only lake surveyed thus far that this species does not present an existing fishery management problem. However, maintaining data on this population will be the primary purpose of future re- survey work. Freshwater drum - The most notable evidence indicating the importance of this species is the lack of their occurrance during the last year of inventory. Flathead catfish - As shown in the included charts the increase in channel and flathead catfish is almost correlational with the decline in yellow bullheads. This, with stomach analysis data that indicated bullheads were of primary dietary importance for these species, is considered sufficient to establish that a relationship occurred in this specific instance. Channel catfish - Although there was a slight decrease in the average co-efficient of condition for this species during the last twelve months that the survey was conducted; this is believed to be a result from a natural loss of condition in the population brought about by a greater number of mature fish, that have spawned, being taken during sampling. 2 numerical increase from 9.10 percent to 14.49 percent is regarded as more indicative vs the importance of this population. ; Largemouth bass =- The numerical increase indicated by seining and netting collections are known to be insufficient for this species. Bass fry secured in seining collections were not taken into consideration in computing the included data. As observed and as shown in the hydrological table; spawning conditions were favorable and many fry were present. White crappie - The increase in this population is regarded as less favorable than that for other game species. Although there was a numerical increase from about 0.5 percent to about 21 percent; the condition and size of the individuals taken in sampling indicated that at least in specific areas of the reservoir there may be a "stunted" population in the process of developing. For that reason this population will be given special consideration when resurvey work is done. White bass - White bass increased from less than 4 percent to over 10 percent, and all observations would indicate that the species could increase proportionately for at least another year. Since conditional increases accompanied the numerical increase there is at present no known reason to doubt the desirability of this condition. C. Species Present and Their Distribution. Twenty-seven species of ten families were captured and identified during the in- ventory period. The distribution and other aspects pretaining to the individual species » discussed in the following annotated checklist. --- Page 12 --- 10. Annotated Checklist of Species of Fish in Lake J. B. Thomas Lepisosteidae (gars) Lepisosteus osseus (Iongnose gar) = rare and concentrated in the upper reservoir areas. Clupeidae (shad and herrings) Dorosoma cepedianum (gizzard shad) - usually abundant throughout the reservoir; however, there is some evidence that there is a spring concentration (at least on a locality basis) apparently caused by run-off water entering the lake and probably pro= viding spawning stimulus. Characidae (tetras) Astyanax fasicatus (mexican jumper) - represented by a single individual captured in the vicinity of a concession = presumably released bait. Catostomidae (suckers) Carpiodes earpio (river carpsucker) = taken in all reservoir areas, high co- efficient of condition, and presumably increasing rapidly. Moxostoma congestum (gray redhorse sucker) ~ common but restricted to the mouth of contributing streams. Cyprinidae (minnows) Cyprinus carpio (carp) = common but not yet numerous. There were few adults taken. Notropis percobromus {plains shiner) = although there is actually some question as to whether this species should te included in the reservoir populations, because it was obtained in and about the headwaters only, it is included on the presumption that if it occurrs there it should also be in the reservoir. Notropis venustus (spottail) - abundant but decreasing. Apparently this is a stream species that is introduced in great numbers when a reservoir fills and then reduces as dominance is gained by a more adaptable species. Notropis lutrensis (redhorse shiner) = possibly the dominant and certainly the most important forage species of this group at the time the inventory was completed. Hybognathus placita (plains minnow) = common but seldom numerous as compared to redhorse or spottail shiners. Pimephales vigilax (parrot minnow) = common and uniform in distribution but apparent= ly never concentrated as are the other important minnows and shiners. Ameiuridae (catfishes) Ictalurus melas (black bullhead) = this may be a mistake of identification; however, regardless of this possibility the population of this species if it actually exists is relatively unimportant and is definitely sub-dominant to yellow bullheads. --- Page 13 --- ictalurus natalis (yellow bullhead) - although there is doubt as to the utility of this species for forage; it is concluded that, at least in this specific instance, the Species has value as forage for flathead and channel catfish as discussed under those species. The yellow bullhead population, although apparently decreasing rapidly, is distributed uniformly throughout the reservoir. ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish) = uniformly distributed and in excellent conditions. Pylodictus olivaris (flathead catfish} ~ as discussed under Trends and Influences. Concentrated near the dam and about the protecting rip rap for the oil well. Cyprinodontidae (killifishes and topminnows) Fundulus kansae (plains killifish) - common, but abundant only at the beginning of the survey. Apparently this population had its origin in the stream pools that existed prior to significant impoundment of water. With the capture of sizable quanities of run- off and a resulting loss of salinity these species were no longer capable of sustaining themselves. Gambusia affinis (mosquitofish) - abundant in all areas where protection was afforded. Serranidae (basses) Roccus chrysops (white or stripped bass) = common with some evidence of an annual igration route. Centrarchidae (black basses and sunfish) Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass) = common and if fluctuation conditions continue as they have to date there is reason to believe that this population May con- tinue to hold its own. Chaenobryttus gulosus (warmouth bass) ~ rare and apparently unimportant. Lepomis cyanellus (green sunfish) = common and distributed throughout the reservoir. Unimportant as a game species; however, there is evidence that they are utilized as forage. Lepomis macrochirus (bluegill} - the dominant species of sunfish in the reservoir. This species is uniform of distribution, has an extremely limited utilization for sport and is of questionable utility for forage. Lepomis microlophus (redear sunfish) - uniform in distribution, common but never humerous. This species provides more sport than all other sunfishes combined. Lepomis megalotis (Iongear sunfish) = common but never numerous. Found in the area about the dam only. Pomoxis annularis (white crappie) ~ abundant but localized in distribution. Other “ertinent data as discussed under principal fish population. Percidae {perches and darters) Percina caprodes (logperch) - rare in and about the river mouth only. --- Page 14 --- le. Scianidae (drum) Aplodinotus grunniens (freshwater drum) - during the first year of inventory this species was found near the dam. It should be regarded as relatively rare since that time. SUMMARY : 1. Lake J. B. Thomas is a 220,000 acre foot storage reservoir near Ira, Texas, that has developed into the most productive public water for region 3-b. 2, Flathead catfish, channel catfish, white crappie, and largemouth bass increased at a tremendous rate during the period of inventory. 3. Yellow bullheads and freshwater drum decreased during inventory, and there was’ evidence that bullheads were extremely important in the development and increase of the flathead and channel catfish populations. 4h, The reservoir has what is regarded as a desirable gizzard shad population and there is as yet little evidence of a significant increase in river carp suckers or carp. 5. Game fish make up about 52.59% numerically and 75.54% by weight of the entire populations. 3,862 individuals of 10 families and 27 species were included in sampling. 6. Although the reservoir is subject to considerable fluctuation in the lake level at times; to date these fluctuations have not prevented successful spawning activity of the principal game species. 7. Although vegetation is not at present a fishery management problem, muskgrass and bullrushes occur in the reservoir and may present a future problem. RECOMMENDATION : Since the reservoir has excellent game fish populations and apparently no current fishery problems; no recommendation for corrective management is required, however, it is recommended that this reservoir be re-surveyed each year to keep an up to date account of the fishery populations in order that a basis for management may be maintained. ' —_ Prepared by Lawrence Campbell Approved by , [pan Srp cater Project Leader Director Inland Fisheries Division Date March 24, 1959