TPWD 1960 F-5-R-7 #591: Inventory of Species Present in Lake Kirby near Abilene, Texas: Job Completion Report, Dingell-Johnson Project F-5-R-7, Job B-26

--- Page 1 --- Report of Fisheries Investigations Inventory of Species Present in Lake Kirby near Abilene, Texas by James F. Wilcox Assistant Project Leader Dingell-Johnson Project F-5-R-7, Job B-26 April 16, 1959 - March 31, 1960 H. D. Dodgen - Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Marion Toole - Kenneth C. Jurgens & William H. Brown Coordinator Assistant Coordinators --- Page 2 --- ABSTRACT Thirteen species representing five families of fish were collected from Lake Kirby. Gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), flathead catfish (Pylodictus olivaris), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), and white crappie (Pomoxis annularis), are all very abundant. The principal fisheries problems appear to be gizzard shad and an overpopulation of small crappie. Channel catfish and flathead catfish provide very good fishing for the local anglers. The carp (Cyprinus carpio) and river carpsuckers (Carpiodes carpio) found in Lake Kirby are all very small for some unexplained reason. Evidence obtained by netting and seining collections indicated that largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides ) do not spawn in the lake probably because of its ex- tremely turbid waters. Some very large bass were collected and observed, however. These were probably the result of hatchery stocking. It was recommended that largemouth bass be stocked more frequently in this lake. --- Page 3 --- Job Completion Report State of TEXAS Project No. F-5-R-7 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3-3 Job No. B=-26 Title: Inventory of Species Present in Lake Kirby near Abilene, Texas Period Covered: April 16, 1959 = March 31, 1960 OBJECTIVES To determine the species present and their relative abundance as well as to determine the ecological factors influencing their distribution. PROCEDURE A total of 16 netting collections was obtained from Lake Kirby during the survey period. All nets used were experimental type nylon gill nets, measuring 125 feet in length and eight feet in depth. They were made up in five, 25 foot long sections with mesh sizes varying from one-inch square mesh to three-inch square mesh, increasing in one~half=-inch intervals in each succeeding section. Six stations were employed in the setting of these 16 nets. In addition to the information obtained from these nets, data was collected from a commercial fisherman who set 7,000 feet of 33 and 4 inch mesh in the lake for a one night period. All fish taken from the nets set by the Texas Game and Fish Commission were weighed, measured, and their sex and condition determined. Individuals of some species were examined for stomach contents and for parasites. Hoop and/or fyke nets were not employed for collection purposes as there were no channels in the lake or other locations that would have been particularly good for sampling with them. Also, insufficient time was available for their effective use. Seining collections were obtained on three occasions from three locations in the lake. Each collection consisted of several seine drags at each beach with either a 12 foot commonsense seine or a 100 foot nylon seine with l-inch mesh. The fish col- lected in seines were counted by species and a sample of each Species was preserved for further study in the laboratory. In addition to netting and seining, records were made at several times during the course of the survey of the surface water temperature, the pH, and the turbidity. Notations concerning the description and general ecological conditions of the lake and surrounding terrain were also recorded. Further hydrological and water analysis information was obtained from the City of Abilene and the Texas State Department of Health. --- Page 4 --- FINDINGS Location and Physical Conditions Lake Kirby is located on Cedar Creek, on the southern outskirts of Abilene, Texas, approximately 5 miles from the downtown area. Lake Litle and Fort Phantom Hill are also on Cedar Creek below the Lake Kirby Dam but there are no impoundments on the creek above Lake Kirby. Lake Kirby and Cedar Creek are on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River drainage system. The contributing watershed for Lake Kirby contains 4h square miles. At spillway level the lake covers 800 surface acres and contains 2,850,000,000 gallons of water. The dam is 50 feet high, 2,000 feet long, of earth construction, and riprapped with large rocks approximately l- to 2-feet in diameter. The lake bottom is silt, and red soils. A geological fault has created a steep bluff of crumbled bed-rock on the east shore of the lake while the other shore lines are gently sloping sand and silt beaches. The lake always has a large amount of colloidal suspension. Turbidity values ranged between 2 and 4 inches as observed by means of a Secchi disk. The red, sandy loams above the lake, much of which is in cultivation, helps explain this condition. The recorded pH for the lake is 8.1 and during the project period water temperatures ranged between 38°F. and 83°F. The lake level was down approximately ten feet during the survey period and the lake covered only 350 surface acres. More complete hydro-= logical information is given in Figures 9 and 10. Vegetation Button willows and desert willows along with native grasses are abundant aiong the lake's shores. Except for algae on the dam's riprap no aquatic vegetation is noticeable. This can prcbably be accounted for by the extreme turbidity of the water. History and Administration Lake Kirby was constructed in 1928 for a water supply for the City of Abilene. Much water is still drawn from the lake for municipal consumption even though Abilene has two other water supply lakes which contain more water. The water from Lake Kirby reportedly has a more desirable flavor than water from the other two Lakes. This can probably be accounted for by the high turbidity and Lack of aquatic vegetation that are characteristic of the lake. Since the lake was built.a great amount of siltation has taken place. At the time of construction the maximum depth of the lake was reportedly 31 feet. At the present time no water over 20 to 22 feet deep would exist if the lake were at spillway level. The lake's level has fluctuated considerably from year to year. In 1953, the lake was down to a maximum depth of 10 inches in it’s deepest area but has never gone completely dry. Lake Kirby has a local reputation of having been a good fishing lake. Some large crappie have been caught year in and year out. Channel catfish have also been heavily fished for with a good degree of success. Shortly after the lake caught water in 1953, yellow catfish were introduced into the lake in large nombers for the first time. These fish were obtained from a small lake below Lake Kirby. This species has flourished in Lake Kirby and today yellow catfish are caught on poles and lines, --- Page 5 --- or rod and reels quite frequently. Trotlines, throwlines or any similar apparatus, are not allowed in the lake and the lake is closed to night fishing, speed boating, water skiing, swimming, and wading. A 25 cent daily recreational charge is levied by the City of Abilene. This money is used to help pay the lake patrolman’s salary and for maintenance of roads and facilities. Netting Figures 2, 3, and 4 present the data obtained by the use of gill nets and Figure 11 shows the locations of the netting stations. A total of 329 specimens representing nine species, were collected by netting. Of this number 67.48 percent were game species. However, many of the game species collected by netting were small crappie therefore this percentage is misleading. In evaluating the relative condition of the lake, Figure 7 gives the results of a commercial fisherman's gill netting catch from the iake. Description of Netting Stations Station 1 = One end of the nets used at this station were tied to the water gauge, which was standing alone, approximately 50 feet from the dam. (See Figure 12). The other ends of the nets were anchored away from the gauge (and the dam) in open water. The average depth of the water was approximately 12 feet. The bottom was composed of sand and silt. This station was used during all three netting trips. Station 2 - This station was located near the west end of the dam. One end of the nets was tied to the dam's riprap while the other end was anchored away from the dam in open water. The average depth of the water was approximately 12 feet. The bottom was composed of the dam’s coarse rock riprap at one end of the net, and sand and silt at the other end. There was some filamentous algae apparent on the riprap at the water's edge. This station was used during the July and October netting trins. Station 3 - This station was on the edge of the northernmost of two small islands. One end of the nets used was set in about three feet of water while the other end was stretched out into water approximately nine feet deep. The bottom was sand and siit. There were scattered patches of native grasses emerging from the water at the edges of the island which had most likely grown during periods of low water. This station was used every time the lake was netted. (See Figure 13). Station 4 - This station was located at the southern island and had practically the same physical characteristics as station number three except that the water at this station was slightly shallower. Nets were set here during the July and October trips. Station 5 = This station was close to the east shoreline about mid-way down the lake. The shoreline in this area is covered by large rocks and small boulders. ‘The nets used were in about 2 feet of water at the shoreline end and in about 7 feet of water at the end stretched away from the shore. The bottom was composed of sand and silt. This station was utilized during all three netting trips. (See Figure 14). Station 6 = This was a flat in the upper end of the lake adjacent to the creek channel. The water was approximately 4 feet deep. ‘The bottom was composed of sand and silt. This station was employed every time the lake was netted. --- Page 6 --- Seining Although there were not but three areas where seining could be effectively con- ducted it is felt that these areas produced a satisfactory sample. The use of other areas was prohibited by excessive obstructions, primarily stumps and large rocks. Figures 5 and 6 present the statistical data obtained from the seining collections and Figure 11 shows the locations of the seining stations. A total of 800 specimens representing 10 different species were collected by use of seines. Descriptions of Seining Stations Station 1 - This was the boat launching area at the northeast corner of the dam. The shore had a gentle gradient and was covered with rubble. This location was free of obstructions but became too deep for seining approximately 20 feet from the bank. (See Figure 15). Station 2 =- This seining station was a flat area between the southernmost island and the west shoreline. The water was between 1 foot and 18 inches deep. The bottom was clay, sand and silt, and was interspersed with stumps which prohibited the use of long seines but did not seriously deter the use of 12 foot seines. Station 3 - This station was in a small slough near the southwest corner of the dam. A silt bar partially obstructed the mouth of the slough. There is an inter~ change of water between the lake and the slough when the lake is not low. The bottom was sand and silt with some rubble along the shoreline. The use of 100 foot seines was not prohibited by obstructions in this area. Annotated Species List Clupeidae (herrings) Dorosoma cepedianum (gizzard shad) ~ Over 53 percent of the total fish collected by seining were gizzard shad and over 24 percent of the fish collected by use of nets were this species. The tremendous numbers of shad have apparently kept individuals of the species small since no large shad were captured. The average weight of the shad taken in the netting collections was only 1.9 ounces. Most game fish stomachs examined contained shad remains. Catostomidae (suckers and buffalofishes) Ictiobus bubalus (smallmouth buffalo) - One 6-pound buffalo was captured by a commercial fisherman from a total of 7,000 feet of net. This species was not rep~ resented in the regular netting and seining collections. Carpiodes carpio (river carpsuckers) ~ This species was collected both by netting and seining but did not appear to be as numerous or as serious a fishery problem as it often is in other West Texas lakes. All the carpsuckers captured were extremely small. The sample of this species taken from nets averaged only 5.3 ounces. --- Page 7 --- Cyprinidae (shiners and minnows ) Cyprinus carpio (carp) - Carp were collected both by seining and netting and appeared to be present in about the same numbers as were the river carpsuckers. The carp collected were somewhat larger than the river carpsuckers but even so they averaged only 1 pound and 5 ounces. The reason for the small size of these two species, when there does not appear to be a large overabundance of either species, has not been determined. Notropis lutrensis (redhorse shiner) - This appears to be the dominant minnow in Lake Kirby. The species seems to do especially well in tanks and lakes in the area which have large suspensions of colloidal material. Notropis volucellus (mimic shiner) - A small sample of this species was obtained from Lake Kirby. This species appears to be sub-dominant to other species of minnows practically everywhere it occurs in West Texas. Pimephales vigilax (parrot minnow) = This was the second most common minnow collected in Lake Kirby. Most of these were fairly large size specimens. Ameiuridae (freshwater catfishes) ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish) - These fish are aboundant in Lake Kirby and are frequently taken by anglers on rods and reels and cane poles. The average weight of the channel catfish taken in the regular netting collections was 1 pound and 5 ounces although the 12 channel catfish caught in the 33 and 4einch mesh of a commercial fisherman's nets averaged approximately eight pounds. Pylodictus olivaris (flathead catfish) - Only three fish of this species were obtained by netting but this is considered to be an error created by the use of small mesh nets. Flatheads are caught very frequently by anglers on cane poles and rods and reels. Trotlines and throwlines are prohibited. The commercial fisherman, who set 7,000 feet of net in one night took over 500 specimens that averaged over 12 pounds each, According to local sources around Abilene this species was introduced into Lake Kirby for the first time about eight or ten years ago. These fish have added tremendously to the fishery of the lake. They have apparently spawned every year as there are various sizes in the lake, Centrarchidae (black basses and sunf ishes ) Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass) = Only one individual of this species was collected from Lake Kirby. This was a 3 pound 2 ounce fish collected by netting. Several large specimens were taken by the commercial fisherman that averaged 7 pounds each. It is believed, by the observer, that largemouth bass do not spawn in this lake. The extremely turbid conditions of the water which always prevails is believed a major factor in the failure of bass to spawn. The lake was stocked with this species about five years ago from state fish hatcheries. Every bass seen or reported to be caught by anglers was of a large size, yet no small bass were captured by seining. i ary --- Page 8 --- Lepomis macrochirus (bluegill) - This is the most common sunfish in the lake. Not a single individual collected was large enough to be of any value to a fisherman. These fish have probably overpopulated this lake in the same as they have in most other waters of the region. Lepomis humilis (orangespotted sunfish) - These small relatively unimportant fish are common in Lake Kirby. Pomoxis annularis (white crappie) - Lake Kirby contains two sizes of this species. One is the very large, very desirable size that is probably a remnant of the year class produced a year or two after the lake filled up after nearly going dry in 1953. The other size is very small. Small crappie averaged only 2s ounces, yet they were fully mature, sexually ripe specimens. This small sized crappie, which composes a very large group, is probably the result of an overpopulation of this species which has become evident during the last three or four years. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The results of the inventory of fish made in Lake Kirby indicates that: 1. the crappie and sunfish are overabundant and, as a result, stunted; 2. the largemouth bass are not spawning; 3. gizzard shad are the principal rough fish problem, but their uniform small size makes them available to the other fish as a food supply; 4, the suckers and carp found in Lake Kirby are, for some unexplained reason, very small; and 5. flathead catfish and channel catfish are the primary fishery in the lakr although many of the small crappie and sunfish are also utilized by local anglers. The only recommendation that can be made at this time is that largemouth bass be stocked more frequently from the state fish hatcheries as no natural reproduction appears to occur. As long as flathead catfish are providing fishermen of the area with the "good fishing" they apparently have, even though trotlines and throwlines are not allowed in the lake, it is felt that no management work is required. However, when selective eradication techniques are completely worked out for the waters of this region, and when long range results of such treatments are known or can be reasonably accurately predicted, a selective control of gizzard shad will be recom- mended. . Prepared by James F. Wilcox Approved by L: ) pte Loolte Assistant Project Leader Dirdctor Inland Fisheries Division Date July 1, 1960 --- Page 9 --- Te Figure 1. A checklist of fish species caught by netting and seining from Lake Kirby from April 16, 1959 through March 31, 1960 Scientific Name Common Name Clupeidae (herrings) Dorosoma cepedianum gizzard shad Catostomidae (suckers and buffalofishes) Ictiobus bubalus smallmouth buffalo Carpiodes carpio river carpsucker Cyprinidae (shiners and minnows) Cyprinus carpio carp Notropis lutrensis redhorse shiner Notropis volucellus mimic shiner Pimephales vigilax parrot minnow Ameiuridae (freshwater catfishes) ictalurus punctatus channel catfish Pylodictus olivaris flathead catfish Centrarchidae (black basses and sunfishes) Micropterus salmoides largemouth bass Lepomis macrochirus bluegill Lepomis humilis orangespotted sunfish Pomoxis annularis white crappie --- Page 10 --- Figure 2. Species Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Carp Channel catfish Flathead catfish Largemouth bass Bluegill sunfish White crappie Total Bs Results of netting collections taken from Lake Kirby during the period from April 16, 1959 through March 31, 1960 July October (6 nets) (6 nets) No. Percent No. Percent 58 28.43 21 25.92 1 1.24 9 WL 1 1.24 6 2.94 7 8.64 31 15.20 6 7.40 3 LAT 1 0.49 96 47 .06 45 55.56 204 100.00 81 100.00 December (4 nets) No. Percent 3 6.81 1 2.28 5 11.36 1 2.27 34 T1s2e 4h =100.00 --- Page 11 --- Figure 3. Species Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Carp Channel catfish Flathead catfish Largemouth bass Bluegill White crappie Total Results of all sixteen netting collections taken from Lake the period from April 16, 1959 through March 31, 1960 No. 82 dl 13 he 175 329 Percent by No. 24.92 0.30 335 3295 12.77 0.92 0.30 0.30 93-19 100.00 Ge Total Wt. Lbs. Ozs. 9 ile 1 4 3 «610 17 4 J? 8 le 3 2 1 A? 4 130 1 Avg. Wt. 02S. 1.90 4 203 15 15 4,32 Kirby during Percent by Wt. 749 0.96 2.719 13.27 29.99 6.72 2.41 0.04 36.33 100.00 Avg. nq 1.49 2.80 2.18 2.61 1.78 2.50 2.12 2.78 3.32 --- Page 12 --- Figure 4. A comparison of rough and/or forage species to game species obtained in sixteen netting collections from Lake Kirby during the period from April 16, 1959 through March 31, 1960 No. Percent Total Wt. by No. Lbs. OZs. Rough and/or forage species (Gizzard shad, smallmouth buffalo, LO7 32.52 3104 carp, and river carpsuckers ) Game species (Channel catfish, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill sunfish 222 67.48 98 3 and white crappie) Total 329 100.00 130 1 Percent by Wt. 2h.51 75049 100.00 --- Page 13 --- Figure 5. Species Gizzard shad River carpsuckers Carp Redhorse shiners Mimic shiners Parrot minnows Channel catfish Bluegill Orangespotted sunfish White crappie Totals July 15, 1959 Percent No. 33 il 63 17 23 173 by No. 19.07 6.36 4,62 36.42 1.73 9.83 2.31 4.05 2,31 13.30 100.00 il. October 15, 1959 Percent No. 23 37 “a FF NM 91 by No. 25.27 5.49 3.30 40.66 2.20 439 7.70 2.19 8.80 100.00 Results of individual seining collections taken from Lake Kirby during the period from April 16, 1959 through March 31, 1960 January 26, 1960 No. 375 29 26 32 19 48 536 Percent by No. 69.96 541 485 1.30 5.98 3.54 8.96 100.00 --- Page 14 --- 2 o Figure 6. Results of all seining collections taken from Lake Kirby during the period from April 16, 1959 through March 31, 1960 Species No. Percent by No. Gizzard shad 431 53.87 River carpsuckers 45 5.63 Carp 37 4.62 Redhorse shiners LOO 12.50 Mimic shiners . 5 0.63 Parrot minnows 21 2.62 Channel catfish 18 2.25 Bluegill Wl 5.13 Orangespotted sunfish 23 2.87 White crappie 19 9.88 Totals 800 100.00 --- Page 15 --- 13. Figure 7. Results of 7,000 feet of 33 inch and 4 inch mesh gill net set in Lake Kirby by a commercial fisherman during the period from April 16, 1959 through March 31, 1960 Species No. Estimated Average Weight (lbs.) Smallmouth buffalo i. 6 Carp 1 6 Channel catfish 12 8 Flathead catfish 500 12 Largemouth bass LO 7 White crappie 7 3 Total 531 --- Page 16 --- 1h. Figure 8. Results of water analysis made on Lake Kirby on November 2, 1959. (Analysis courtesy of Texas Health Department. ) Calcium (Ca) Magnesium (Mg) Iron (Fe) Mangnaese (Mn) Sodium (Na) Carbonate (C03) Bicarbonate (HCO3) Sulphate (SO) Chloride (C1) Flouride (F) Nitrate (N03) Specific conductance wicromhs/cm Dissolved residue (T.S.) calculated Phenolphthalein alkalinity as CaC03 Total alkalinity as CaC02 Total hardness as CaC03 pH PePoMe 34 0.9 0.05 134 16 16 0.3 0.9 300 180 LLO 118 8.1 --- Page 17 --- 15. Figure 9. Chart showing the relation of surface area covered to volume contained at each elevation in Lake Kirby. Elevation Surface Acres Billion Elevation Surface Acres Billion gallons gallons 1786.0 (spillway) 800 2.85 81.0 570 1.65 85.8 790 2.81 80.8 561 1.61 85.6 780 2.77 80.6 552 157 85.4 770 2.73 80.4 543 3.53 85.2 760 2.69 80.2 534 1.49 85.0 750 2.65 80.0 525 1.45 84.8 The 2.60 79.8 516 1.42 84.6 734 2 55 79.6 507 1.39 84. 726 2.50 79 4 498 1.36 84.2 718 2045 79.2 489 1.33 84.0 710 2.40 79.0 480 1.30 83.8 700 2.34 78.8 472 1.27 83.6 690 2.28 78.6 h6). 1.24 83.4 660 2.22 78.4 456 1.21 83.2 670 2.16 78.2 AUS 1 kG 83.0 660 2.10 78.0 4LO 1.15 82.8 650 2.06 77.8 433 1.12 82.6 640 2.02 726 426 1.09 82.4 630 1.98 T7o4 hig 1.06 82.2 620 1.9h 77.2 hile 1.03 82.0 610 1.90 77.0 4O5 1.00 81.8 602 1.85 76.8 396 98 81.6 59h 1.80 76.6 387 296 81.4 586 Le TS T6.k 378 293 81.2 578 1.70 76.2 369 o9O --- Page 18 --- 16. Figure 9. Chart showing the relation of surface area covered to volume contained at each elevation in Lake Kirhy. (Continued) Elevation Surface Acres Billion Elevation Surface Acres Billion gallons gallons 76.0 360 «87 70.8 200 47 75.8 352 Ob 70.6 195 oh 75.6 3b «81 70.4 190 oy 75 4 336 “19 70.2 185 43 (508 328 TT 1770.0 180 42 75.0 320 ©7175 74.8 314 oT 74.6 308 73 Th 302 “we 74.2 296 «70 74.0 290 68 1308 283 67 73.6 276 66 73.4 269 Ob 13.2 262 62 73-0 202 60 72.8 250 59 72.6 2h5 258 72.4 20 °57 122 235 256 72.0 230 299 71.8 225 253 71.6 220 52 Thal 215 251 71.2 210 50 71.0 205 alte) --- Page 19 --- LT. Figure 10. Chart showing the monthly water elevations in Lake Kirby from April 1954 through March of 1960.* Month Elevation on Gauge Month Elevation on Gauge 1954 April 1,775-7 May 79.2 May 79.8 June 77-2 June 70.6 July 75 July 7702 August 8h 9 August 75.6 September T500 September 7h .O October 749 October 72.6 November 7307 November 73.0 December 72.7 December 72.6 1957 January 1,77201 1955 January 1,772.3 February 72.6 February 72.4 March . 724 March 72.9 April ‘ 78.5 April” 71.6 May 86.0 May 74.9 June 85.5 June 80.9 July iat July 80.5 August 83.6 August 80.6 September 82.5 September 85.5 October 85.8 October 85.0 November 85.1 November 84.0 December 8h 5 December 83.1 1958 January 1,783.8 1956 January 1,782.7 February 83.5 February 82.6 March 83.1 March 82.4 April 82.5 April 82.1 May 82.1 --- Page 20 --- 18. Figure 10. Chart showing the monthly water elevations in Lake Kirby from April 1954 through March of 1960.* (Continued) Month Elevation on Gauge June oiled July 80.3 August 79 «& September 80.8 October 79.8 November 78.9 December 78.1 1959 January 1,777.4 February 76.4 March 1502 April | T.5 May 1307 June 74.8 July Th 2 August 7304 September cae October 75.7 November — 7563 December , 15.2 1960 January 1,775.5 February 7505 March (908 * Spillway elevation of Lake Kirby is 1,786.0 --- Page 21 --- Figure ll. LAKE KIRBY © NETTING COLLECTIONS NETTING AND A SEINING COLLECTIONS SEINING AREAS --- Page 22 --- Figure 12. Figure 13. 20. Netting station Number 1 at Lake Kirby Netting station Number 3 at Lake Kirby --- Page 23 --- al. Figure 14. Netting station 5 at Lake kirby Figure 15. Seining station 1 at Lake Kirby