Performance Report: Statewide Fishery Management Recommendations, Job A: Existing Reservoir and Stream Management Recommendations, Angelina River below Sam Rayburn Reservoir, 1985, Federal Aid

--- Page 1 --- a PERFORMANCE REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT Federal Aid Project F-30-R-11 Statewide Fishery Management Recommendations Job A: Existing Reservoir and Stream Management Recommendations Angelina River below Sam Rayburn Reservoir, 1985 Philip P. Durocher Inland Fisheries Management Program Director District IV-A Edgar P. Seidensticker District Management Supervisor Charles D. Travis Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Ernest G. Simmons Robert J. Kemp Chief, Inland Fisheries Director of Fisheries February 20, 1986 --- Page 2 --- eS I TSA ait: Base, | | eed ae ie ok pris fii wen i ee » | i pass] aay bo sat ·Suk ce Die | depart is | | t 7 Ae > on Hnot aes EL 7 3M Lae 2: eT enehla Rat br an PCT ue - ant --- Page 3 --- Performance Report Job A. District IV-A Objective: To recommend habitat improvement, fisherman information, fish population manipulation, vegetation control, pollution control, fisherman access and facilities development and fish harvest regulations for existing and proposed public waters of Texas. Summary: The Angelina River from Sam Rayburn Dam to its confluence with the Neches River in the upper portion of B. A. Steinhagen was surveyed during 1985 by methods outlined in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Management Manual to identify needs for increasing fishing recreation and to recom- mend management techniques. A creel survey was conducted on the Sam Rayburn Dam tailrace area during March, April and May. Gill net samples were taken in August and elctrofishing samples were taken during October. Other survey techniques were carried out in association with these sam- pling methods. Physicochemical characteristics and fish harvest regulations were deter- mined to be adequate at this time. The fish community was also found to be adequate. Forage fishes present included threadfin shad, gizzard shad and sunfishes. Rough fishes present were mainly smallmouth buffalo, but several others species were also present. Sport fishes included channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, spotted bass, white crappie, black crappie, hybrid striped bass and white bass. The largemouth bass populations in the mainstream river were found to be low with few legal size bass present; however, anglers fish for these species mainly in the backwaters, sloughs and oxbows. Vegetation in the mainstream river was found to not present any problems, but in the sloughs and oxbows, submerged vegetation did limit access. It is recommended that B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir be lowered 6 to 10 feet on an annual or biannual basis during January for at least two weeks to provide some control of submerged vegetation in the sloughs and oxbows. Another recommendation was for the construction of stairs and walkways to provide better and safer access to the Rayburn tailrace. Fishermen information could be improved by more advance notice of water releases from Rayburn Dam when this information is available. Significant Deviation: Gill net samples were taken during August rather than May due to time limitations of project personnel. Cost: $30,000 Prepared by: Edgar P. Seidensticker Date: February 21, 1986 District Management Supervisor Assistant D-J Coordinator Approved by: agement Coordinator --- Page 4 --- DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA The study area consists of the 25-mile segment of the Angelina River in Jasper County located between Sam Rayburn Reservoir Dam and the confluence with the Neches River at the upper end of B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir. This is in the Piney Woods Vegetational Area. Stream width in this section of the river varies from 75 to 250 feet and the water is generally clear and deep. River flow is dictated primarily by releases from Sam Rayburn Dam for power generation during March through November. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers controls these releases. Water quality in the river is good with pH running from slightly acid to neutral; turbidity usually very low due to water releases from Rayburn Dam; water temperatures generally ranging from 38°F. to 85°F.; total hardness and total alkalinity usually less than 30 parts per million; and conductivity ranging from 110 to 150 micromhos. Bank fishing access is good in the tailrace area below Rayburn Dam and two improved boat ramps are present in this section of river. Boat access is also readily available from launching sites on B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir. Fishing in the tailrace area is best during March, April and May when anglers can expect to catch crappie, white bass, hybrid striped bass, freshwater drum, channel catfish, spotted bass, largemouth bass and an occasional striped bass or walleye. Fishing in the remainder of the river segment runs from fair to good for largemouth bass, spotted bass, black and white crappie, channel, blue and flathead catfish and white bass. The primary fishing areas are located in the feeder streams, sloughs and oxbows, rather than in the mainstream areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS Water quality data were obtained from the Texas Water Commission for 1984 and 1985 for their sampling station on state highway 63, six miles downstream from Sam Rayburn Dam. Water release information was obtained from the U. S. Corps of Engineers at Sam Rayburn Dam. Aquatic vegetation and fish habitat were surveyed and evaluated during August by on-site inspection. The common names of aquatic vegetation used in this report are those given in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Mangement Manual. Gill net samples were collected during August. Collections were made using 200-foot experimental gill nets constructed of eight panels, 25 feet long, 8 feet deep of monofilament webbing with eight mesh sizes ranging in 4-inch increments from }-inch to 4-inch bar mesh. Twenty net sites were sampled overnight with one gill net (Figure 1). Electrofishing samples for largemouth bass and spotted bass were conducted during October. Four hours of electrofishing were carried out in the lower six miles of the mainstream area. No samples were taken from feeder streams, sloughs or oxbows (Figure 1). A creel survey was conducted on the Sam Rayburn Dam tailrace during March, April and May to determine fisherman success and harvest during this peak --- Page 5 --- fishing period. Either one or two creel clerks covering both access points conducted this survey (Figure 1). Creel data were collected on nine randomly selected days during the survey period. Five survey days started at randomly selected times in the morning between sunrise and 9:30 a.m. and ended at sunset. When there was no generating, the creel clerks left. On four days, the creel survey was conducted continuously from 7:30 a.m. to sunset. These data were analyzed according to methods outlined in the Texas Statewide Creel Survey Program and Lambou (1960) except that the yield values were estimated from the actual catch and not from fish being sought data. Information relating to public access and facilities, needs for fisherman information programs and harvest regulations were obtained during the process of other survey activities. The common names of fishes used in this report are those approved by _ the American Fisheries Society (Robins, 1980). All methods used in this survey are outlined in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Mangement Manual. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Physicochemical Characteristics The quarterly water samples conducted by the Texas Water Commission during 1984 and 1985 revealed no problem areas (Table 1). Dissolved oxygen (Environmental Protection Agency, 1976), alkalinity (Environmental Protection Agency, 1976), pH (Environmental Protection Agency, 1976), conductivity (McKee and Wolf, 1963) and turbidity (Buck, 1956) were well within acceptable limits. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers· water release data for Sam Rayburn Dam during 1985 indicates that regular releases began on March 7 and continued until October 25. Releases were made only a total of 17 times during January, February and December (Table 2). Water releases ranged from only two hours per day (569 day sec. ft.) to 24 hours per day (max. 9200 day sec. ft.). Fish Habitat The survey of aquatic vegetation revealed no problems at this time (Table 3). Primary vegetation observed during this survey included waterweed, pondweed, water milfoil, and coontail. Emergent vegetation on the riverbanks included black willow, buttonbush and wax myrtle. While aquatic vegetation does not pose any problems in the mainstream area, the backwaters, sloughs and oxbows have become inaccessible in recent years due to growth of sub- merged vegetation stimulated by the relatively stable water levels of B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir. Fish Community Even though these data do suggest quantitative values such as relative abundance of the different fish species, comments of a quantitative nature drawn from these data must be considered speculative. This is because it is not possible to know how accurate estimates are since confidence limits cannot be calculated. --- Page 6 --- Forage Fishes: Forage species collected in the river include threadfin shad, gizzard shad, blacktail redhorse, warmouth, redear sunfish, bluegill and longear sunfish (Table 4). These species should provide an adequate forage base for sport fishes in the river system. Sport Fishes: Gill net samples produced the following sport fishes: channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, spotted bass, white crappie, black crappie, hybrid striped bass and white bass (Table 4). October electrofishing samples in the mainstream river indicated low densities of largemouth bass and spotted bass and very few legal size bass (10 inches or greater total length) present in the main river (Figure 2). However, discussions with anglers who fish this section of the river indicate that most of the fishing for bass and crappie is done in the backwaters, sloughs and oxbows. The creel survey conducted on the Sam Rayburn Dam tailrace area indicated that hybrid striped bass (74.9+52.1 hours per acre), striped bass (69.5+50.7) and crappie (67.2 + 47.6) were the most sought after species during the period March 1 through May 31, 1985 (Table 5). During the creel interviews, it was noted that many anglers expressed a preference for a certain species, but they retained whatever species they happened to catch. Yield per acre in the tailrace was low for a tailrace fishery in my opinion (144.9 + 79.4 fish per acre and 72.3 + 45.9 pounds per acre). It was made up mainly of hybrid striped bass, crappie, freshwater drum and sunfishes (Table 5). Various standards for judging fishing quality are given in Table 6. Bennett (1971) found that most people will not fish when their catch rate does not exceed 0.1 pound of fish per hour unless some other factor is involved. All categories of fishes exceeded this minimum catch rate. The percent successful fishing parties for hybrid striped bass was 15.8 + 11.2 percent and no limits were taken. The values in Table 7 give the composition of the creel and the average weights calculated from these values. Redear sunfish, freshwater drum, bluegill, and white crappie were the most abundant species taken by anglers during the creel period. Despite heavy fishing pressure for striped bass and hybrid striped bass, only seven hybrid striped bass were recorded on the creel and no striped bass were observed. The creel data summary, given in Table 8, indicated only moderate fishing pressure on the tailrace. The catch rate totals and the percent parties successful verify the observation that tailrace anglers may be seeking a specific species, but they will take whatever species of fish they happen to catch. The catch rate for sought-after species was 0.20 + 0.08 fish weighing 0.12 + 0.04 pounds per hour and the percent success for fish being sought was 12.0 + 4.7 while the total catch rate was 0.64 + 0.34 fish weigh- ing 0.27 + 0.09 pounds per hour and the percent success for all anglers was 34.5 + 9.5. Rough Fishes: Smallmouth buffalo was the most abundant rough fish taken in gill nets (Table 4). Other rough fishes included spotted gar, longnose gar, river carpsucker and freshwater drum. Freshwater drum contributed a significant amount to the Sam Rayburn Dam tailrace fishery (Table 5). Rough fishes were not deemed to present a serious problem to the Angelina River fishery. --- Page 7 --- Public Access and Facilities Public access and facilities are adequate on this section or river. Access to the tailrace could be improved by the addition of concrete steps down to the water and possibly a concrete walkway along the riprap above the high water level. This would allow easier access particularly for senior citizens who might have difficulty walking on the riprap or down the steep hillsides. Fisherman Information The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers could provide advance notice of water releases from Rayburn Dam when this information is available. The present practice of announcing the release schedule on a daily basis on the local radio station is good for local anglers, but does not help people living outside the Jasper area. Fish Harvest Regulations All regulations are adequate at this time. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Physicochemical Characteristics No action is necessary. B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir should be lowered 6 to 10 feet on an annual or biannual basis during January for at least two weeks to provide some control of submerged vegetation in the backwaters, sloughs and oxbows along the Angelina River and increase the accessibility of these areas to anglers. Fish Community No action is necessary. Public Access and Facilities Access to the Sam Rayburn Dam tailrace could be improved dramatically by the addition of concrete steps from the parking area to the river and con- crete walkways above the high water level running along the riprap. This would provide better and safer access to the tailrace for all anglers. Fisherman Information When water release schedules are known in advance, the Corps of Engineers should make this information available to area newspapers and radio stations. Fish Harvest Regulations No action is necessary. --- Page 8 --- REFERENCES CITED Bennett, G.W. 1971. Fishing pressure versus yield. Pages 264-266 in G.W. Bennett, Management of Lakes and Ponds, 2nd ed. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. New York. Buck, D-H. 1956. Effect of turbidity on fish and fishing. Oklahoma Fish. Res. Lab. Rept. 56. 62 pp. Environmental Protection Agency. 1977. Quality Criteria for Water. Office of Water and Hazardous Materials, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. 256 pp. Lambou, V.W. 1966. Recommended method of reporting creel survey data for reservoirs. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Bull. 4. 40 pp. McKee, J.E., and H.W. Wolf, eds. 1963. Water quality criteria, 2nd ed. State of California State Water Quality Control Board Publ. No. 3-A, Sacramento, California. 548 pp. Robins, C.R., Chairman. 1980. A list of common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. Am. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. No. 12. --- Page 9 --- Sam Rayburn Reservoir cot Cc N ne ty N T N . hi Ass C - Creel survey site · Ge N N - Gill net site o . . . E - Electrofishing site < W - Water sample site <a ·_ a = & < © % & N %, N Sa N E N F. M 2799 Jasper E N 1 n/ N N B.A. Steinhagen Figure 1. Location of sample sites, Angelina River, Texas, 1985. --- Page 10 --- Number Collected Lb 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011 Inch Group 12 S - spotted bass | - largemouth bass 13 14 15 16 17 Figure 2. Length-frequency statistics for largemouth bass and_spotted ss = from electrofishing samples on the River, Texas, --- Page 11 --- Table 1. Results of water quality analyses from the Angelina River (Texas Water Commission statewide monitoring network), Texas, March, 1984 to March, 1985. nn Sample date 3-15-84 6-12-84 9-12-84 12-13-84 3-13-85 Depth (ft.) 1 1 1 1 1 Temperature (°C.) 14.0 24.9 26.2 15.5 12.4 Stream flow (cfs) 8600 3205 3098 0 4336 Turbidity (In. Secchi) - 64 42 24 75 Conducitivity (micromhos) 125 159 145 160 200 Dissolved oxygem (ppm) 9.1 6.8 5.4 9.3 10.5 pH 6.4 6.3 6.0 7.3 18 Total alkalinity (ppm) 16 15 20 12 --- Page 12 --- Table 2. Summary of water release data from Sam Rayburn Dam, 1985. Number of days Average release Range of releases Month with releases (Day sec. ft.) (Day sec. ft.) a January 1 2027 2027 February 10 22707 989 - 3322 March 25 3581 1932 - 5286 April 24 6950 569 - 9200 May 31 3579 1980 - 4674 June 27 2825 2017 - 4500 July 26 3038 1756 - 4960 August 29 2990 1550 - 4945 September 23 3083 2084 - 3966 October 19 3156 644 - 4513 November 6 3129 3067 -· 3250 December 0 0 0 --- Page 13 --- Table 3. Summary of aquatic vegetation survey, Angelina River, Texas, 1985. Estimated area Common name occupied (acre) Problematic Black willow i No Buttonbush t No Wax myrtle t No Narrowleaf cattail 10 No Smartweed 3 No Spikerush t No Sedge 5 No Duck potato t No Waterweed 40 No Water milfoil 10 No Pondweed 50 No Coontail 10 No Water hyacinth t No t = trace --- Page 14 --- Table 4. Gill net sampling statistics, twenty net-nights, Angelina River, Texas, 1985. Total Weight per Mean Total Number per weight 200 ft. of net weight Species number 200 ft. of net (1b.) (1b.) (1b.) Spotted gar 9 0.45 18.4 0.92 2.04 Longnose gar 5 4.00 28.9 1.45 5.78 Threadfin shad 32 6.25 0.4 0.02 0.01 Gizzard shad 38 1.90 0.61 Bigmouth buffalo 1 0.05 0.90 1.70 Smallmouth buffalo 85 4.25 380.8 19.4 4.48 River carpsucker 9 0.45 14.7 0.74 1.63 Blacktail redhorse 4 0.02 0.06 0.30 Channel catfish* 17 0.85 14.9 0.75 0.88 Blue catfish* 8 0.04 13.3 0.67 1.66 Yellow bullhead 1 0.05 0.5 0.03 0.50 Flathead 2 0.01 13.6 0.68 6.80 Pirate perch 1 0.05 t t 0.02 White bass* 1 0.05 0.6 0.03 0.57 Hybrid striped bass* 3 0.15 8.4 0.45 297 Spotted bass* 3 0.15 1.4 0.07 0.47 Largemouth bass* 6 0.03 6.0 0.30 0.05 Warmouth 1 0.05 0.1 0.01 0.10 Redear sunfish* 1 0.05 0.1 0.01 0.10 Bluegill* 4 0.02 0.3 0.02 0.08 Longear sunfish* 3 0.15 0.1 0.01 0:03 White crappie* 3 0.15 1.0 0.05 0.33 Black crappie* 2 0.01 0.03 0425 Freshwater drum 13 0.65 11.5 0.58 0.04 Total 252 12.60 530.5 26.53 Game Fish* 54 2.70 60.3 3.02 Rough Fish 198 9.90 470.2 23.51 t trace --- Page 15 --- Table 5. Creel yield and fishing pressure for selected sought-after categories of fishes and the total of all sought-after fishes for Sam Rayburn tailrace, Angelina River, Texas, 3-1-85 to 5-31-85.%* Yield per acre Hours of fishing Category Number Pounds per acre Total 144.9 + 79.4 72.3 + 45.9 602.8 + 325.2 Catfishes 6.6 + 6.9 6.32 7.5 40.4 + 39.5 Striped-white bass hybrid 6.8 + 7.2 33.8 + 37.1 74.9 & 52.1 Striped bass 0.0 0.0 69.5 + 50.7 Crappie 68.5 + 54.1 30.9 + 23.7 67.2 + 47.6 Freshwater drum 16.3 + 17.6 + 2259 Sunfishes 54.1 + 113.2 211. + 23.4 43.6 + 45.5 * 80 percent confidence intervals --- Page 16 --- Og » OT*°O 79°S 6°ST + 6·°O ·S°O + + ¥L°O 4 F 6°8 + 0 ¥ etddea £0°O * 06'T O°8 + E°CE 00°O + cO°O + 87°O 80°O + HET? sseq 97°0O + 06°T 0°0 + B°ST £0°O + GE°S + 40°O + 60°0 + 09°C 0°0 + 1°27 72°0 + 89°0 60°0 + + + 20°2 + 91°O + Sutysty Bupyozeo [njssaoons (sqT) anoy jeg quads ied spunog iad aut} uvay JO ¥'S8-TE-G 02 Te} Weg [[e JO pue saysTy Jo *9 aeTqey --- Page 17 --- Table 7. Composition of the creel for Sam Rayburn tailrace, Angelina River, Texas, 3-1-85 to 5-31-85. Weight Percent Average Species Number Percent (lbs.) weight weight Smallmouth buffalo 1 3.50 3.50 Blue catfish 1 3 0.50 0.3 0.50 Channel catfish 4 1.3 2.63 1.7 0.66 Flathead catfish 1 0.3 2.00 1.3 2.00 White bass 9 2.8 335 0.59 Striped-white 7 262 34.80 22.7 4.97 bass hybrid Green sunfish 2 0.6 0.31 0.2 0.16 Warmouth 4 led 0.62 0.4 0.16 Bluegill 64 20.2 10.38 6.8 0.16 Dollar sunfish 1 0.3 0.12 0.1 0.12 Longear sunfish 19 6.0 2.94 1.9 0.15 Redear sunfish 81 25.6 21.14 13.8 0.26 Spotted bass 1 0.3 0.25 0.2 0.25 Largemouth bass 2 0.6 0.51 0.3 0.26 White crappie 50 15.8 22.43 14.6 0.45 Black crappie 2 0.6 1.06 0.7 0.53 _ Freshwater drum 68 21.45 44.89 29.2 0.66 Total 317 100.0 153.439 100.0 --- Page 18 --- Table 8. Creel summary from Sam Rayburn tailrace, Angelina River, Texas, 3-1-85 to 5-31-85. Pressure: Man-hours 8,439 + 4,553 Man-hours per acre 602.8 + 325.2 Man-days fishing + 1,746 Harvest Total: Fish 5,893 + 100+Z Pounds 2,234 + 1,414 Fish per acre 385.1 + 100+% Pounds per acre 159.6 + 101.0 Catch Rate Total: Total fish per hour 0.64 + 0.34 Total pounds per hour 0.27 + 0.09 Fish sought per hour 0.20 + 0.08 Pounds sought per hour 0.12 + 0.04 Success: Percent successful 34.5 + 9.5 Percent success for fish being sought 12.0 + 4.7 --- Page 19 --- II. 5-Year Management Plan for lower Angelina River 1986-1990 River Segment Description The study area consists of the 25-mile segment of the Angelina River in Jasper County located between Sam Rayburn Reservoir Dam and the confluence with the Neches River at the upper end of B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir. Stream width in this section of the river varies from 75 to 250 feet and the water is generally clear and deep. River flow is dictated primarily by releases from Sam Rayburn Dam for power gen- eration during March through November. Water quality in the river is good with pH running from slightly acid to neutral; turbidity usually very low due to water releases from Rayburn Dam; water temperatures generally ranging from 38°F to 85°F.; total hardness and total alkalinity usually less than 30 parts per million; and conductivity ranging from 110 to 150 micromhos. Bank fishing access is good in the tailrace area below Rayburn Dam and two improved boat ramps are present in this section of river. Boat access is also readily available from launching sites on B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir. Fishing in the tailrace area is best during March, April and May when anglers can expect to catch crappie, white bass, hybrid striped bass, freshwater drum channel catfish, spotted bass, largemouth bass and an occasional striped bass or walleye. Fishing in the remainder of the river segment runs from fair to good for largemouth bass, spotted bass, black and white crappie, channel, blue and flathead catfish and white bass. The primary fishing areas are located in the feeder streams, sloughs and oxbows, rather than in the mainstream areas. Management Recommendations: A. Physicochemical Characteristics: None recommended. B. Fish Habitat: Water Level Manipulation: Year Activity Man-days 1986-1990 Annual of biannual lowering of B. A. Steinhagen Rservoir during January for vegetation control 4 Fee C. Fish Community: None recommended. --- Page 20 --- III. Public Access and Facilities: Year Activity Man-days 1986 Plan and coordinate development of stairs and walkways in tailrace area. 20 1987-88 Construct stairs and walkways in tailrace area. 10 E. Fisherman Information: Encourage the Corps of Engineers to provide water release information to area newspapers and radio stations as far in advance as possible. F. Fish Harvest Regulations: None recommended.