TPWD 1961 F-4-R-8 #714: Resurvey of Lake Waco: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 4-B, Job No. B-28

--- Page 1 --- JOB DESCRIPTION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-4-R-8 Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 4=B Job No. B-28 Resurvey of Lake Waco Project Leader Leonard Lamb H. D. Dodgen Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Marion Toole 7 Eugene A. Walker D-J Coordinator Director, Program Planning Date December 8, 1961 --- Page 2 --- ABSTRACT A total of 5400 feet of gill net was used to sample the fish population of Lake Waco near Waco, McLennan County, Texas. The data collected is compared with data collected during the first inventory made in 1956-57. During this segment of work, nineteen species of fish were collected with gill nets. The abundance of freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) has decreased. The numbers and percentages of all other species remained relatively stable. Six new species were netted during the resurvey that were not netted during the original survey. Seine samples were inadequate for ¢omparison due to the heavy emergent vegetation (Scirpus validus) and (Typha latifolia) along the shore line and Nelumbo sp and Potamo- genton sp which made seining difficult. Recommendation is made that the lake be checked under the reconnaissaface job. --- Page 3 --- Job Completion Report State of Texas Project No. F-4-R-8 . Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 4-B Job No. B-28 Title: Resurvey of Lake Waco. Period Covered: November 1, 1960 - October 31, 1961 OBJECTIVES To conduct investigations to obtain’ current information concerning the fish popula- tion and factors influencing the population. HISTORY Lake Waco is located in McLennan County, Texas. The dam is six miles west of the “ity of Waco. Due to siltation the present lake has an average depth of approximately feet. The lake was surveyed during 1956-57 (Project No. F-4-R-4, Job B-18) when the lake was very low. The city of Waco is building a new dam just below the old dam which is almost half completed at this writing. When the dam is completed the wat€r level will inundate the present dam and the lake's depth will be greater by about 20 feet. PROCEDURE Gill nets, 100 feet long by eight feet deep with 14 inch square mesh, were used to collect samples of the fish population. Net stations established and used under Job B-18 of Project F-4-R-4 could not be used during this study because the water levet was much higher than in 1956-57. The new stations were selected to sample the various enviromental areas of the lake. These samplings were made at bimonthly intervals. Nets were set in the afternoon, left overnight and run on the following morning. The nets were left in the lake during the following day and night and again run in the morning. All fish were weighed, measured and examined to determine sex and sexual development. Stomaches were examined for all recognizeable materiats. All field data were recorded on standardized forms for use in reports. Due to heavy siltation and aquatic vegetation, seining was very difficult, being restricted to places that had been cleared for launching boats. Rotenone samples were not taken from Lake Waco because it is a source of public drinking water for the City of Waco and approval by the health department must be obtained. --- Page 4 --- FINDINGS A total of 5400 feet of gill net was used in sampling the fish population of Lake Waco. Gizzard shad accounted for over one half (52.85 percent) of the fish taken in gill nets. Table 1 gives the tabulated data from the gill net collections. The next most netted fish is the white crappie, 17.64 percent of the total number, followed by channel catfish, bluegill sunfish, spotted gar, redear sunfish and largemouth bass with 8.07, 7.19, 4.73, 2.81, and 2.15 percent respectively. The gill net collectior8 are comparable with those made during 1956-57 (Job B-18) with the exception of the freshwater drum. The prior survey yftelded 16.42 percent drum while the present survey yielded only 1.15 percent. Due to the low water in 1956-57, nets were able to take this bottom feeder. Some larger mesh nets were also used in the previous survey. ; Spotted gar continue to be more abundant than longnose gar and appear to have increased in numb@rs. River carpsucker and smallmouth buffalo show a fair representa- tion. Channel catfish, largemouth bass, and redear sunfish show an increase in number. The increase in abundance of these fish reflects the improvement in habitat conditions since the recent drouth years. Some species were taken that were not taken in gill nets during the previous work thus giving a better species representation of this lake. The single flathead catfish given in Table 1 represents only 0.04 percent of the total catch, but large flathead catfish were caught by commercial fishermen using larger mesh gill nets. In the 1956-57 survey, rough fish accounted for 76.36 percent and game fish accounted for 23.64 percent of the total number caught. Rough fish are defined as those considered undesirable or not normally sought by sport fishermen. During this survey, rough fish accounted for 61.88 percent and game fish accounted for 38.12 per- cent of the total number taken. Table 2 records the results of gill net collections from Lake Waco, made from November, 1956 through October, 1957 (Project F-4-R-4, Job B-18) and is used as comparative data. Table 3 shows the size and condition of fish species netted during the 1960-61 survey. Table 4 gives an analysis of the water from Lake Waco and was furnished by the Waco City Water Works. Slight changes are shown between the samples taken in 1956-57 and the samples taken in April of 1960. A checklist of species from Lake Waco is included in the report. The seine samples obtained were inadequate for a lake of this size, due to the heavy vegetation in shallow water. The two successful seine samples yielded 14 gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), one logpearch (Percina caprodes), 26 purnose minnows (Opsopoeodus emiliae), 63 red shiners (Notropis lutrensis), and two bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus). --- Page 5 --- RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that Lake Waco should be checked periodically under the recon- naissance job to obtain current information concerning gross changes in fishing conditions and factors influencing fish populations. A selective fish kill, by the use or application of rotenone, would relieve the over abundance of rough fish. After the selective kill of the rough fish the lake should be stocked with game fish particularly white bass (Roccus chrysops). Prepared by Dwane Q. Smith Approved by ot” Assistant Project Leader Dir. Inland Fisheries Date Yece hes S /PE1 --- Page 6 --- A checklist of fish species taken from Lake Waco, McLennan County, Texas, November, 1960 to October, 1961. Common Name Spotted gar Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Grey redhorse Lake chubsucker Carp | Pugnose minnow Red shiner Channel catfish Black bullhead Yellow bullhead Flathead catfish Largemouth bass Warmouth Green sunfish Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish White crappie Logpearch Freshwater drum il Scientific Name Lepisosteus oculatus Lepisosteus osseus Dorosoma cepedianum Ictiobus bubalus Carpiodes carpio Moxostoma congestum Erimyzon sucetta Cyprinus carpio Opsopoeodus emiliae Notropis lutrensis Ictalurus punctatus Ictalurus melas Ictalurus natalis Pylodictis olivaris Micropterus salmoides Chaenobryttus gulosus Lepomix cyanellus Lepomis microlophus Lepomis macrochirus Pomoxis annularis Percina caprodes Aplodinotus grunniens --- Page 7 --- Table 1. Results of netting, Lake Waco, November 1960 to October, 1961 ‘Number of fish caught Pounds of fish caught Average Catch per 100 feet of net Percent of Percent of weight total | totat_| total | Number ___|___Pounds Spotted gar 174.25 2.00 3.23 Longnose gar 3.87 0.05 0.07 Gizzard shad 432.93 22.32 8.02 Smallmouth buffalo 20.51 0.22 0.38 River carpsucker 49.77 0.87 0.92 Gray redhorse 1.26 0.04 0.02 Lake chubsucker 6.94 0.13 0.13 Carp 0.465 0.02 0.01 Channel catfish 160.26 3.41 2.97 Black bullhead 0.41 0.02 0.01 Yellow bullhead 0.66 0.02 0.01 Flathead catfish 0.39 0.02 0.01 Largemouth bass 33.15 0.91 0.61 Warmouth 0.61 0.04 0.01 Green sunfish 0.33 0.02 0.01 Redear sunfish 16.72 1.18 0.31 Bluegill sunfish 35.20 3.04 0.65 White crappie 172.49 7244 3.19 Freshwater drum 13.60 0.48 0.25 Totals 1123.90 --- Page 8 --- Table 2. esults of netting, Lake Waco, November 1956 to Or Number of fish caught { Total Percent of total | Spotted gar 55 2.66 udigmoss gar 0.34 t eideada shad 53.63 Buffalo 2.23 Carpsucker 1.02 Carp 0.05 Channel catfish 6.69 Flathead catfish 0.15 Largemouth bass 1.89 Redear sunfish 0.09 Bluegill sunfish White crappie Freshwater drum 103.86 30.61 502.38 63.15 15.46 0.37 134.09 4.26 27224 0.59 0.67 131.86 203.67 1218.21 Ser, 1957 Pounds of fish caught Average Percent of weight total 0.45 1.37 0.74 0.37 0.97 1.42 0.70 0.30 0.22 0.44 0.60 0.59 (average) Gatch per 100 feet of net Number 0.57 0.37 3-73 0.08 Rounds --- Page 9 --- Table 3. Condition of fish netted at Lake Waco, November, 1960 to October, 1961 Species Spotted gar Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Gray redhorse Lake chubsucker Carp Channel catfish Black bullhead Yellow bullhead Flathead catfish Largemouth bass Warmouth Green sunfish Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish White crappie Frees ater drum Average length (mm) 487.4 500.0 214.6 254.1 259.8 235.0 257.1 220.0 286.2 200.0 240.0 160.0 240.0 150.0 135.0 146.8 131.7 193.9 22635 Length range (mm) 320-660 500-500 165-310 160-430 170-330 220%250 220-300 220-220 175-485 200-200 240-240 160-160 200-280 150150 135-135 120-180 110-150 120-420 290-" Weight range . (ems. ) 250-2041 567-624 90-370 120-2608 150-907 280-290 280-907 250-250 100-1758 190-190 300-300 175-175 180-680 135-145 150-150 95-160 70-140 40-567 155-370 Range 0.40-0.82 0.45-0.49 1.25-3.50 2.20-3.70 1. 75-3260 1.85-260 1.75-3.00 2.30-2.30 0.95-2770 2.40-2.40 2.20-2.20 4.30-4.30 1.45-350 3.90-4.20 4,00-4.00 2.45-6,50 2.90-6.50 1.25-4:.20 1.50-2245 Average 0.61 0.46 1.78 2.89 2.22 2.30 1.60 2.40 3.78 4.26 2.60 2.02 --- Page 10 --- Table 4. An analysis of the Waco Lake Water furnished by the Waco City Water Works. /° es . voseusy rt ntnnrinttrninapmei Average Max. Min. April 25, 1960 Total Solids 333.0 280.6 Total Alkalinity 145.0 139.0 Total Hardness 170.0 144.9 pH Value 7.8 Silica 10.0 Iron and Aluminum Oxides 2-3 Calcium Bicarbonate 197.6 Calcium Sulfate 13.62° Magnesium Sulfate 702 Sodium Sulfate 22.4 Sodium Chloride 39.6 Fluoride O.1 1. Parts per million 2. This reading taken January 9, 1961