TPWD 1958 F-3-R-5 #361: Basic Survey and Inventory of Fish Species in the Neches River and its Watershed from its Source in Van Zandt County to its Mouth in Sabine Lake on the Gulf of Mexico

--- Page 1 --- JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of TEXAS Project No. F3R5 Name: Fisheries Investigation and Surveys of Waters of Region 5-B. Job No. Bell Title: Basic Survey and Inventory of Fish Species in the Neches River and its Watershed from its Source in Van Zandt County to its Mouth in Sabine Lake on the Gulf of Mexico. Period Covered: June 1, 1956 through November 30, 1957 2cicmceteneseaiacnttnncecsenene eee ee UER AOVEMOCE Oy Ee ABSTRACT: A basic survey and inventory of fish species present was conducted on the Neches River Watershed from its source in Van Zandt County to its mouth at Sabine Lake. There was a total of 66 species collected during this period. The soils found in the area are light colored, acid sandy loams and sands and clays in the uplands and darker colored soils in the bottom lands and along the coast. Native vegetation consists mostly of pines and various hardwoods. There are sparse amounts of aquatic vegetation. Water analysis shows the waters to be slightly acid. Industrial pollution is quite evident on the lower section of the river and a small temporary incident was encount-~ ered upstream. There is a good population of commercial type fishes and a fair popu- lation of sport fishes. Recommendations are made for an investigation and possible stocking of Dam "B" Reservoir with white bass (Roccus crysops). In addition an eval- uation of the fishing laws in regulatory counties of Jasper and Tyler is recommended. OBJECTIVES : To gather fundamental data on the above waters in regard to their physical, chemical and biological aspects. To determine the distribution of the fish species present, their relative abundance and the ecological factors influencing their dis- tribution. PROCEDURE: | There were two methods of specimen collecting employed in making this study. Seining was by far the most common method of collecting. One-quarter inch mesh, 26 by 6 foot bag seine and either cotton or nylon common sense minnow seines were used, depending upon the area to be covered and the depth of the water. Generally from one to four drags were all that was required to make a good collection. Experimental type gill nets of 1 to 3- inch bar mesh were used in the more open, deeper waters and the sloughs of the river. Also this means of collecting was used in the lakes on the river and its drainage. All seined specimens were preserved in ten percent formalin and brought to the laboratory for identification. Specimens from gill nets were identified, counted and --- Page 2 --- weighed in the field. A record was kept of the length and weight of each game fish species and important commercial species. The coefficients of condition were determined on these species. (Table 1). Ecological data taken at each station ineludes water and air temperatures, weather conditions, surrounding vegetation types (whether timber, grassland etc.) brief description of the stream, turbidity (measured in inches of light penetration) and color of the water. Chemical analysis of the water includes pH, methal orange alkalinity, chlorides and on several occasions dissolved oxygen. Water samples were usually analyzed in the laboratory unless the time interval was too great, then they were run in the field. Dissolved oxygen samples were fixed on the spot and determined later. RIVER DESCRIPTION: The Neches River Valley lies between the Sabine River Basin to the east and the Trinity River Basin on the west. The river originates in Van Zandt County and flows in a generally southeastern direction approximately 416 miles through 15 counties and empties into the Gulf of Mexico by way of Sabine Lake. The watershed at the mouth of the river is 10,129 square miles. The average annual runoff, according to the Texas Board of Water Engineers, is 6,548,00 acre feet, thereby making the Neches the largest river entirely within the state. The Red and Sabine Rivers are both larger but they are interstate rivers. The most important tributary of the Neches River is the Angelina River which was surveyed and reported under F3R4, Job B-10. Another important tributary is Pine Island Bayou at river mile 30.0. At about river mile 37 there is a salt-water barrier across the river which prevents tidal waters from backing further upstream. The barrier is constructed of corrugated type steel plates stood upright at a height to permit the freshwater coming downstream to flow over the top but is high enough to prevent the rising tidewaters to pollute the freshwater. The City of Beaumont takes water from above the barrier and it flows by means of canals to the city treating plant. IMPOUNDMENT ¢ A major impoundment on the Neches River is Dam "B" Reservoir (river mile 113.7) which has a capacity of 94,200 acre feet at top of normal pool. The surface area is 13,700 acres. Its average depth is onlv 6.8 feet which gives large areas for fish production. The water is stored and released during periods of drought for irriga- tion purposes downstream. During severe droughts this casuses the lake to recede to the river bed which causes a heavy concentration of fish in the river. The lakes receding allows the lakebed to dry out and permits vegetation to grow which in most cases is a heavy growth of cocklebur. The result of this is a very fertile lake and fish in good condition. Impoundments on the watershed include Lake Toni near Slocum, a 106 surface acre club lake on Ioni Creek, and Lost Prairie Lake near Palestine. This a 100 surface acre club lake. Eason Club Lake is an overflow lake in the Neches bottom west of Lufkin. It is only 10 surface acres in size, haif of which is marshland. Lying --- Page 3 --- southwest of Tyler is Big Eddie, a 100 surface acre natural lake on the main river. It is actually just a stretch of the river that widens out for about a half of a mile. SOILS: The Neches River passes through two soil areas - the East Texas Timber Country and the Gulf Coast Prairie. The soils found in the East Texas Timber Country are generally light colored, acid sandy loams and sands in the uplands, and darker colored acid sandy loams and clays in the bottom lands. In the Gulf Coast Prairie area the soils are dark colored, black to gray -lays and some sand loams which are acid. Native vegetation in the uplands include loblolly and shortleaf pine and various hardwoods such as oak, gum and hickory. In the lowlands hardwoods are prevalent with much cypress in the lower reaches of the river. Most of the land is used for timber and pasture with some truck crops. The coastal areas support rice and cotton crops. There is considerable oil to be found along Pine Island Bayou and then there is the industrial area around Beaumont which depend upon the river for water. Isolated to moderate growths of aquatic vegetation were found along the shores and banks of the waters of this drainage. These include black willow (Salix ni ra), button brush (Cephalanthus), cypress (Taxodium). saw grass (Zizaniopsis milaceay, cattails (Typha sp.), various sedges (C eraceae), smartweed (Polygonum » ponweed, (Potamogeton), duck potato (Saggittaria sp.), lotus (Nelumbo}, parrot feather (Myriophy~ illum sp.), duckweed (Lemna sp.) , and various algaes including Chara Spe and filamentous algae. FINDINGS : A total of 70 collections was made on the Neches Drainage. These collections yielded 66 species representing 17 families. In addition there were 69 water analyses made on these waters, WATER QUALITY: Routine water analyses were made at nearly every collection station in order to determine the water quality (Table 2). in all, 69 analyses were made on the Neches Drainage during this study. The turbidity of the river was considered to be moderates to very turbid based on light penetration as follows: very turbid oO” ~ 6" penetration, moderate 7" - 12", slight 13” - 2h", clear 25" and deeper. This turbid condition can be contributed to good plankton blooms, dark stains from runoff and suspended solids due to runoff. In areas that were spring-fed the water was clear. Water surface temperatures varied from a low of 62°F. in April to a high of 90° F. in September. As expected the areas near springs were cooler in the summer months. The range of pH varied widely, from below 6.0 (at that time our indicators only went to 6.0) to 9.4. However, the majority ranged from 6.4 to 7.2 and averaged approximately 6.6. The extremely low pH's were found ir. Black Creek and Little Pine Island Bayou in which area there is oil production. ‘The high pH, 9.4, was found at Big Eddie which was temporarily polluted with domestic sewage. The total chloride content varied --- Page 4 --- 4, from 21.28 ppm to 1063.8 ppm above the saltwater barrier. Below the barrier chlorides ran up to 3191 ppm. The methal orange alkalinity varied about the same as the pH, ranging from 9 ppm up to 425 ppm with most of the water in the 40 to 80 ppm range. Only 21 dissolved oxygen test were run and they ranged from 1.4 to 7.0 ppm. Collecting Stations: A total of 59 collecting stations made up of 35 seining and 24 gill net stations was established. Most of the seining stations were visited twice during the survey. Table 3 gives the locations of each station. These stations were located at road crossings on the upper stretches of the river where collections were made by car. The lower stretches, being more navigable by boat, provided stations closer together. Species Present: A total of 66 species representing 17 families was collected in the waters of the Neches River. This yield was from 69 collections. Table } lists each species phyloge- netically and gives the stations at which it was collected and the number collected at each station. The specific names are from Hubbs, A CHECKLIST OF TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHES, dated February 1957. The following annotated checklist treats each species separately. Besides the usual sport species there are two species of fish in the Neches System that should receive special consideration. These are the smallmouth buffalo (Photo 9) and gizzard shad. The buffalo has a good commercial potential and there seems to be a good supply of gizzard shad which would be a good forage fish for a species such as the white bass. eS NR I. Family PETROMYZONTIDAE - Lampreys 1. Ichthyomyzon castaneus - chestnut lamprey - only one speciman of this species was found and it was at Big Eddie on the upper Neches. It was free swimming at the time of capture in a gill net. II. Family LEPISOSTEIDAE - -Gars 2. Lepisosteus spatula - alligator gar - there were thirteen alligator gars collected, ranging in size from less than two inches to over five feet in length. The larger ones were found in the lower reaches of the river below the saltwater barrier. The small specimens were collected in Dam "B" Reservoiy Big Eddie and in the stretch of river between. 3. L. platostomus - shortnose gar - only two specimens of shortnose gar were found and they were in the vicinity of State Highway 103 bridge, Houston~ Angelina Counties. 4, L. productus - spotted gar - this is the most widespread and numerous of the gars in the Neches System. They were collected in fifteen of the twenty four gill net collections. --- Page 5 --- NW L. osseus - longnose gar - the longnose ¢ and abundant of the gar species in the Nec Lit. Family AMIIDAE Bowfin Amia calva - Bowfin - the bowfin is comparatively rare as it wa: only on five occasions. The total number on Table 4 is misleading wit regards to population in that one collection yielded 30h fry of this 7 ££ a species. The other four were adults and found fairly far apart. IV. Family CLUPEIDAE ~ Herrings Te Dorosoma cepedianum - gizzard shad ~- the gizzard shad is quite prevalent in the larger waters of the lower Neches River, Dam "B" Reservoir and Big Eddie. It is one of the most widespread species found, both in numbers and in distribution. V. family ESOCIDAE - Pickerels 8, Esox americanus - grass pickerel - the grass pickerel was found only in the spring when the river had flooded the grassy banks and bar ditches. It was also collected in Lake Ioni and Lost Prairie Lake by nets. Both of these lakes have grassy vegetation. VI. Family CATASTOMIDAE - Suckers and buffalofishes 96 10. li. 13. 1h, ictiobus cyprinellus - bigmouth buffalo - only two specimens of this fish were found. Big Eddie was the location of one and it weighed three and one- half pounds. Eason Club Lake yielded the other. I. bubalus - smallmouth buffalo - the smallmouth buffalo is an important fish in the Neches System because of both its distribution and size. It was collected most often by netting, principally in the larger mesh of sxperimen- tal nets. This species has a good commercial prospect. Carpiodes carpio - river carpsucker ~ this fish was most commonly found in Dam "B" Reservoir with a few found in the lower reaches of the river. They were generally of a small size. Moxos toma poecilurum ~ blacktail redhorse - the blacktail redhorse is rare in the Neches. Big Eddie yielded two by netting and one was collected by seining. Minytrema melanops ~ spotted sucker = the spotted sucker was found exclus-~ ively in lakes. Dam "B" has the largest number and Lake Ioni and Big Eddie had good numbers. Erimyzon sucetta - lake chubsucker ~ two lakes contain the only chubsuckers found. Lake Ioni yielded forty specimens and Lost Prairie Lake yielded forty-three, --- Page 6 --- VII. Family CYPRINIDAE - Shiners and minnows de 16. 17. 18. 19. 23. ak, 25. 26. Cyprinus carpio - carp - carp were found around the lakes - Big Eddie and Dam "B" and in the vicinity of SH 103 where the river was backed up into the woods. Notemigonus crysoleucas - golden shiner ~ these forage fish were not too common and they were found only in the spring and of small sizes. Opsopoeodus emiliae - pugnose minnow - the pugnose minnows collected were widely separated and only a few in numbers. Hybopsis aestivalis - speckled chub - this was a rare species collected being found only twice in the stretch of the river from Dam "B" to the saltwater barrier. Notropis fumeus - ribbon shiner - this is one of the more widespread members of this genus. Not too many specimens were collected although. Its dis- tribution is from the upper middle reaches down to Dam "B". N._brazosensis - Brazos River shiner - US 79 crossing in Cherokee County was the only place this species was found. It was the dominant species in the collection at that station. N. blennius - river shiner - this is another rare species in the Neches. They were found in small pools in the upper reaches of the river. N. potteri - chub shiner - this species is quite numerous and widespread but found almost exclusively in the spring collections. They are found the entire length of the river down to the salt water barrier. N. sabinae - longnose shiner - longnose shiners were found in late summer generally along the middle stretch of the river. They were not too numerous. N. amnis - pallid shiner - comparatively large numbers of pallid shiners were found exclusively in the spring at three locations along the middle stretch of the river. N. venustus - spottail shiner ~ this is by far the most important bait minnow in the Neches River. It was found in more locations and in larger numbers than any other species of this family. N. lutrensis - redhorse shiner = this species is second only to the spottail shiner in numbers and is fourth in distribution. It too, is an important commercial bait minnow. N. deliciosus - sand shiner - the sand shiner ranks second only to N. venustus for distribution and is high in numbers also. N. atrocaudalis - blackspot shiner - nearly all of these fish were collected in the spring and in the upper half of the river. They are not too numerous or widely distributed. --- Page 7 --- 29. N.\volucellus - mimic shiner - this fish was found in only four locations and all in quite waters or pools. 30. N. maculatus - taillight shiner - four times this fish was found and only in small numbers. It was found in the spring when the river was out of banks. 31. Hybognathus placita - plains minnow - this is a fairly rare species being found only twice with a total on only seven specimens collected. 32. ~Pimephales vigilax - parrot minnow - another important bait minnow is this species which is third in distribution and numbers of this family. It was found throughout the Neches System. VIII. Family AMBEIURIDAE - Freshwater catfishes 33. Ictalurus punctatus - channel catfish - the channel catfish is almost exclusively a lake fish. Two specimens were found in the flooded lowlands near SH 103, Big Eddie yielded one specimen and a good population exist in Dam "B", Lake Ioni and Lost Prairie Lake. 34. %I. furcatus - blue catfish - Lost Prairie Lake has the only population of blue cats. Those collected weighed approximately 34 pounds a piece. 35. I. melas - black bullhead - only four specimens of blacks were collected in the river proper. Unfortunately both Lost Prairie and Lake Ioni have heavy infestations of this fish. 36. I. natalis - yellow bullhead - there were four specimens at two widely separated areas of this species. 37. Pylodictus olivaris - flathead catfish - though only two small Ops were collected at two locations it is believed there are numerous large ones in the river and lakes of the Neches System. IX. Family CYPRINODONTIDAE = Killifishes and topminnows. 38. Fundulus pulvereus - bayou killifish - just one fish of this species was found and it was in Pine Island Bayou which has a fairly high chloride content. 39. F. chrysotus - redspot topminnow - this species was not found too often, mostly in quite waters with high chloride content. ; 40. F. notatus - blackstripe topminnow - this is the second most widespread species in all the Neches System. A good number was found in nearly all collections. Kl, Cyprinodon variegatus - variegated cyprinodon = the only place this fish was found in the Neches River was below the saltwater barrier and the lower stretches of Pine Island Bayou. --- Page 8 --- X. Family POECILIIDAE - Mosquitofishes he, Gambusia affinis - gambusia - as might be expected the gambusia is the most common fish in the Neches System. XI. Family APHREDODERIDAE - Pirate perch 43. Aphredoderus sayanus - pirate perch - the pirate perch was found at only two locations in the spring. XII. Family MUGILIDAE - Mullets Ah XTIT. 45. 46, Mugil cephalus - striped mullet - the farthest upstream that mullet were found was below Dam "B". The other collection was near Beaumont. Family ATHERINIDAE - Silversides Menidia beryllina - tidewater silversides - great numbers of these silver- sides were collected by seining below the saltwater barrier. Labidesthes sicculus - brook silversides - brook silversides are pretty well evenly distributed throughout the middle section on the river, the tributaries of Pine Island Bayou and the Bayou proper. XIV. Family CENTRARCHIDAE - Black basses and sunfishes 47, 48, 49. 50. 51. 52. D36 Micropterus punctulatus - spotted bass - the majority of the 206 spotted bass collected were fry and fingerlings which indicated a good spawn. Dam "B" has a fairly good even distribution of the larger fish. M. salmoides - largemouth bass - this popular sport fish was found by netting in small numbers in Big Eddie, Dam "B", Lake Ioni, Lost Prairie Lake and the river below the saltwater barrier. The majority of those collected by seine came from Dam "B", Others occurred throughout the river. Chaenobryttus gulosus - warmouth - most of these fish were collected in Lake Ioni and Lost Prairie. Lepomis cyanellus - green sunfish - only two fry of this species was collected at SH 103 crossing. L.punctatus - spotted sunfish - this is one of the most important of the sunfishes in the Neches River. It is second in distribution among the sun- fishes. L. microlophus - redear sunfish - this much desired species was picked up mostly in nets principally in Lost Prairie Lake with an occasional one in other netting collections down the river. L. macrochirus - bluegill sunfish - as could well be predicted the bluegill is the most common species of this family. It is overpopulated in Lake Ioni and Lost Prairie Lake. --- Page 9 --- 54. L. auritus - yellowbelly sunfish - yellowbelly sunfish is a rare species. Three were dound below SH 103 and one in Lost Prairie. 55. iL. megalotis - longear sunfish - this species can be considered rare in the river with a great number found in Lake Ioni. 56. Pomoxis annularis - white crappie - the most numbers of "white perch" found was in Dam "B". Lake Ioni and Big Eddie have quite a few and they occurred only occasionally in the remainder of the river. 57. PB. nigromaculatus - black crappie - black crappie appeared in larger numbers but in fewer places than the white. Lake Ioni had more blacks also. 58. Centrarchus maculatus - flier - the flier appeared only twice in the spring in the upper stretch of the river. A total of 16 was taken. XV. Family PERCIDAE - Perches and darters 59. Hadropterus maculatus - blackside darter - only three small specimens were collected and they were all collected along the Anderson County stretch of the river. 60. H. shumardi - river darter - only a few were collected in the upper half of the river where the stream is more shallow and swift. 61. Ammocrypta vivax - Arkansas sand shiner - this is the most common species of this group. It was found all through the river above the saltwater barrier. It was found almost exclusively in late summer. 62. Etheostoma chlorosomum - bluntnose darter - one specimen was found southwest of Jacksonville. 63. E. gracilie - slough darter - this fish is more widespread but not as numerous as A. vivax and was found almost exclusively in the spring. 64. E. lepidum - greenthroat darter - seven specimens were found in the upper end of Dam "B" which was the ony” location. XVI. Family SCIAENIDAE - Croakers, drums and weakfishes 65. Aplodinotus grunniens - freshwater drum - the majority of the drum were collected in Big Eddie with the remainder being caught in Dam "B" and below the saltwater barrier. XVII. Family GOBIIDAE - Gobys 66. Microgobius gulosus_ - clown goby - these goby were collected in two loca- tions both above and below the saltwater barrier. POLLUTION: One important source of pollution on the Neches River is the East Texas Pulp and Paper Company near Evadale. This papermill releases its effluent into a swampy --- Page 10 --- 10. area near Lake Bayou. The BOD is reduced very littie before the effluent reaches Lake Bayou. Water enalyses show that dissolved oxygen runs as low as zero parts per million. After the water leaves Lake Bayou it enters the Neches River and dur- ing low water periods tidal action backs water up as far as the saltwater barrier. The dark color and strong odor of this effluent is a source of many complaints to the fame and Fish Commission. Although dead fish have not been found in the Neches River the color and odor of the water make it undesirable for recreational use. Lake Bayou is in such a condition that only gars are able to exist in the waters. Another source of pollution is on the Angelina River which flows into Dam "BN Reservoir and diseolors it. This is the effluent from the Southland Paper Mill which was reported in the Angelina River report. Some of the tributary streams emptying into Pine Island Bayou from the oil fields of Hardin County are very black or dark in color and have high chloride contents there~ by making them also undesirable for recreational uses. A temporary source of pollution was at Big Eddie when the City of Tyler was allow- ing their sewage to empty into the river at this point while repairs were being made on their sewage treatment plant. This resulted in a very heavy plankton bloom and apparently did no damage to fish populations. This was only a temporary condition and a check two months later indicated the water was normal again. PROPOSED RESERVOIRS ; The River and Harbor Act of 1945 provides for the construction of an earthen dam and appurtenant structure for flood control, hydroelectric power and conservation. The project is located on the Neches River 12 miles above its mouth and 15.9 miles above the confluence of the Angelina River. This is to be known as Dam "A". As of June 1956 plans and specifications had not been initiated. This same act also provides for a dam of the same type and purpose at river mile 160.4 and 34.3 miles above the mouth of the Angelina River. This dam site is approxi- mately 3 miles west of Rockland and about two miles above US 69 crossing. This is to be known as Rockland Reservoir. This reservoir would have an area of 126,500 surface acres at flood control level. Progress is at the same status as Dam "A". If either of these reservoirs become a reality it would greatly increase the fisheries of East Texas. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS s 1. It can be concluded that most of the waters of the Neches River are of a quality to support a normal fish life. 2, The waters of the lower half of the Neches can support a good commercial fisheries within the limits of the law. 3. The fish population present supports a fair sport fishery. 4, There is a large population of forage fish available. --- Page 11 --- ll. 9. Considering the above it is recommended that additional investigations be made in the area of Dam "B" to determine the feasibility of stocking the reservoir with white bass to further utilize the forage fish population and increase the sport fishery. 6. It is further recommended that the public waters of Jasper and Tyler Counties, which have recently become regulatory, be studied to evaluate the present laws con- cerning commercial fishing. \ Prepared by: John N. Dorchester Approved by: Viipaa . ZL oote. Assistant Project Leader Chief Aquatic Biologist Date: May 15, 1958 --- Page 12 --- Table 1 Length, weight and coefficient of condition data Number ; ; 1 K | age ictalurus punctatus Pa Micropterus salmoides Chaenobryttus gulosus Lepomis microlophus L. macrochirus L. megalotis Pomoxis annularis P. nigromaculatus Aplodinotus grunniens --- Page 13 --- nofeg puetst Bere UT [TO B00°6 ¥x0°9) 87 B1Spoyq uSTyoeT,Y sUutd ST43tT LO-N doni€ L°9| © saapoKq utBeis uMoig nofeg Qe-N dgti€ 9°9} eqeiepowq UmMOTIg Hib pue[s— sutg G2-N dgxta L°Q} e3e29poyq UMOT nofseg HZ-N dog :z q°Q] eyezlepoy uUMOT puBTST SUT €c-N uTet BCT? 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STPPa 2Tq VUSTTS 248 UMCIg , i, | , uda WBC JUSTTS| UTeQs UMOtY & ‘ ufly WE 4USTTS| UPEZS uMOIg 2/% udy WE qUSTTS| upeys umorg / ada WE qUuSTTS Ss uMOTg Te/¢ JeATY seyoay kzaa| utes umeazg ; ji i 4 ¥Q sg9adk5 e1B apo, USTYyoReTE H » IL 4 YSeilQ YORTT * ge°t2 LE*Qz2 ge°9e g2e*9e LE°92 LE Qe LE°92 94° S 92°T2 LE*gz 94°S LE*9z ge°te ge ‘Tz 49° SOZT 49° SOZT ° ° ° ° ° ° * e . ° + 96H zZt°og. 2S" S2q Z5°S2y 2°60L ° e ° 4 q tk ¢ mH ° Hee ove o°s ork HS 9° 9°S o°t 0°9 6°9 t Sy <A 4 ro Ol a DMHAOAN MAW 1 e t LE° ge LE° gz LE° 92 94° SE ge°t2 6° tHQt 4° 96% syreMey Ly SepTIoTy r I oe Tang T é i978m Jo suey | uot QeIg sin ereduey, ° ° q ° 1 s i QI 6 09) 6 009 09 BS AB RA Be Se ° { Qt ENO 0 CO NO ost ost ON a NWO WO WO FE ENE ERO CO DOO POO e9) WO XG OO LO KO WO WO ANNLO © 10 WO WO LO XO XG 10 10 10 WC WO 10 10 1 10 O80 WO LO \o ist t = * © eqep stskTeue zeqem pue TeoTBoTcom (*p.4ucD) S sTaBL ear --- Page 15 --- Table 3 Location of collecting stations wt Station Location en Ae ppprprpnimsn an N-1 Neches River, SH 64, 8 mi. W. Tyler, Van Zandt-Smith Counties N-la Neches River, SH 64, 8 mi, W. Tyler, Van Zandt-Smith Counti Ne2 Neches River, SH 31, 2 mi. E. Chandler, Henderson-Smith Cou S N-2a Neches River, SH 31, 2 mi. H. Chandler, Henderson-Smith Counties Kickapoo Creek, SH 31, 2 mi. W. Chandler, Henderson County Neches River, County Road, 4 mi. SW Chandler, Henderson Qounty Neches River, SH 155, 12 mi. SW Tyler, Henderson-Smith Counties Neches River, SH 155, 12 mi. SW Tyler, Henderson-Smith Counties Neches River, US 175, 4 mi. E. Frankston, Anderson-Cherokee Counties Neches River, US 175, 4 mi. E. Frankston, Anderson-Cherokee Counties Sa 4S See: Oe Ne us bt] -7 Neches River, US 79, 11 mi. SW Jacksonville, Anderson-Cherokee Counties N-7a Neches River, US 79, 11 mi. SW Jacksonville, Anderson-Cherokee Counties N-8 Neches River, US 84, 15 mi. W Rusk, Cherokee~Anderson Counties N-8a Neches River, US 84, 15 mi. W. Rusk, Cherokee-Anderson Counties N-9 Neches River, SH 294, 12 mi. W. Alto, Cherokee-Anderson Counties N-9a Neches River, SH 294, 12 mi. W. Alto, Cherokee-Anderson Counties N-1O Neches River, SH 21, 8 mi. SW Alto, Cherokee-Anderson Counties N-1O0a Neches River, SH 21, 8 mi. SW Alto, Cherokee-Anderson Counties N-11 Neches River, Davey Crockett National Forest Highway 11, 8 mi. ENE Ratcliff, Houston-Cherokee Counties N-12 Neches River, SH 94, 9 mi. WSW Lufkin, Angelina-Trinity Counties N-l2a Neches River, SH 94, 9 mi. WSW Lufkin, Angelina-Trinity Counties N-13 Neches River, US 59, 9 mi. N.Corrigan, Polk-Angelina Counties N-13a Neches River, US 59, 9 mi. N.Corrigan, Polk-Angelina Counties N-14 Neches River, US 69, 18 mi. N. Woodville, Tyler-Jasper Counties N-Lha Neches River, US 69, 18 mi. N. Woodville, Tyler-Jasper Counties N-15 Dam "B" Reservoir, US 190, 12 mi. W. Jasper, Tyler-Jasper Counties N-16 Neches River, County Road, 5 mi. E. Spurger, Tyler-Jasper Counties N-17 Neches River, US 96, 6 mi. E. Silsby, Hardin-Jasper Counties N-18 Neches River, 6 mi. below US 96, W. Jasper, Jasper~Hardin Counties N-19 Neches River, County Road off FM 1131, 9 mi. S. Evadale, Orange-Hsrdin Counties N-20 Neches River, 12 mi. S. Evadale, below saltwater barrier, Orange-Hardin Counties N-21 Neches River, 5 mi. above US 90, Orange-Hardin Counties N-22 Neches River, 2 mi. above US 90, Orange-Jefferson Counties N-23 Pine Island Bayou, below US 69, 2 3/4 mi. SH Loeb, Hardin County N-2h | Pine Island Bayou, below US 69, + mi. SE Loeb, Jefferson County N-25 Pine Island Bayou, above US 69, 3/4 mi. W. Loeb, Jefferson County N-26 Pine Island Bayou, above US 69, 2 mi. SW Loeb, Jefferson County N-27 Little Pine Island Bayou, SH 326, 53 mi. N. Sour take. Hardin County N-28 Black Creek, SH 326, 13é mi. NNW Sour Lake, at Grigsby, Hardin County N-29 Cypress Creek, SH 326, 13 mi. SW Kountz, Hardin Vounwy --- Page 16 --- Table 3 (Cont'd.) Location of collecting stations Station Location timnnonennasannaaicnomea nantes ASANO ACSA NLECCE ODE NRL TCO NATE ALCOA SINAC ANNAN ALON A IISA AONE EC NBA IAAI EES N= 30 Neches River, SH 103, 153 mi. WNW Lufkin, Angelina-Houston Counties N-31 Dam "B" Reservoir, above US 190, Jasper County Ne32 Dam "B" Reservoir, above US 190, Jasper County N=33 Dam "B" Reservoir, below US 190, Jasper County N-34. Dam "B" Reservoir, below US 190, Jasper County N-35 Neches River, Big Eddie, off SH 155, 12 mi. SW Tyler, Smith-Henderson Counties NeGe] Neches River, Big Eddie, off SH 155, 12 mi. SW Tyler, Smith-Henderson Counties NeGe2 Neches River, 10 mi. S. Evadale, $ mi. below saltweter barrier, Orange County NeG=3 Neches River, 12 mi. S. Evadale, 2 mi. beiow saltwater barrier, Orange County N-G-k Neches River, 13 mi. 5. Evadale, 34 mi. below saltwater barrier, Orange County NeaGe5 Neches River, 15 mi. 5S. Evadale, 3/4 mi, below Pine Island Bayou, Jefferson County N=<6 Neches River, 17 mi. S. Evadale, ak mi. below Pine Island Bayou, Jefferson County NeG-7 Neches River, 13 mi. above US 190, Orange County N-G=8 Neches River, 4 mi. above US 190, Orange County N-G+9 Neches River, i mi. above SH 103, 153 mi. WNW Lufkin, Houston Gounby N-G=10 Neches River, mi. below SH 103, 153 mi. WNW Jufkin, Houston County NeoGeLL Dan "B" Reservoir, above US 190, Jasper County N-G-12 Dam "B" Reservoir, above US 190, Jasper County NeGe13 Dam "B" Reservoir, above US 190, Jasper County N-G~14 Dam "B" Reservoir, above US 190, Jasper County NeG=15 Dam "B" Reservoir, above US 190, Jasper County N-G-16 Dam "B" Reservoir, above US 190, Jasper County NeG=17 Dam "B" Reservoir, below US 190, Jasper County N-G=18 Dam "B" Reservoir, below US 190, Jasper County N-G-19 Dam "B" Reservoir, below US 190, Jasper County N-G-20 Dam "B" Reservoir, below US 190, Jasper County N-G-21 Dam "B" Reservoir, below US 190, Jasper County N-G=22 Lake Ioni, off SH 294, 17 mi. SE Palestine, Anderson County N+-G+23 Lost Prairie Lake, 10 mi. SE Palestins, Anderson County N-G-24 Eason Club Lake, off of SH 94, 10 mi. WSW Lufkin, Angelina County crc unanenmumeerspne once en nena Ae RAC ACCA Pt AE MOE A REE OR AR OA EAE OO OED LES AIA A II se ocectsmam anaes SOUS --- Page 17 --- 17. Table 4 Distribution of Neches River Fishes by Station and Numbers ( ) Species Ichthyomyzon castaneus Lepisosteus spatula L. platostomus Le productus L.osseus Amia calva Dorosoma cepedianum Esox americanus Soe ee Ictiobus cyprinellus i. bubalus Carpiodes carpio Moxostoma poecilurum Minytrema melanops Erimyzon sucetta Cyprinus carpio Notemigonus cerysoleucas Opsopoeodus emiliae Hybopsis aestivalis Notropis fumeus Ne brazosensis blennius potteri sabinae amnis venustus IZ|2|2 [== Ne lutrensis N-G-1 (1) N-G-2 (1), N-G-4 (2), N-G-5 (1), N-G-7 (1), N-G-8 (2), N-7a (1), N-31 (2), N-35 (1) N-9a (2) -G-9 (1), N-G-10 (1) 1 (1), N-G-2 (2), N-G-5 (3), N-G-6 (7), N-G-7 (2), 8 (11), N-G-9 (1), N-G-10 (1), N-G-11 (3), N-G-14 &} 15 (3), N-G-16 (5), N-G-17 (1), N-G-2h (1) N-G-21 (1 1 (3), N-G-2 (10), N-G-3 (11), N-G- (6),N-G-7 (1), -9 (1), N-G-10 (1), N-G-12 (1),N-G-13 (2), N-G-16 (2), -17 (1), N-5a (1) -G-8 (1), N-G-11 (2), N-G-23 (1), N-G-24 (1),N-10a (30%) N-G-1 (170), N-G-8 (2), N-G-10 (5), N-G-11 (2), N-G-12 (4), N-G-13 (7), N-G-14 (1), N-G-15 (11), N-G-16 (5), N-G-18 (6), N-G-19 (4), N-G-20 (1), N-15 (35), N-18 (9), N-19 (40), N-G-24 (29) N-G-22 (2), N-G-23 (1), N-la (5), N-2a (1), N-5a (1), N-8a (2), N-13a (3), N-27 (3), N-35 (1) N-G-1 (1), N-G-23 (1) N-G-1 (5), N-G-2 (1), N-G-4 (4), N-G-6 (4), N-G-7 (1), N-G-8 (3), N-G-10 (13), N-G-11 (6), N-G-12 (8), N-G-13 (7), N-G-14 (1), N-G-15 (2), N-G-16 (7), N-G-18 (5), N-G-19 (2), N-G-20 (1), N-G-21 (1), N-G-2h (2), N-8a (1), N-9a (14), N-13a (1), N-18 (1) N-G-5 (1), N-G-7 (1), N-G-10 (1), N-G-13 (3), N-G-14 (1), N-G-18 (4), N-G-20 (5) N-G-1 (2), N-8a (1) N-G-1 (8), N-G-12 (1), N-G-15 (3), N-G-16 (8), N-G-19 (2) ~G-21 (1), N-G-22 (8), N-G-2h (3) -G-22 (40), N-G-23 (43) -G-10 (1), N-G-16 (1), N-G-19 (1), N-35 (5) -2a (19), N-5a (3), N-Ba (1), N-12a (3), N-27 (18), 4224424 ln -G- a a -G- G G 422424 224 N-2 N-33 (1), N-25 (39) N-8 (1), N-25 (1), N-26 (5), N-28 (2) N-18 (3), N-19 (1) : N-6 (10), N-9 (1), N-9a (1), N-10 (1), N-12 (4), N-13 (1) N-13a (1), N-15 (3), N-17 (3), N-32 (1) N-7a (62) N-9a (9), N-lha (2) N-2a (22), N-5a (3), N-6a (1), N-7a (21), N-8a (11), N-9a (4), N-12a (3), N-lha (153), N-18 (13), N-19 (41) N-9 (2), N-10 (23), N-13 (12), N-16 (7) N-6a (34), N-S@ (158), N-l4a (6) N-6 (5), N-6a (1), N-7 (111), N-7a (41), N-8 (13), N-9 (33), N-10 (88), N-l0a (1); N-11 (48), N-12 (12), N-12a (8), N-l4a (2), N-16 (39), N-17 (11), N-18 (49), N-19 (86), N-25 (7), N-26 (4), N-31 (1), N-13 (19), N-2a (1) ca Ly N-2a (2), N-7a (1), N-9a (2), N-10 (2), N-12a (5). N-14 (7), N-lda (17), N-16 (15), N-18 (193), N-19 (109), N-25 (20), N-31 (5) Distribution and Numbers Total 1/1 Ip 15/46 12/40 5/309 16/331 9/19 2/2 22/80 7/16 2/3 8/34 2/83 4/8 7/84 1/9 alk 10/26 1/62 2/11 10/272 4 /db 3/198 21/541 12/368 --- Page 18 --- 18. Table 4 (Cont'd.) Distribution of Neches River Fishes by Station and Numbers ( ) N. deliciosus Ne atrocaudalis volucellus maculatus Hybognathus placita Pimephales vigilax Ne . Ictalurus punctatus » furcatus . melas » natalis Pylodictus olivaris Fundulus pulvereus F. chrysotus F.. Notatus Cyprinodon variegatus Gambusia affinis Aphredoderus sayanus Mugil cephalus Menidia beryllina Labidesthes sicculus Micropterus punctulatus Me salmoides Chaenobryttus gulosus Lepomis cyanellus Le punctatus Distribution and Numbers N-4 (1), N-7 (43), Ne7a (20), N-8 (1), N-8a (19), N-9a (5), N-12 (4), N-13a (5), N-14 (2), N-17 (11),N-19 (3), N-31 (16), N-33 (21), N-34 (41), N-35 (1) 15/193 N-2a (35), N-5a (13), N-6a (24), N-9a (1), N-13 (3) N-15 (8) 6/84 N-8a (18), N-11 (2), N-15 (2), N-18 (5), 4/27 N-la (2), N-2a (8), N-5a (1), N-8a (6) 4/17 N-9 (5), N-12 (2) 2/7 N-6 (1), N-7 (1), N-9 (16), N-10 (10), N-14 (6), N-lua (69), N-15 (4), N-16 (56), N-17 (6), N-168 (120), N-19 (12), N-24 (9), N-25 (2), N-26 (1) 14/313 N-G-10 (1), N-@-11 (1), N-G-12 (2), N-G-13 (3), N-G-14 (4), N-G-16 (5), N-G-17 (1), N-G-18 (2), N-G-20 (1), N-G-22 (3), N-G-23 (4), N-G-1 (1) N-G-23 (7) N-G-10 (4), N-G-22 (47), N-G-23 (70) N-la (1), N-2a (1), N-32 (1), N-34 (1) N-G-12 (1), N-G-18 (1) N-23 (1) N-34 (1), N-5 (2), N-3 (8), N-2 (1), N-23 (5), N-2 (18), N-5 (35), N-5a (23), N-6 (24), N-6a (19), N-7 (8), N-Ta (11), N-8 (39), N-8a (3), N-10 (42), N-10a (9), N12 (5), N-13a (4), N-14 (3), N-16 (2), N-25 (3), N-26 (2), N-27 (10), a (6), N-30 (9), N-33 (1), N-34 (9), N-9 (6), Nel1 ‘ N-20 (4), N-2l (4), N-22 (22), N-23 (3), N-2k (3), N-1 (30), N-la (6), N-2 (714), N-2a (3), N-3 (3), N-4 (68), N-5 (3), N-Sa (3), N-6a (4), N-7 (1),N-7a (6), N-8a (4), N-9a (2), N-10 (3), N-10a (2), N-12 (6), N-13 (6), N-13a (5), N-14 (1); N-18 (i), N-23, (172); N-2k (2h ) N-25 (2), N-26 (4), N-27 (13), N-28 (18), N-29 (14), N-30 (42), N=33 (2), N-34 (11), N-35 (27) Nela (3), N-9a (1) N-16 (1), N-G-8 (1) 2/2 N-20 (581), N-2l (241), N-22 (14) 3/836 N-5a (1), N-6 (7), N-7a (5), N-8 (1), N-8a (1), N-1O (7), N-L7 (5), N-18 (12), N-19 (227), N-24 (2), N-26 (36), N-28 (43), N-29 (2), N-34 (1) 15/355 Nela (1), Ne5a (2), N-6 (1), N-6a (6), N~7 (1), N-8a (164), N-9a (14), N-l0a (11), N-12 (1), N-lbe (1), N=15 (1), N-17 (1), N-19 (1), N-32 (1) 14/206 N-G-1 (1), N-G-8 (1). N-G-12 (2), N-G=1i (1), N-G+22 (6), N-G-23 (10), N-7 (1), N-7a (10), N-12a (15), N~15 (1), N-30 (31), N-32 (3), N-33 (35), N-34 (17), N-35 (1), N-G-24 (1) 16/136 or (1), N-G-16 (1), N-G-21 (1), N-G-22 (8), N-G-23 / Ry) N-30 (2) 1/ N-G-16 (4), N-G-22 (2), N-22 (2), N-6 (2), N-9 (4%), N-9a (3); N-10 (1), Nell (1), N-13 (4), N-14 (2), N-16 (1) N-17 (1), N-2h (1), N-25 (3), N-26 (5) 14/3 --- Page 19 --- 19. Table 4 (Cont'd) Distribution of Neches River Fishes by Station and Numbers ( ) N-G-1 (1), N-G-3 (1), N-G-4 (1), N-G-12 (1), N-G-13 (2), N-G-18 (3), N-G-19 (1), N-G-23 (27),N-la (1), N-2a (1), N-8a (2), N-17 (1) N-G-1 (5), N-G-3 (1), N-G-6 (1), N-G-10 (8), N-G+11 (2), N-G-12 (3), N-G-13 (1), N-G-14 2) Le microlophus L. macrochirus N-G-15 (1), N-G+16 (10), N-G-19 (4), N-G-22 (3u,, N-G-23 (96), N-G-24 (3), N-la (4), N-4 (4), N-6-(3), N-8a(5), N-9a (3), N-10 (7), N-13 (5), N-15 (1), N-16 (2), N-23 (1), N-25 (3), N-26 (19),N-28 (21) ,N-29(2), N~30 (1), N-34 (3) N-G=1¢ (3), N-G-23 (1) N-G-12 (1), NeG-22 (21), N-4 (1), Nel4a (1), N-G-+1 (9), N-G-10 (1), N-G-12 (2), N-G-13 (2), N-G-14 (1), N-G-18 (2), N-G-19 (2), N-G-21 (1), N-G-22 (8), N-G-23 (1), N-8a (1), N-32 (12), N-33 (3), N-G-24 (4) N-G-10 (1), N-G-19 (2), N-G-20 (1), N-G-22 (13), ~G-23 (5), N-8a (5), N-9a (4), N~30 (1) ~2a (4), N~8a (12) L. auritus L. megalotis Pomoxis annularis Pe nigromaculatus Centrarchus macropterus iadropterus maculatus He shumardi Ammocrypta vivax vivax Etheostoma chlorosomum E. gracilie Ee lepidum Aplodinotus grunniens ~6a (1), N-8a (3), N-9 (3), N-lO (1) (13), N-9 (10), N-10 (1), N-1l (2), N-12 (2), 7 (7), N-18 (12), N-19 (3) 12) N-2a (11), N-5a (3), N-7 (1), N-7a (2), sS 12), N-9a (1), N-13a (2), N-33 (1), n-25 (3) WeG=1 (10), N-G-2 (1), N-G-3 (3), N-G-4 (1), NaG5 (1), N-G-6 (1), N-G-7 (1), N-G-8 (2), N-G-10 (3), N-G-12 (2), N-G-13 (1), N-G-23 (2) N-21 (19), N-22 (21) N N N N Ne N- N IN N IN Microgobius gulosus Distribution and Numbers th 30/248 2/4 4 /ak afl --- Page 20 --- 20. Photo 1 : SH 31 crossing Neches River, Smith County Station N-2a. This is the post-flood stage. Photo 2: US 294 crossing Neches River, Anderson County Station N-9a. Main channel of far side, --- Page 21 --- 2l. #: Nate 2 Pyle pe ao ieee Photo 3 : SH 94 crossing Neches River, Trinity County, Station N-1l2a. Water is backed up over small riverbottom road. Photo 4: SH 94 crossing Neches River, Trinity County, Station N-l2a.. This photo is to the left of Photo 3 above. --- Page 22 --- Photo 5 3: 22x SH 103 crossing Neches River, Angelina County, Station N-30. Note dark appearance of water due to timber country stains. Photo 6 : US 69 crossing Neches River, Tyler County, Station N-l4a, Field assistants making a seining collection in slough off of main channel, --- Page 23 --- 23. Photo & : Upper end of Dam "B" Reservoir, Jasper County. Note silt bar in center, --- Page 24 --- ak. Photo 9 : Smallmouth buffalo taken from Dam "B" Reservoir by experimental type gill nets. Photo 10 : Station N+34, Dam "B" Reservoir. This is a small cove towards the lower end of the lake, (All photographs by the author)