TPWD 1964 F-5-R-11 #930: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region l-B: Job No. B-32 Fisheries Reconnaissance

. JOB. COMPLETION REPORT AS required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-i-R—ll FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEYS OF THE WATERS OF REGION l-B Job No. 3-32 Fisheries Reconnaissance Project Leader: Lawrence S. Campbell J. Weldon Watson Executive Director Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Marion Toole Eugene A. Walker D-J Geordinator Assistant Director, Wildlife July 28, 1964 ABSTRACT Fish populations were examined in 27 public waters of Region l-B. Three hundred and twenty-eight standard gill net collections, 110 specific gill net collections, 186 standard seining collections, and 71 specific seining collections were taken. Fifty-two Species of 13 families were identified from 9,497 fish captured in gill nets and 89,932 fish captured in seines. To measure harvest, the results of 537 creels were determined. Findings from this effort indicated that fishery management is needed at Fort Phantom Hill Reservoir, Devil's Lake and Lake Walk, Red Bluff and Imperial Reservoirs, the Upper Pecos River, the Upper Colorado River, the Upper Rio Grande River and for San Angelo Reservoir. Data obtained under previous investigations and current data indicate that management efforts have been successful in achieving initial objectives, that benefits from management may last over 5 years, that contrary to accusations endemic species have not been exterminated through project effort, that endemic species have experienced an expansion of range through project effort, post- management harvest is 10 to 20 times greater than pre—management harvest, and when management fails it is largely due to circumstances beyond control of project personnel. The ineffectiveness of current stocking practices in specific waters is demonstrated and failure of experimental stocking of Lake J. B. Thomas with blue catfish is indicated. Three species, previously unidentified, were added to the regional check— list, and range extensions were determined for three species. Reconnaissance work as carried out under this project is entirely too broad in scope, and it is recommended that future reconnaissance work be limited to (a) obtaining information to fill in gaps in project data, (b) carrying out preliminary investigations needed for project planning, and (c) procuring data needed to meet limited objectives such as that required to justify management where unfOreseen opportunities arise. JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project No. F-S-R-ll Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region l-B Job No. B-32 Title: Fisheries Reconnaissance Wm Period Covered March 1, 1963 - February 29, 1964 Objectives: To conduct limited investigations of regional waters in order to maintain current knowledge of the fishery resource and of factors influencing its pro- duction and harvest. Procedures: The following standard procedures were adapted for all project work. I. Sampling Fish POpulations A. A standard gill netting unit is made up of nylon gill netting, measuring 150 feet long by 8 feet deep. The unit is in 25—foot sections. Mesh sizes of these nets increase progressively to larger sizes in following sections, at half-inch intervals, be- ginning with one-inch mesh sections and terminating with a three and one-half inch section. Bags are created in these nets by means of ”tie downs” that are 6 feet long, and that are spaced at 9-foot intervals along the horizontal length of the net. B. Any gill net, either with all its mesh the same size or with several sizes whose total components equal 150 linear feet is a Specific gill netting unit and data obtained from such sets are designated as such. C. A standard seining unit is a 12-foot common seine whose mesh size does not exceed 1/4 inch, and whose mesh size is not consistently less than 1/4 inch. D. A specific seining unit is any seining equipment that does not meet the above specifications. Data obtained by the use of such equipmentenxadesignated as specific data. E. A standard gill net collection is the data from fish captured in an overnight set of one standard gill netting unit. F. A standard seining collection_is data from fish captured with three hauls of a standard seining unit. G. A specific seining collection is the data from fish captured with seines of other than standard construction. H. A specific gill netting collection is the data from fish captured in an overnight set with any gill net not meeting standard specifications. I. Data from gill netting collections normally included weight, length, sex and gonadal develOpment, stomach contents, and ”K” for 50 individuals for each of the primary species. J. Data obtained from seining collections was in accordance with the objective of carrying out the work. II. Basic Data Recorded for Each Field Trip A. Physical data 1. Turbidity readings to denote major deviations in turbidity. 2. Temperatures (Fahrenheit) a. Water temperatures including area deviations and diurnal and nocturnal variations. b. Air temperatures including minimum and maximum for period during which field activities were carried out. 3. Wind (m.p.h.) a. Estimated Speed, direction and variations. 4. Hydrology a. Lake level or volume. b. Stream flow or velocity. 5. Weather and Climatic Conditions. a Cloud cover. b Moisture. c. Relative stability of temperatures. d Barometric pressure. e. Moon phase. 6. Bottom type 7. Cover 8. Vegetation 9. Other ecological conditions or influences and observations. Occurrence of Springs, stream gradient, shade of trees, canyon walls, riffles or falls, aquatic organisms. B. Water quality 1. Where possible data were obtained from qualified cooperating agencies. Most data were obtained from the State Health Department, the U. S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Reclamation, the International Boundary and Water Commission and from municipal sources. 2. Essential determination of pH, dissolved oxygen, dissolved carbon dioxide, chloride, alkalinity were by the standard analysis procedures outlined in FRESHWATER FISHERY BIOLOGY by Lagler. Sampling of fish populations in 27 regional waters is Specified in Figure l. The number of standard gill net collections obtained is 28 less than planned. However, the sum of standard and specific gill net collections is 94 units greater than originally specified, or 27 per cent greater than the total quantity of netting planned. Less standard collections were obtained than planned because (a) subdivision and relocation of project facilities and personnel resulted in an initial shortage of material with which to build a sufficient number of standard units, and (b) the time required in purchasing Sufficient materials and training new personnel in net construction was greater than anticipated. The number of Standard seining collections obtained is less than specified, but total units, both standard and Specific, exceed the quantity Specified in planning by two units. This deviation from planning was due to unforeseeable local conditions as (a) (excessive aquatic vegetation or obstructions in localities, and (b) the re- cession of most area waters tended to reduce the amount of shore areas where standard seining could be accomplished. Work planned for Lake Kirby and Lake Abilene was not attempted. The manage- ment Opportunity temporarily afforded at Lake Nasworthy was deemed more important. (See job completion report for Job l6a47, Project F-l4-D-7). Investigations of small lakes at Kent, Sierra Blanca and the Van Horn area were completed. For logistical reasons this work will be reported in the completion report for Job B-34. The investigation of Sand Lake at Pecos was not carried out because the lake dried up. Results: References are made throughout this report to a number of species of fish. The following checklist has been prepared to assure correct identification. Scientific and common names are those Specified in ”A List of Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States and Canada”, second edition, American Fisheries Society, Special Publication No. 2, 1960. longnose gar Lepisosteus osseus Spotted gar L. oculatus alligator gar L. Spatula gizzard shad Qprosoma cepedianum Rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri Mexican tetra Astyanax mexicanus stoneroller Campostoma anomalum Mexican stoneroller “Q. ornatum carp Cyprinus carpio Devils River minnow Dionda diaboli roundnose minnow ,2. episc0pa Rio Grande chub Gila nigrescens Silvery minnow Hybognathus nuchalis Speckled chub HybOpsis aestivalis golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas Texas Shiner NotrOpis amabilis emerald Shiner fl. atherinoides Chihuahua Shiner E. chihuahua Rio Grande Shiner ‘fl. jemezanus red Shiner _fl. lutrensis bluntnose Shiner ,fl. Simus sand Shiner ,fl. stramineus blacktail Shiner fl. venustus suckermouth minnow Phenacobius mirabilis fathead minnow Pimephales promelas longnose dace Rhinichthys cataractae river carpsucker Carpiodes carpio blue sucker Cycleptus elongatus smallmouth buffalo Ictiobus bubalus blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus black bullhead I, melas channel catfish I. punctatus flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris plains killifish Fundulus kansae rainwater killifish Lucania parva mosquitofish Gambusia affinis Pecos gambusia .g. nobilis white bass Roccus chrySOps warmouth Chaenobryttus gulosus green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus bluegill L, macrochirus redear sunfish L, microlophus largemouth bass MicrOpterus salmoides Guadalupe bass MicrOpterus treculi white crappie Pomoxis annularis slough darter Etheostoma gracile orangethroat darter E. Spectabile logperch Percina caprodes freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens red drum SciaenOpS ocellata tidewater silverside Menidia beryllina southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma Sampling of fish populations resulted in the capture of 9,497 fish by gill nets and approximately 89,932 fish by seines. As indicated above 52 species of 13 families were identified from these collections. The organization of this report follows the primary objectives for making the various studies. To minimize duplication of material already published, general descriptions and locations of the concerned waters are omitted. This information is available in previous reconnaissance reports, and in reports covering original surveys. Objectives for carrying out specific investigations are outlined in Figure 2. Figure 1. Seining and Gill Netting Collections Taken for Reconnaissance 1963-1964 Gill Net Collections Seining Collections Area & Specific Standard Specific Standard Specific Harvest Waters Collections Collections Collections Collections Creels I. Reservoirs A. Abilene Area . Ft. Phantom Hill 17 19 5 2 12 B. Colorado City Area Lake Colorado City 4 4 4 21 _ Champion Creek Res. 6 2 2 4 C. Del Rio Area Devils Lake 9 4 4 Lake Walk 8 4 6 D. Pecos Area Red Bluff Res. 36 14 20 60 Imperial Res. 62 15 12 ___ Lake Balmorhea 53 8 18 E. Snyder Area _ Lake J. B. Thomas 5 4 21 F. Sweetwater Area Lake Sweetwater 6 4 63 Oak Creek Res. 12 4 21 Lake Trammel 6 4 Old- Winters Lake 6 16 G. San Angelo Area Lake Nasworthy 14 61 14 116 Mountain Creek Res. 6 3 14 Twin Buttes Res. 6 8 118 San Angelo Res. 6 II.Str§am Studies A. San Saba River 7 ” 7C 31 B. Devils River 6 6 C. Pecos River 20 16 D. Rio Grande River 21 16 E. Nueces River _ 5 F. North Llano River 18 G. South Llano River 15 H. Middle Concho River 6 8 I. South Concho River 18 14 7 J. Colorado River _ _ 10 28 Totals for All Waters 328 110 186 71 537 Figure 2. Organization of Report I. II. III. Reconnaissance Investigations to Determine Management Needs and Practicality Lake Nasworthy (feasibility of management, population dynamics, productive factors). Fort Phantom Hill Reservoir (management needs and feasibility, sound harvest regulations). Devils Lake (productivity, management planning, harvest regulations). Lake Walk (productivity, management planning, harvest regulations). Red Bluff Reservoir (management needs, population dynamics, harvest regu- lations). Imperial Reservoir (management needs, pOpulation dynamics, basis for harvest regulations). Lake Trammel (management planning, harvest regulations). Reconnaissance Investigations to Evaluate Management Effort Lake Balmorhea (management results, population dynamics, harvest regulations). Lake Sweetwater (management results, harvest regulations). Oak Creek Reservoir (management results, population dynamics, harvest regulations). Champion Creek Reservoir (management results, regulatory authority). Mountain Creek Reservoir (management results, regulatory authority). Old Winters Lake (management results, harvest regulations). Twin Buttes Reservoir and Watershed (management results, pOpulation dynamics, factors influencing harvest). Reconnaissance Studies to Provide Specific Data Lake Colorado City (unique conditions on production, harvest success, harvest recommendations). Lake J. B. Thomas (survival of exotic species, productivity, harvest regulations). San Angelo Reservoir (testing new equipment for selectivity and gross effectiveness). Devil's River (previously unexamined waters, distribution of species and relative abundance). Upper Rio Grande River (productivity, management problems, ingress and egress). San Saba River (distribution of species). Dove Creek (survival of endemic species, Species distribution). West Fork of Nueces (Species distribution, previously unexplored waters). South Llano (species distribution and occurrence). North Llano (species distribution and occurrence). Upper Colorado River (relative abundance of Species and securing minnows for restocking eradicated waters). Investigations to Determine Management Needs and Practicality Lake Nasworthy Background Information Following the completion of management work on Twin Buttes Reservoir and the Concho River watershed, an extensive reconnaissance was made of Lake Nasworthy and associated waters. Details of findings of that work, completed in January 1963, are reported in completion report B—32, Project F-5-R-lO. At duction. Fish Populations The work specified in Figure 1 was included to (a) provide last minute assurance of previous findings, (b) obtain data on the effect of this rapid reduction in volume on game fish populations, and (c) provide indications of the initial success of the chemical control effort. Details in the above identified report are summarized as follows: 1. The rapid reduction of the lake volume resulted in a reduction in relative abundance of most game species. Practically no white crappie, white bass, or channel catfish were captured in collections taken immediatel of the fish kill. These Spec1es com lections. Flathead catfish and lar species. 2. Post treatment sam Gill nets, including 14 standard units, set in the lake failed to capture fish. 3. Stocked game fish were surviving and exhibiting adequate growth. (See completion report 16a47, Project F-14-D-7). Harvest , fishing was ndicate an average catch of one Creels for less experienced fishermen fished. Virtually all significant ca catfish and were made between March 1, 1963 and June 6, 1963. extreme reduction in volume facilitated the spring harvest. Figure 3. Results of one drag with a 300-foot seine Figure 4. Spawningssize flathead catfish were returned to the lake following eradication effort.