Savannah River Striped Bass and 10 Years of Recovery Effort: Where Are We Now?

Thomas R. Reinert*, Ted Will
Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, D.B. Warnell School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-2152, Phone: 706-542-5260, Fax: 706-542-8356 email: treinert@uga.edu, twill@smokey.forestry.uga.edu

Cecil A. Jennings
United States Geologic Survey - Biological Resources Division, Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, D.B. Warnell School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-2152 Phone: 706-542-5260, Fax: 706-542-8356, jennings@smokey.forestry.uga.edu

The Savannah River striped bass population suffered a major population decline in the 1980's. Increased salinity in spawning and nursery grounds and accelerated transport of eggs and larvae to areas of toxic salinity have been identified as the causative agents. Mitigative efforts began in 1990 with the institution of a state-sponsored annual stocking program, removal of a tidal gate, and filling of a diversion canal (1991). The alterations seem to have been successful as salinity and flow patterns are similar to pre-disturbance levels, and traditional spawning may areas may now support spawning and recruitment. The stocking program also seems to have been successful; catch-per-unit-effort of adult striped bass has steadily increased over the past several years. However, patterns of distribution and abundance of striped bass eggs and larvae have not recovered to historic levels. Traditionally, spawning was centered in the Back River, within the confines of the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge; however, the majority of eggs now are found in the channelized, industry-heavy Front River. Egg abundances continue to be an order of magnitude lower than they were prior to habitat degradation, although results from 1999 indicate a promising trend.