TPWD 1963 F-6-R-10 #820: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 5-B: Basic Survey and Inventory of the Fish Species Present in the San Antonio River, Job Completion Repor

--- Page 1 --- JOB COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-6-R-10 FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEYS OF THE WATERS OF REGION 5-B Job No. B-18 Basic Survey and Inventory of the Fish Species Present in the San Antonio River Project Leader: Charles T. Menn H. D. Dodgen Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Marion Toole D-J Coordinator Eugene A. Walker Director, Program Planning February 4, 1963 --- Page 2 --- ABSTRACT The basic survey of the San Antonio River lying within Wilson, Karnes, Goliad and Refugio counties revealed that channel and flathead catfish are the principal game species. For that reason, every effort should be made to protect and propa- gate catfish in this drainage. Soil pollution over many years has caused the formation of silt deposits along the banks of the relatively narrow river, which tend to favor "rough fish." Rough fish species including alligator, spotted and longnose gars, gizzard shad, smallmouth buffalo, river carpsucker, carp, grey redhorse, and Rio Grande perch comprised 84.16 per cent by number and 97.40 per cent by weight of the fish taken in the netting collections. Red shiners were found at all 15 seining stations and comprised 42.97 per cent of the fish taken in the seining collections. No recommendations are made for developmental work at this time. However, reconnaissance checks should be made at least once a year to detect gross changes in fish populations. --- Page 3 --- JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project No. F-6-R-10 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Sur-_ veys of the Waters of Region 5-B Job No. B-18 Title: Basic Survey and Inventory of the Fish Species Present in the San Antonio River Period Covered: January 1, 1962 through December 31, 1962 Objectives: To determine the physical, chemical and ecological conditions and the relative numbers of fish species present in the lower portions of the San Antonio River lying within Wilson, Karnes, Goliad and Refugio Counties. Procedure: Maps prepared by the Texas Highway Department were used in the field to pinpoint seining, netting and water sampling stations. Tracings of U.S. Department of Agriculture aerial photographs were mot made because of their large size. The project leader decided that such maps would not be practical for this work and that the expense of tracing the maps would not be justifiable. Notes were made of pollution, aquatic vegetation and other ecologi- cal factors. The fish populations were sampled with the standard, 125-foot long, gill nets and nylon minnow seines. The gill nets are constructed of nylon webbing, 8-féet deep, in five 25-foot long sections of 1-, 1}-, 2-, 2%,- and 3- inch square mesh. Specimens taken in the nets were weighed in grams and measured in millimeters in the field. Internal examinations were made to determine sex, stage of sexual development and incidence of parasitism. Stomachs of carnivorous species were examined to determine food habits. Seined specimens were preserved in 10 per cent formalin and taken to the Mathis field office for identification and tabulation. A list of the fish species taken in nets and seines is included in Table 1. The scientific and common names used in this table were taken from Hubbs' A Checklist of Texas Fresh-Water Fishes, Texas Game and Fish Commission, IF --- Page 4 --- -2- Table 1. A List of Fish Species Recorded From San Antonio River a Common Name Scientific Name. ELS Alligator gar Spotted gar Longnose gar Threadfin shad Gizzard shad Mexican tetra Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Grey redhorse Carp Golden shiner Pugnose minnow Speckled chub Red shiner Ghost shiner Bullhead minnow Channel catfish Yellow bullhead Flathead catfish Tadpole madtom Blackstripe topminnow Mosquitofish Sailfin molly Striped mullet Tidewater silverside Largemouth bass Warmouth Green sunfish Redbreast sunfish Bluegill Longear sunfish Logperch Rio Grande perch Lepisosteus spatula Lacepede L. oculatus (Winchell) L. osseus (Linnaeus ) Dorosoma petenense (Gunther) D. cepedianum (LeSueur) Astyanax mexicanus (Filippi) Ictiobus bubalus (Rafinesque) Carpiodes carpio (Rafinesque) Moxostoma congestum (Baird and Girard) Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus Notemigonus crysoleucas (Mitchill) Opsopoeodus emiliae Hay Hybopsis aestivalis (Girard) Notropis lutrensis (Baird and Girard) N._buchanani Meek Pimephales vigilax (Baird and Girard) Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque) I. natalis (LeSueur) Pylodictus olivaris (Rafinesque) Schilbeodes gyrinus (Mitchill) Fundulus notatus (Rafinesque) Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard) Mollien¢sia latipinna (LeSueur) Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus Menidia beryllina conan Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede) Chaenobryttus gulosus (Cuvier) Lepomis cyanellus (Rafinesque) L. auritus (Linnaeus) L. macrochirus (Rafinesque) L. megalotis (Rafinesque) Percina caprodes (Rafinesque) Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum (Baird and Girard) --- Page 5 --- Series No. 3, June 1961. Findings: Physical Description The San Antonio River rises within the City of San Antonio and flows approximately 180 miles in a southeasterly direction to its confluence with the Guadalupe near San Antonio Bay on the Texas coast. With a relative- ly small watershed of only 4,460 square miles and a semi-arid climate, the mean annual flow of the river near its mouth is a meagre 350,000 acre feet. The major tributaries of the San Antonio are the Medina River and Cibolo Creek. Both are spring fed streams and differ somewhat in water quality from the San Antonio, particularly in turbidity. Normally the San Antonio River is a rapidly moving, turbid stream with an average width of some 40 feet and an average depth of five feet. In the portions of the river included in the study, the banks are mostly sharply cut, indicating frequent flooding. The stream bottom varies from limestone, in Wilson County, to sand and sandstone in Karnes and Goliad counties to sand, sandstone and mud in the lower portions of Refugio County. Silt deposits are found near the banks along the river, but are lacking in the main current. Pecan, hackberry, ash, cottonwood and cypress trees are numerous along the river. Also, willow, huisache and mesquite trees are frequently encoun- tered along the San Antonio. Bloodweeds, grapevine, sunflowers and prickly pear combine to form dense thickets lining a considerable part of the river. Netting Collections Five netting stations were set up during this survey; three on the San Antonio River and two on Cibolo Creek. The netting stations on the creek were located in Wilson County and those on the San Antonio River were in Karnes, Goliad and Refugio counties. No suitable netting water on the San Antonio River was found in Wilson County. An overnight set was made at each station twice during the study period. All told, 120 fish of 17 species weighing 215.2 pounds were taken in the netting collections. Game fish species including channel catfish, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, warmouth, bluegill, redbreast and long- ear sunfish comprised 15.84 per cent of the netted fish and 2.60 per cent of their weight. Rough fish species including alligator, spotted and longnose gars, --- Page 6 --- gizzard shad, smallmouth buffalo, river carpsucker, carp, grey redhorse, and Rio Grande perch dominated the netting collections both in numbers and in weights with 84.16 per cent of the number and 97.40 per cent of the weight. Tables 2 and 3 show the results of netting by station. Gars of one species or another were taken at all stations, but were more abundant in the lower portions of the river in Goliad and Refugio counties. Unidentifiable fish remains were found in four gar stomachs and five were empty. No parasites were found. Gizzard shad were taken only at Station No. 3, at Conquista Park in Karnes County, and at station No. 5, near the mouth of the San Antonio River in Refugio County. The shad comprised only 6.67 per cent of the number and 3.67 per cent of the weight of the fish netted. The relatively small shad population is probably due to the abundance of predators such as gars and catfish. Collectively, smallmouth buffalo, river carpsucker and grey redhorse comprised 35.83 per cent by number and 25.65 per cent by weight of the fish taken in the netting collections. Of the three species, smallmouth buffalo appear to be dominant in the lower portions of the river, while grey redhorse are limited to the clearer waters of Cibolo Creek and probably to the clearer, upper portions of the river. It is interesting to note that only one specimen of carp was taken during the survey. The lone carp was taken at netting Station No. 3, at Conquista Park in Karnes County. A state fisheries survey made in 1953 by Kuehne (IF Report Series No. 1, Texas Game and Fish Commission) also found that carp were lacking in the San Antonio basin , Thus,it appears that the San Antonio River is one of the few drainages in the state lacking a sizeable carp population. Rio Grande perch were taken only at the Conquista Park netting stations in Karnes County. However, this species was taken in several seining collect- ions in the upper portions of the river and in Cibolo Creek. Apparently cold water during winter months controls their numbers in downstream areas, since none were taken in either nets or seines. Apparently spring areas in the upper portions of the river and in Cibolo Creek afford sufficient protection for their survival. The largemouth bass, in this drainage, appears to be limited to the upper portions of the San Antonio River and to Cibolo Creek. Only three specimens were collected in netting collections and this occurred at the Conquista Park site. Murky water apparently prevents development of a good bass population in most of the river. To offset poor reproduction of the species, 11,000 largemouth bass fingerlings were stocked during May 1962 in areas of Cibolo Creek where sufficient food and cover were available. Channel catfish and flathead catfish seem to be well established in the river. Only four channel and flathead catfish were taken in the nets, but 127 channel catfish were taken in seining collections at various places --- Page 7 --- | 00 00T TPIOL Em 91 78 YSTZ y8noy UST} oweS saqeotpur » 78° ST ysty owey 00°O0T ral GZ Z Cy Ze el | STeIOL LIT LT 0) ) LT 0 0) yored epurig ofy L£9°T c (0) 0 Z 0 0) x% YSTyuns 1ee8u0T £9°T Cc 0 0 0 c 0 x USTyUnSs Jstarqpey 0S'Z € 0 ) T z 0) % T1}8en TE ce'€ v7) 0 0 T € 0 % YInowzreM Ce°€ v 0 0 € T 0 % Sseq yynowes1e7 L£9°T 4 0 T 0) T ©) % YSTZIeO pRoyIeTT €8°0 T 0 0 0 0 T PPSUTING MOTTEA L9°T G 0 0 T T 0) * YUSTz eo Touuey)D €8°0 T 0 0 T 0 0 die 00°SZé O€ 0 0 0 6 T aszoyper Kary 00°S 9 0 0 9 0 0 Zeyonsdies rT3eATY €8°S L S 0 G 0 0 oTeyFNg YANowyTTeug £9°9 8 T 0 L 0 0 peys prezzty €8°072 GC 9 G c T T 1e3 asousu07T LT’v G c TI 0) Z 0 1838 paqjods €8°0 T T 0 0 0 0 1e3 LOReBITLY Te 403 quad teg Z961 “LOATY OTUOQUY Ueg ‘B8UTQJeU FO sjzI[Nsay °"Z eTqeL --- Page 8 --- IS nIIONIIT™ Nd 00°*O0OL OM L6 09°C FO quad tag} TeIOL oe ysTy ysnoy ysty owey (o) fons Co Coa ° 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 € 8 S ¢° C Z961 ‘Keaang AeATY OTUOCQUY Ueg BUT JEU UT USyeI YsTF Jo sIYysToM “YSTZ owes saqeoTput % x YsTyuns zee8u07T yx USTyUNS JsPetqpey T1F8enT¢ peeyT [ng MoTTe x USTZ}eO TeuueYO die) esiouper Aaiy Zoayonsdies SeATY oTeyFnq YInowy] [EUs oowoocoomMmoonoooocd°onny “€ oTdeL --- Page 9 --- a p's along the river and Cibolo Creek. Insect remains were found in a channel catfish's stomach. Table 4 shows the length-weight statistics for fish taken in netting collections. The "K" factors of all fish were considered better than average, indicating that they are in good condition. Seining Collections Originally 20 seining stations were planned, but only 15 suitable sites were found. Eleven stations were located at various places on the San Antonio River in Wilson, Karnes, Goliad and Refugio Counties, and four stations were located on Cibolo Creek in Wilson County. For the most part, the stations were set up near road crossings to facilitate access. They represented various types of habitat. Two collections were made at each station during the study period. In all, 4,012 specimens of 21 species were taken in the 30 seining collections. Table 5 shows the number of each species recorded at each station. The red shiner is the most abundant fish and best distributed in the San Antonio River, as well as Cibolo Creek. This minnow was taken at every station and comprised 42.97 per cent of the fish seined. Mosquitofish, pugnose minnows, channel catfish, bullhead minnows and Rio Grande perch, in that order, were found to be well distributed through- out the river system and in lower Cibolo Creek. Mexican tetras, speckled chubs, blackstripe topminnows and logperch were limited to the upper portions of the river, while threadfin shad, striped mullet and tidewater silversides were found only in the lower portions of the San Antonio. Six grey redhorse were taken at a station on Cibolo Creek. This was the only place where this species was taken, although we suspect them to be present in good numbers in the creek. Eight largemouth bass specimens were taken at a seining station on the San Antonio River at Conquista Park. Thus reproduction, although some- what limited, is indicated. Under present conditions, primarily the high turbidity and silt, it is doubtful that a good bass population can become established in the river. Largemouth bass fingerlings were stocked in the clearer waters of Cibolo Creek in May 1962 to supplement the existing population. Sufficient food in the form of red shiners and cover were found in the creek. Therefore, these bass should be helpful in restoring that species. Neither species of crappie was taken in either netting or seining collections. This seems rather odd since a number of areas appeared to be suitable for this species. The absence of crappie during this survey is in line with Kuehne's study in 1953. --- Page 10 --- "TOQOPT ,M,, OANSTF OF STQeun sojeOTpUL xx ‘pepioded squowoinsevou yRSUeT OU sozPOTpPUL x 69°S-80°S IZE-17 8L1-16 yored epueip oTYy % GY-GY? % ystjuns 1e98u07T ZL'S-SE' GOL-¥E L71-76 TIT Sen TE L6°4-99'°7 8y-SE 101-68 ystjuns Jseoiqpey 16°€-v8'€ €91-GG TOI-Z1T yjnowzeM WC°E-SE'Z 767-176 L@Z-1S1 sseq yqnowesze7] 89° 1T-Ly°T ZVE-GET G8Z-002 ystz 7eo peoyieTa 68°1-68'°T ZL-2L 9ST-9ST PpeoyTIng MOTTOA 68° 1-62°T WLY-6L 867-191 ystz eo TeuueyD * CVL-ZVI % dze9g 947°7-06'T 76L-S8 O€E-EST aszoyper erp 97° €-9'°E PLyL-9ET 6VE-67E azeyonsdies 1eATY CO’ ¥-Z1'E 8607-16L 98€-762 oTeyFnq YINouT TeuUs 97°7-69'T 9OTI-SZ 8SE-781 peys prezzt9 vL'O-€€'0 0296-69 G9O0T-OFY 1e3 ssousu0T EL’ 1-SS'0 YLYI-C6L GYS-97E 1e3 pejjods 02°0-02'°0 6676-6676 OOTT-OOTT aeg 1032831 TV satoods si10}0PF ot (sweiy) 3YysTOM SIOIJOWTTTIW) YAsueT prepuejs Z96T ‘AOAANG AOATY OTUOQUY UeS WoAFZ YUSTA AOF sotyst}eIAS AYSTeMmM-YyISuUST ‘y OTgeL --- Page 11 --- YP21Q OTOGTD - Butsso1g azsquedieg +g TaaTy oTuojuy ues - a8ptag 47 AemysTH moTeg “ST 4YeeIQ O[OqTg - BSutssorg 46 ABMYZTH */ A2ATY OTUOJUY ueg - e3ptTig // AeMYZTH aaAoqy *4T Y29IN O[OGTD - Butsso19 eTaeW euUeg “9 TaATY OTUOQUY uesS - a8ptig eyNG eACGYy ‘CT Ye21Q O[OGTD - Butsso1g eptskuung °*¢ TeATY OTuoJuy ues - a3ptig 6¢ ABMYSTH MOTeG “ZT IAATY OTUOJUY ues - [HG WA Butsso1zg yjog ‘4H A2ATY OTUOJUY uesS - eSpTag eTepAZATY “TT IOATY OTUOJUY ues - yIeg BQstnbuog ‘¢ T2ATY OTuoJUY ues - eBpTIg ODIeYD MOTEG “OT A9ATY OTUOJUY ueg - yIeg BAStnbuo| °Z JaATY OTuoJUY ues - aBpTig OD1eYD °6 AaATY OTUOJUY ues - adeTg sTuUsg ‘T :suot}zeqg of Kay 00°O0T S[TeqOL Yyored spueiy Oty yotad3zo07T T1T8an{g ystyuns uaei19 sseq ynoussie] APTSIIATTS 1sqemapty Jettnu pedt1zjs ATTOW UTFTTES ustyojtnbsoyw mouutudo} adtiaysyoetg wojpeu otodpey, ystyqeo Tauuey9 MouuTW peau, [ng iautys Jsouyd AauTYys pey qnys paTyoedg mouutu assousng LauTYs uaptod esioyper A£aiy B10} UeOTXEW peys utypeoiuL aa 7961 ‘SAAIng 1sATY OTUOjJUY UeG suUOTIeIS Aq ‘sq[NSeYy Bututas “¢ eTqeL On OOF OCOOCOCCOCOOCOHN 4 oooooooo0o0o0co°o°co SHISCOSCOONODODOHMOORNOMNDONCO NISCOCOCONDAODONOOTOOCOCOOCOCOCO oqocoo0ooeotroonoomoooocoocooceo NOonooWOnFWOOHnOCODNHOCOOCOCOCCSO STeIOL tloooooomo0cnceoe°co9o°c°oecccoe0c00o MOINDDODAMNMOADANHAONHDODODWOHOO WyoooooomMmnHNOoOnOoOOWOoOCoCCoOCCCON mooroo00c0co st NJOOoOoOoCco + --- Page 12 --- -10- Chemical Analysis Six water sampling stations were set up during this survey; four were on the San Antonio River and two were on Cibolo Creek. Each station was visited twice during the survey. Surface water samples were tested for dissolved oxygen, dissolved carbon dioxide, total alkalinity and pH. Dissolved oxygen ranged from 4.8 to 7.0 p.p.m. on the San Antonio River and dissolved carbon dioxide ranged from 1.4 to 8.0 p.p.m. Methyl orange alkalinity values ranged from 136 to 206 p.p.m. and pH ranged from 7.7 to 8.4. All these values are considered normal for this area and are in line with previous findings. Water quality of Cibolo Creek is similar to that of the San Antonio River with the exception of turbidity. Secchi disc readings ranged from 3- to ll-inches on the river and from 15- to 17-inches on Cibolo Creek. During the course of this job, an investigation was made to determine the cause of a fish kill on the river in Wilson County, Since the investigation was made two days after the fish kill was reported, it was difficult to make an accurate estimate of the fish kill. No dead fish were seen along the river channel. However, in one slough, approximately 300 feet in length, there were some 20 smallmouth buffalo, 80 carp and 100 channel catfish. The fish had been dead for at least a day. Water samples were taken from the slough and tested for dissolved oxygen, dissolved carbon dioxide, pH and methyl orange alkalinity. All were considered normal and no definite cause for the fish kill could be determined. Ecological Conditions Rainfall in the San Antonio River basin ranges from about 27 inches in the western portion to about 34 inches near the coast. Aquatic vegetation in the San Antonio River consists mostly of algae clinging to limestone, Water pennywort was found along the banks of pool areas and a small amount of Lemna sp. was found in the still, backwater areas, Due to the nature of the river in Wilson, Karnes and Goliad Counties, aquatic vegetation is not a problem and is not likely to become one under present conditions. Spatterdock, algae, water pennywort and arrowhead comprised the aquatic forms of vegetation in Cibolo Creek, However, none of these is considered undesirable in the creek because of the protection they offer fish and aquatic invertebrates, Most likely winter-kills control the plants. A limited amount of ranching is done in the vicinity of the river in Wilson and Karnes Counties, However, the trend is toward row crops and truck farming, In areas along the lower portion of the river, the land is hilly and farming is unprofitable. --- Page 13 --- -ll- Good soil conservation measures have been used, but more are needed in the form of terracing, planting cover crops and not overgrazing pasture land. No nutria were found along the river nor was there any evidence indicat- ing their presence. Discussion: Presently the portion of the San Antonio River studied during this segment has little potential for largemouth bass production. This is due to the silt and turbidity. It was reported that the river supported a sizeable bass population in previous years. The catfish are the only significant game fish species in the river. Despite the rather low numbers taken in netting collections, sufficient evidence was found to indicate a moderate population in the river. Further- more, it is apparent that the catfish are reproducing successfully. Both largemouth bass and channel catfish were stocked in the lower portion of Cibolo Creek in Wilson County. These fish should do well in this relatively clear stream which offers ample food and cover. Only 19 sport fishermen were seen during the course of this job. Most of them were seen on Cibolo Creek, however. In nearly every case, the anglers were fishing for catfish and they offered stories of good catches on previous trips. Public access is limited to road crossings, both on the river and Cibolo Creek. Many landowners are accommodating to those who ask permission to fish on posted areas. At least two major dams are proposed for the San Antonio River; one is to be located near Falls City in Karnes County and the other near Charco in Goliad County. Undoubtedly these proposed impoundments would be an asset to the basin in that they would provide water storage and help control floods. Presently there are no fishing camps located along the river or Cibolo Creek, Recommendations: Every reasonable effort should be made to stop industrial, municipal and soil pollution on the river. This, of course, would require the combined efforts of many people and agencies, and much time for the river to revert to its original state. We have every reason to believe that the San Antonio River was at one time a beautiful stream, as reported. The sports fishermen will be forced to fish for catfish in the river. Cibolo Creek has a moderate population of largemouth bass in addition to a good catfish population. Since the catfish is one of the principal game Species in the San Antonio River system, commercial fishermen should not be allowed to take them and every effort should be made to protect and propagate them. --- Page 14 --- -12- t Annual checks should be made on the river to determine gross changes in fish populations. No developmental work is presently proposed or recommended. : — Prepared by Charles T. Menn Approved by Yi OVE Ao ce ‘ Coordinator Date February 4, 1963 Kenneth C. Jurgens Fisheries Supervisor, Region V