Warmwater Stream Committee
Southern Division, American Fisheries Society
Roundtable Discussion - June 25, 2002
Beaver Bend Resort Park - Broken Bow, Oklahoma
 

Al Surmont - Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources - river run walleye in southeast KY is a unique genotype. We are restocking to restore the fishery. Poor fry survival in ponds. We are in the 5th year of a 5-year cycle sampling streams. Sampling all the 3rd order streams in all watersheds — a cooperative effort with universities.

Dennis Riecke - Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks - legislation passed specifically stating that it is illegal to ride ATV’s in streams. Posters and brochures developed to educate the public about the destruction such activity causes to stream habitat. Voluntary scenic streams program is slowly expanding when the landowners do not view it as the first step in a government plan to control actions on their land. Conducting a survey of channel catfish populations in 12 streams to determine size structure, condition factors, CPUE in slat baskets, hoop nets and trotlines. Standard sampling guidelines being revised to include stream sampling techniques.

Paul Balkenbush - Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation - No water or minimum flow allocated for trout fishery in northeast OK. ODWC determining what flow is needed and what to request funds for reallocation study. Generally, we have dissolved oxygen problems in tailwaters due to anoxic releases - had several fish kills. Corps did baffling to provide adequate (4-9 mg/l) dissolved oxygen.

James Vincent - Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation - Restrictions on poultry industry phosphorus levels in the Illinois R. Industries in Arkansas have to comply with Oklahoma water quality standards. EPA has stated there will be nutrient levels established for each state. Push to stock reservoir strain smallmouth into lakes, looking at genetics of reservoir vs. Neosho strain of smallmouth bass. 80% introgression (from lower lake samples) into native strain upstream from reservoirs. Have Ouachita strain smallmouth bass also in southeast OK. Creel survey and economic impact of trout fisheries to supply info for water reallocation study.

David Sager - Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife - 4 x 4's & ATV’s riding in streams. ½ way up river bank is public property. Problem is in Nueces R., no clear regulatory authority, destruction of habitat, some sampling (limited) shows some indication of damage to fish populations. Anticipate legislative action this session. Quandary. Water quality issues in TX. EPA said we need to develop specific criteria for nutrients, scoping studies and better define biological criteria, had been using IBI’s as one tool, developed regional IBI’s.

Water allocation - 2 major bills directing regional water planning and then State Water Plan. Water users resurrected all water developments that had been killed - 17 projects costing 17 billion - no mitigation, no environmental impact. 2nd bill - more direction to consider impacts. Texas Natural Resources Commission & Texas Water Development Board to work with TX Dept. of Parks & Wildlife on these difficult negotiations. Directive to develop instream flow standards for all river, need 3 years data.

John Copeland - Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries - The New River has a unique strain of walleye so we discontinued stocking other walleye strains in the area in 1996. Putting a 20" minimum length limit on to create a trophy walleye fishery. Walleye up to 14 pounds. Creel survey in New River on entire length (160 miles). Smallmouth bass sampling since Fall 1996. Proposed change in smallmouth bass length limit to 14-20" slot and 1 fish/day > 20" from 14" minimum. Used FAST model to predict a doubling of harvest. Statewide stream sampling 1997-1999, 200 sites, 2nd to 6th order streams. Restarted project with CARA funding and changed focus to special concern species.

Ed Scott - Tennessee Valley Authority - reservoir operations study required by the public for TN river reservoirs. Lake users want higher lake levels until Labor Day rather than end of July. Water quality suffers if lake is held higher longer. Lake sturgeon introduction - 4th year - introduced into the French Broad River. EIS on Nolichucky River - flow out of TN & NC, mica mined for years, sand sluiced into river, reservoir filled up with sand. TN Chapter AFS did fish charts for distribution to riparian landowners, river advocacy groups and “Kids in the Creek”. 3rd creek, urban stream in Knoxville, high school students sampled stream — few fish, oil sheen came on in last year — TDEC involved, detected petroleum seep into bedrock to spring to creek.

Ellen Tejan -TX Nature Conservancy- biggest problem is data gaps. Oasis Ranch reserve – Independence Creek on Pecos River — endangered species of fish & birds. Trying to reserve connectivity between Carolina Springs and reservoir. Partner is Robert McCurdy who holds a lifetime hunting lease (sold by TNC) he want sot help fund effort. Rio Grande Darter found in reservoir.