TPWD 1954 F-3-R-1 #89: Inventory of the Species Present in Caddo Lake: Job Completion Report, Project F-3-R-1

STATE Texas PROJECT no. F-3—s—1, Job B~1 m PERIOD Dec. 1, 1953 - June 30, 195A Job Completion Report by Charles B» Gray TITLE Inventory of the Species Present in Caddo Lake. MW" OBJECTIVES To determine the species present and their relative abundance as well as to determine the ecological factors influencing their distrbution. METHODS Four netting stations were selected at widely separated sites in order to sample the various environments in the lake. (See attached map for location of stations)“ These stations were netted once each month using experimental typegdll nets composed of 25 ft. sections of varying mesh, including 3/h", 1", §", 2” and 3" square mesh. Hoop and fyke nets of l/h" and l” mesh were also used. Fish were kept alive until examined for length, weight, sex and stage of sexual development. Scale samples were taken and saved for future study and comparison with those from other sections of the State. Some doubt exists at present as to the reliability of annuli in age determination at this latitude. Stomachs of sport species were preserved for food analysis. Results of the analysis of ten species and recorded in Table No. 7. Ecological data recorded for each collection includes at Temperature: air and surface water b. pH c. Turbidity d. Depth of water e. Depth of net set f. Direction and strength of wind g. Dissolved oxygen h. main cover types i. Bottom type Because of the heavy vegetation in Caddo Lake seining stations were difficult to find. The five sites were chosen simply because they were about the only ones open enough to allow seining operations and even these become impossible at times because of thick mate of water hyacinths. Seining collections were made once each month after wad- ers became available. All seining specimens were brought to the laboratory for counting 3nd identification. Ecological data recorded for each collection include the same items listed above for netting collections. i !,.. _ U i. j; r . $4.5 Li: a...‘ 2. For the purpose of comparing populations and conditions in the different areas of the lake, the data for each netting station was treated separately. Five collections were made at each station during the period covered by this report. It has been proposed that this job continue into the next segment in order to obtain monthly collections-for a full year period. Further collections will undoubtedly bring out seasonal aspects that fail to show up in this report. Netting Collections Station No. l - This site is located where the dense cypress breaks open into the waters of the Big Lake area. The area contains scattered cypress {Texodium distichum) of a density of about four or five trees to an acre. Submerged aquatics occur here in dense beds although they do not cover the area completely. The more im- portant ones in estimated order of abundance include: pondweeds (Potamogeton) water millfoil (Myriophyllum), coontail (Ceratophyllum) and muskgrass (Charai. By early summer, dense beds of water lily (Nymphaea and lotus (Nelumbo) emerge to cover part of the area. Water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassippes)almost cover the area at times, de- pending on the time of year and wind direction and velocity. The bottom of this stat- ion is a sandy silt covered with organic litter. The water depth is normally 5 to 8 feet. Twentyutwo species of fish, including nine families were collected at this stew tion. Gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) were the mom abundant, making up more than half of the total collections both by weight and numbers. Table 1 shows the relative abundance of each species taken at this station. The pH at this station ranged from 6.2 to 6.7 with a mean of 6.5. Resflts of complete water analyses for each station are recorded in Table 5. Station No. 2 — This station is located in the Open water of the Big Lake area. There are some widely scattered cypress trees in the area but they are so few that the area may be considered open water. Depth of the water ranges from h to 8 ft. and due to wind action it is generally more turbid than the the other stations . sub— merged aquatics are present but are much less abundant than at other stations. Water milfoil, (Myrioph llum), pondweeds (Potamogeton) Coontail (Ceratophyllum) and musk- grass (Chara were found in the more shallow water. Mats of water hyacinths {Eichhornia crassipesi drift through the area with water and wind currents. The pH ranged from 6.E to 7.0 with a mean of 6.7. Twenty—two species representing nine families of fish were taken at this station. Gizzard shad were the most abundant, making up approximate» ly half of the total weight and numbers. Table 2 shows the relative abundance at this station. Station No. 3 - This station lies in the Clinton Lake area as shown on the attached map. Woody vegetation in the area consists of thick cypress breaks and open water dotted with.scattered cypress trees. In warm weather, Clinton Lake becomes choked with submerged aquatics to such an extent that boat travel becomes very difficult. The major submerged species found here include: pondweeds (Potamogeton), water milfoil (Myriophyllum), coontail (Ceratophyllum) and muskgrass (Charai. Some scattered beds of water lilies (Nymphaea) and lotus (Nelumbo) emerge in the spring. The water in this area is very clear, becoming turbid only after prolonged rains and very high water. The pH ranges frOm 6.2 to 7.2 with a mean of 6.7. Water depth ranges from three to eight feet. The bottom is a sandy clay covered with organ~ ic litter. Twenty species representing nine families of fish were collected at station “hree with the gizzard shad making up better than half of the total weight and numbers. Station No. A — This station is located in the Carter Lake Area in the ex- treme upper end of Caddo Lake. Aquatic vegetation at station four is much the same as at station three. However, station four receives even less water from the bayou than station three. This can easily be seen on the attached map. Very seldon does all of the water in Carters Lake become turbid. The pH at this station ranges from 6.h to 7.0 with a mean of 6.7. The bottom is sandy clay and sandy silt covered with organic ' litter. Netthg collections at station four produced 15 species of fish which include nine families. Again the gizaard shed was the most abundant, making up approximately 60 percent of the total weight and numbers. Seining Collections Due to the short period covered by this report the seining collection data is not sufficient to warrant full analysis of each station at this time. It has been proposed that this job be extended into the next fiscal year to obtain a full all—seasons aspect. Table 6 shows the relative abundance of species taken at all of the stations. The Micropterus salmoides recorded on the chart were approximately two to four weeks old. This indicates fair spawning success. SUMMARY In order to measure and compare ecolOgical differences in various localities in Caddo Lake, data from each collection station was recorded and studied separately. Four netting stations and five seining stations were selected in widely separated areas for this purpose. Collections were made and ecological data recorded once each month at each station. It has been preposed that this job be extended into the next segment.. There- fore, the writer feels that conclusions should be withheld until data can be collected and studied covering a full year period. However there are two prOblems that are very Obvious at this time. These problems both involve vegetation control. Water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassippes} have invaded the lake and are spread— ing at a tremendous rate. These plants now cover large areas that were once good fish~ ing waters and spawning beds. They have closed many of the boat roads to traffic. The other vegetation problem involves submerged aquatics. Some of the quiet~ er waters of the lake become choked with these plants in summer to the extent that fish~ ing and boat travel become extremely difficult. Data collected on this job in the next segment will be studied to determine any further effects these conditions may have on fish populations. O°OOT O°OOT 8T°TL8 ”Inset 6 0 8'0 90°g g confounds sndoutpoIdw Q I L°3 §L°QT 6t sndetnoemcdfitu stomcg E‘O t O 89°B E spaefnuue srxomcg E°O t I 98°8 OT sniiqooaoew stands: 8 0 6‘0 Efi“a 9 andotoaotm stmodeq t“O 8 I na*€ Q sntaeuoaoo snadfaqouequ t O t°0 OS‘E E seppcmyes snaeddoaotw I o I 0 also I sncsInccund snsasdoxaIw a v a'OI l€°9E IL sadnxsecur Gaston 8°? I 8 OL‘QT tT sdosfiaqo euoiow QiO E°O gI’t a spaektto endotpotIg g 8 goo Lg°g 3 strains endorses 8‘0 6‘0 St‘L 9 screw snanromv I O [“0 QQ'T I snaeaound annoyance: T O I'O ga"o I seonetosfio snuofirmaqom t O 6°C 89°€ 9 seasons uozfmpsg €‘9 I 9 ga'sg 9E sdoueIew smeal£fltw c o I°o o§°I I SEIBQHQ anoilal l°§ 6 a 06°a€ 08 Iafitu xoss 6 IE a'ng §E°agn gen mnuetpedeo BMOSOJOG L“6I §°€ Lg‘ggt n3 snesso snedsosrdeq 9°E t‘T 9L'IE OT snionpOJd snedscsIdeq ' infirefi'MW” ieqmnfl“ “ ' spunog'ul "oN ' aagosdg' ”' Kg cussing Kg cussing infirem ngét ‘gr soup anoch fig6f ‘93 °uef ‘sexem ‘fdunoo HOSIJJBH ‘aasi 09990 ‘I *ow suctcsas ‘SUOIquIIoo Emincen JO saInsea T “0M QTQBL ”W %0'00I Issac 8’8 6'I QL'L 8 sueruunafi snaoquoIdv 9‘0 6‘0 €9°I a aneInoencJSIu spxoncg 9'8 E‘E 66‘9 VT gsIaeInuue stonog I'O 8'0 IE‘O I sIcoIeBem srmodaq E‘O L°O L6“O E sninoOJoen sImodaI B'T 9‘8 gg'E 8T anchoaoIm spandeq L'O L’O 66'T E sspIcwIes snasddoaotm t°0 8‘0 Qa'I I aneInaound snaeidoiotm O°L E°IZ 69°E8 a6 eddnaaeaur seesaw B‘S 3'9 98'6T 88 sdosfiqo BUOJOW 9‘s Z‘T St°§T s StJBAIIo snsotpOIIa 8°C 8‘0 69°C I scanning annIedeoI n°a 9'T 00°8 L snaeaound snanIedeoI L‘O w°0 9§“a 3 seasons uozfmrag 8°E I°8 SL°OI 6 sdoueIem eneadfiupm B't 9‘8 I8°nI II ordieo sspoIdaeQ t°T L‘O 69°t Q snqunq ancpdoI L'T L°O 98‘9 E cadre xosg T°Lt t”0§ IO°E9T 9T8 mnueIpedeo emosoaoq S°O 8‘0 WW'T I sIaoIqoosfaqo eson I°8 8°I 69°0€ g snesso snedsosrdeq O°S S‘I 6I‘LT 9 sndonpoad snsasostdeq QWEIQMIIIW “" ” daemon ‘spuhoa“a:‘ ""0m ‘ agendas danisselsc.-_hma;58-%usflsaa 3H3¥gm egg: ‘gI eunf qtnoaqd figs: ‘93 “HEP ‘sexem ‘faunoo uosIJJeH ‘ewBI 09983 ‘3 “on Hetcscs ‘SHOIcseIIoo fiatccew so saInsea a'oweomn erg ”.1: 6. Table No. 3 Results of Netting Collections, Station No. 3, Caddo Lake Harrison County, Texas, Jan. 26, 195M through June 15, 195M Percent By -Weisht 'Pereent By_-wflc. .Number Weight .13.?Ounds_-__ .HSPeCiSSA_. . ._. ..N0:_I Lepisosteus productus 35 80.70 6.5 13.7% Lepisosteus osseus h 37.56 0.8 6.4 Dorosoma cepedianum 301 309.80 63.2 52.8 Esox niger 21 26.63' 3.3 h.5 Carpiodes carpio l 3.37 0.2 0.6 Minytrema melanops 19 29.02 3.9 5.0 Erimyzon sucetta 15 12.82 3.0 2.2 flotemigonus crysoleucas l 0.25 0.2 0.1 Icatalurus punctatus 1 0.25 0.2 0.1 Ameiurus melas 1h 23.38 2.9 t.0 Ameiurus natalis h 3.62 0.8 0.6 Pilodictus olivaris 1 2.56 0.2 0.t .Morone interrupts 21 1h.90 3.3 2.5 Micropterus salmoides h 3.25 0.8 0.5 Chaenobryttus coronarius 1b 6.57 2.9 1.1 Lepomis microlophus 7 2.68 1.u 0.5 Lepomis macrochirus 10 3.92 2.0 0.7 Pomoxis annularis 1 1.06 0.2 0.2 Pomoxis nigromaculatus 22 21.70 h.0 3.8 iplodinotus grunniens 1 1.62 0.2 0.3 TOTAL #83 585.66 100.0% 100. 7. Table No. fl RESULTS OF NETTING COLLECTIONS, STATION NO. h, CADDO LAKE HARRISON COUNTY, TEXAS, JAN. 26, 1958 THROUGH JUNE 15, 195% ' Weigt " ' ' ' Prnecet BI " Hecent 'y' Species _. __ _ Dds .. .. Lepisosteus productus 9 15.88 1.6 2.7 Amie calva I 1 h.88 0.2 0.8 Dorosoma cepedianum 3&3 352.67 59.8 60.0 Esox niger 2h 3h.3l h.h 5.8 Minytrema melanops 36 56.68 6.1 9.6 Erimyzon sucetta R2 23.62 7.2 4.1 Notemigonus crysoleucas 1 0.25 0.2 0.1 Ameiurus melas 22 3h.81 3.8 5.9 Ameiurus natalis 6 6.hh 1.1 1.1 Morons interrupts 6 5.18 1.1 0.9 Micropterus salmoides 3 6.07 0.5 1.0 Chaenobryttus coronarius 26 10.63 A.7 1.9 Lepomis microlophus . 13 5.67' 2.3 0.9 Lepomis macrochirus lO h.17 1.7 0.7 Pomoxis nigromaculatus - 31 26.13 5.3 h.5 Total 573 587.39 100.0% 100.0% HEH ED. m “E Emma“. Macaw Egflfi mHEHDwm 1. 0..»wa 8E». $530M.“ 091E c EE 2888 . . E8 61.1.8 @881 888...... A81: chew 81.1.1... e eons. . .18 1a 8 . . . . mwba HOE mo. H Table to. 6 Results of Seining Collections by Percent of Total No. Species I No. of Total Esox vermiculatus 3 0.29 Esox niger 8 0.78 Notemigonus crysoleucas 1 0.10 Ops0poeodus emiliae 8 0.78 Notropis chalybeus 1h 1.36 Notropis roseus 5 0.h8 Notropis venustus_ -2 0.19 Notropis lutrensis 2 0.19 Notropis deliciosus 1 0.10 Notropis volucellus 1 0.10 Pimephales vigilax 15 1.h5 Ameiurus males 1 0.10 §chilbeodes mollis 2 0.19 Fundulus chrys otus 5 0 . 11.8 Fundulus notatus #6 h.h6 Fundulus nfittifi 28 2.72 Gambusia affinis 59 5.72 Nenidia audens 31 3.01 Labidesthes sicculus 115 11.16 Micropterus salmoides 237 22.99 Chaenobryttus coronarius 7 0.68 Lepomis microlophus 112 10.86 Lepomis macrochirus 318 30.8h Elassoma zonatum 2 Etheostoma proliare Totals O.H m wH MH 31 _ H 6H . N +1.1”. .mspeanssoanc mgsom w 3 me Hm _ _ ._ 1mm 88.3118 mHHosom am mH H . . H _ bH _.H mm mohfiooohuefi aHsomeH «w mm . N cH . mm moQQOHOHoHs mHsomcq HH b MH m as m m mm . moaaccoaoo nopphhpocooau. 3“ m hm m 0H . . . N . mH . cognac 11.183883.“ 0m . om . _ . u m 8889.0an commences? 0H _ m . bH mm . 0H NH an _ mangoes“ 68.82 H _ on . . we . . m H . _m «N maomhhno cacao: NH . . . mm em. HH . . . mo 8ch Noam figfigfigfigfigfigfiggg .1. 2.1 m 11.. .1.. .1. ‘ o a o 1... m 1.. s _ a 1... .. m m 1.. m. m. .. 1 mm mass... 1. .1.. 1m .1 .. .1. a .. w mm W“ m .d m. m e m. m. m. m. . s m 1... u. a 1.1 a m. m m. s a . m u. use. .8 s12. 8. $91 .1” 9311.38 .83 083 .mdodm do .3825 .1353... .3 393m .1. 8m: