Overview of Harbor Deepening Impacts and Striped Bass Population Recovery in the Savannah River

Thomas G. Meronek
Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Richmond Hill, Georgia

The impacts of Savannah Harbor deepening on the imperiled Savannah River population of striped bass is presently being studied by a multiple agency group titled the Stakeholders Evaluation Group. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources continues to stock 40,000 six to eight inch striped bass in the Savannah River each year. Additionally, annual population monitoring is conducted in the lower Savannah River estuary. The Savannah River does not yet contain a population of adult striped bass capable of sustaining the population at historic levels. Although, CPUE of striped bass greater than 9.0 kg in recent surveys has been higher on average (0.22 fish/hr) than it has been since 1986 (0.18 fish/hr), CPUE of fish greater than 9.0 kg remains lower than the period from 1978 to 1981 when it averaged 1.01 fish/hr. from January 21, 1998 to April 13, 1998.