Guidelines For Eating Fish From Georgia Waters 2010 Update Georgia Department of Natural Resources 2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, S.E., Suite 1252 Atlanta, Georgia 30334-9000 For more information on fish consumption in Georgia, contact the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Environmental Protection Division 2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, S.E., Suite 1152 Atlanta, GA 30334-9000 (404) 656-4713 or (706) 369-6376 Wildlife Resources Division 2070 U.S. Hwy. 278, S.E. Social Circle, GA 30025 (770) 918-6406 Coastal Resources Division One Conservation Way Brunswick, Ga. 31520 (912) 264-7218 Check the DNR Web Site at: http://www.gadnr.org For this booklet: Go to Environmental Protection Division at www.gaepd.org, choose publications, then fish consumption guidelines. For the current Georgia 2008-2009 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations, Click on Wildlife Resources Division. Click on Fishing. Choose Fishing Regulations. Or, go to http://www.gofishgeorgia.com For more information on Coastal Fisheries and 2007-2008 Regulations, Click on Coastal Resources Division, or go to http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us For information on Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) source reduction, reuse options, proper disposal or recycling, go to Georgia Department of Community Affairs at http://www.dca.state.ga.us. Call the DNR Toll Free Tip Line at 1-800-241-4113 to report fish kills, spills, sewer overflows, dumping or poaching (24 hours a day, seven days a week). Also, report Poaching, via e-mail using Turninpoachers@dnr.state.ga.us Check USEPA and USFDA for Federal Guidance on Fish Consumption USEPA: http://www.epa.gov/ost/fishadvice USFDA: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/seafood.1html Image Credits: Covers: Duane Raver Art Collection, courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Black Crappie on Front Cover and Flathead Catfish on Back Cover. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Line Drawings by Robert Savannah (courtesy of the USFWS): Snowy Egret (p. 4); Fisherman (p. 5); Yellow Bullhead (p. 7); Raccoon (p. 8). Diagram of Fish Fat Areas (p. 10): Redrawn by Georgia EPD from other sources. - ii - Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 4 ARE GEORGIA'S FISH SAFE TO EAT?...................................................... 5 HOW DO FISH BECOME CONTAMINATED?........................................... 6 BENEFITS OF EATING FISH ........................................................................ 7 RISKS OF CONTAMINATED FISH .............................................................. 7 SPECIAL NOTICE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN, NURSING MOTHERS AND CHILDREN .............................................................................................. 8 WAYS TO REDUCE RISK .............................................................................. 9 USING THESE GUIDELINES....................................................................... 10 FISH CONSUMPTION GUIDELINES......................................................... 12 GEORGIA PUBLIC LAKES 500 ACRES OR LARGER ...................................... 12 GEORGIA PUBLIC LAKES AND PONDS LESS THAN 500 ACRES.................... 20 GEORGIA FRESHWATER RIVERS AND CREEKS.............................................. 27 GEORGIA ESTUARINE SYSTEMS ................................................................... 52 SPECIAL LISTINGS.......................................................................................... 55 SPECIAL MERCURY GUIDANCE ON KING MACKEREL................................. 56 INDEX .............................................................................................................. 57 iii Introduction Fishing is a popular pastime in Georgia. Whether you go alone to relax and enjoy nature, with your friends to enjoy camaraderie and "fish tales" or with your family to pass on a sport you learned as a child, fishing is a fun and rewarding sport enjoyed by many people. Not only does fishing give people an excuse to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, but it can also put a healthy, satisfying meal on the table. Fish are low in saturated fat, high in protein, and can have substantial health benefits when eaten in place of other high-fat foods. The quality of sport fish caught in Georgia is very good; however, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, chlordane, DDT residues (DDT/DDE/DDD), toxaphene (and related compounds), and dieldrin have been found in some fish. In most cases, the levels of these chemicals are low. However, to help ensure the good health of Georgians, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has developed guidelines for how often certain species of fish can be safely eaten. These guidelines are based on the best scientific information and procedures available. As more advanced procedures are developed, these guidelines may change. It is important to keep in mind that the consumption recommendations are based on health-risk calculations for someone eating fish with similar contamination over a period of 30 years or more. These guidelines are not intended to discourage people from eating fish, but should be used as a guide for choosing which type (species) and size of fish to eat from Georgia waters. The guidelines are non-binding recommendations EPD determines based on the body of water a fish comes from, the species of fish and the amount of fish a person consumes. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide detailed information in an understandable format for people who eat fish. Waters listed in the fish consumption guidelines are not necessarily assessed as impaired using USEPA guidelines for Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. The river basin where tested sites are located has been identified in the tables. The fourteen major river basins in Georgia are shown on the map provided, preceding the consumption guidance tables. The listings for lakes have been divided into those with a surface area of 500 acres or more, and small lakes and ponds less than 500 acres in size. Georgia rivers have also been divided into freshwater rivers and creeks, and estuarine systems. An index is provided at the back of the booklet for quick page reference to lake, river and estuarine locations that have been tested. 4 Are Georgia's Fish Safe to Eat? Yes. The quality of fish in Georgia is good. Fish and seafood are nutritious and can play a role in maintaining a healthy well-balanced diet. This booklet provides you with the guidance and recommendations to use in eating fish in a healthy and informed manner. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has one of the most progressive fish testing programs in the southeast. A variety of different fish species were tested for 43 separate contaminants, including metals, organic chemicals and pesticides. Many of these contaminants did not appear in any fish. However, two contaminants, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and mercury, were frequently detected in significant amounts in a few species from some bodies of water in Georgia. Four additional contaminants, chlordane, DDT residues (DDT/DDE/DDD), toxaphene-like compounds, and dieldrin were also detected infrequently. This publication provides you with information on those six contaminants: PCBs, mercury, chlordane, DDT/DDE/DDD, toxaphene and dieldrin. In some areas, fish are contaminated with low concentrations of PCBs. It is now illegal to manufacture PCBs; however, in the past, these synthetic oils were used regularly as fluids for electrical transformers, cutting oils, and carbonless paper. Although they were banned in 1976, they do not break down easily and remain in aquatic sediments for years. Over time, levels of PCBs are decreasing. Mercury is a naturally occurring metal that does not break down as it cycles between land, water, and air. As mercury cycles through the environment it is absorbed and ingested by plants and animals. Nearly all of the mercury found in fish flesh is an organic form, called methylmercury. Most of the mercury absorbed or ingested will be returned to the environment but some will remain in the plant and animal tissues. It is not known where the mercury in Georgia's fish originated. Mercury may be present in fish because of the mercury content of soils and rocks in the southeast, from municipal and industrial sources, or from fossil fuel use. Scientific evidence is growing that mercury is transported long distances through the upper atmosphere, making its control a global environmental issue. Although mercury has always been present, scientific research shows that the amount of mercury cycling through the environment has increased significantly following the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in the late 1800s. Chlordane is a man-made pesticide used in the U.S. from the late 1940s to the early 1980s. Historically, chlordane was used as an agricultural pesticide, but in 1978 it was restricted to termite control use only. It is now banned for all uses. Chlordane is persistent in the environment and may remain in aquatic sediments for years. 5 Fish at only one site (Albany By-Pass Pond, page 18), had enough DDE/DDD residues to recommend a restriction in consumption. The DDE/DDD contaminants are chemical breakdown products of the pesticide DDT. DDT was first synthesized in 1874 and its insecticidal properties were discovered in 1939. In the United States DDT was used extensively until 1969. The U.S. production of DDT was discontinued in 1969. Residues of DDE and DDD are persistent and break down slowly in the environment. Striped mullet at only one site (Casey Canal, page 27), had enough dieldrin to recommend a restriction in consumption. Dieldrin is another chlorinated pesticide like chlordane and DDT, and has been restricted from use in the United States. It was used to control corn and citrus pests, termites, and in moth proofing. Dieldrin is persistent in the environment because of the slow breakdown rate. Toxaphene was a chlorinated camphene pesticide used extensively on cotton. In 1982 registration for all uses were cancelled, and a ban on all uses went into effect in 1990. One estuarine area (Terry and Dupree Creeks, and the Back River, page 52), adjacent to a site where toxaphene was once manufactured has remaining residues of toxaphene-like compounds present in some fish. Toxaphene is also persistent in the environment. Like PCBs, the chlorinated pesticides do not break down easily and remain in aquatic sediments for years. These organic contaminants tend to concentrate in fat and fatty tissues of fish such as the liver and other organs. Over time levels of PCBs and chlorinated pesticides are decreasing. Some fish in the Savannah River below Augusta contain the radioactive elements cesium-137 and strontium-90. Exposure to large amounts of these elements may increase the risk of developing cancer. How Do Fish Become Contaminated? Contaminants get into water as a result of storm water runoff, industrial and municipal discharges, agricultural practices, nonpoint source pollution and other factors. When it rains, chemicals from the land and in the air are washed into the water. Contaminants are carried downstream by rivers and creeks into lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries. Contaminants can get into fish in a variety of ways. Fish absorb PCBs, chlordane and other pesticides from water, suspended sediments, or their food. These organic chemicals concentrate in the fat of fish tissue and in fatty fish such as carp and catfish. Cleaning and cooking a fish to remove fat will lower the amount of PCBs, chlordane or other pesticides in a fish meal. Larger, older fish and fish which eat other fish may accumulate more contaminants than smaller, younger fish. Contaminants are often not measured in panfish such as crappie and bluegill 6 because their food sources are lower on the food chain and bioaccumulate less. Once in the water, mercury is converted to methylmercury by bacteria and other processes. Fish absorb methylmercury from their food and from water as it passes over their gills. Mercury is bound to proteins in fish tissue, including muscle. Benefits of Eating Fish Fish has long been recognized as a nutritious "protein food". It's nutritional value as a protein source is greater than that for beef, pork, chicken or milk. Additionally, the types and amounts of dietary fats are generally more "heart healthy" than the fats found in other protein foods. Fish is also an important source of the fatty acids that are critical for the development of the brain and nervous system. Fish is an excellent source of several vitamins, and also contributes appreciable amounts of dietary calcium, iron and zinc. These minerals are essential nutrients that tend to be low in people's diets. Many studies suggest that eating fish regularly may help protect against heart and inflammatory diseases. These guidelines are based on a range in fish meal size from 4 to 8 ounces (1/4 to 1/2 pound). Where the guidelines recommend only 1 meal per week or month, you may prefer to have two smaller meals over that period. Risks of Contaminated Fish These guidelines were designed to protect you from experiencing health problems associated with eating contaminated fish. The consumption advice provided in this booklet is developed in a conservative manner. It is intended to protect both children and adults from cancer and the other potential toxic effects of these chemicals. PCBs, methylmercury, chlordane, DDT/DDE/DDD, toxaphene and dieldrin build up in your body over time. It may take months or years of regularly eating contaminated fish to accumulate levels that would affect your health. Keep in mind that these guidelines are based on eating fish with similar contamination over a period of 30 years or more. Current statistics indicate that cancer will affect about one in every four people nationally, primarily due to smoking, diet and hereditary risk factors. If you follow Georgia's consumption guidelines, the contaminants in the fish you eat may not increase your cancer risk at all. At worst, using the USEPA estimates of contaminant potency, your cancer risk from fish consumption should be less than 1 in 10,000. PCBs, chlordane, DDT/DDD/DDE, toxaphene and dieldrin can cause cancer in laboratory animals exposed to large amounts, and may cause cancer in humans. 7 Effects other than cancer from these chemicals may include developmental problems in children whose mothers were exposed to them before or during pregnancy. Studies of people who have been exposed to very large quantities of these chemicals (pesticide workers, etc.), have indicated a relationship between high exposures and health effects on the nervous system, digestive system, and the immune system. Exposure to methylmercury has not been linked to cancer. Methylmercury is a concern because of it's potential to damage the nervous system, especially in the developing fetus and young child. This could affect your baby's brain and how your baby learns, moves, and behaves. Special Notice for Pregnant Women, Nursing Mothers and Children If you are pregnant or a nursing mother, or plan to become pregnant soon, you and children under 6 years of age are sensitive to the effects of contaminants such as mercury. DNR's guidelines are designed to be protective for these sensitive groups. In early 2001 the USEPA issued a national advisory recommending that these sensitive groups limit consumption of all freshwater fish to one meal per week due to mercury. People may wish to follow USEPA's recommendation, especially in areas where DNR has not tested fish and offered detailed guidelines. For most other healthy adults, DNR's recommendations may actually be overly conservative. 8 Ways to Reduce Risk Keep smaller fish for eating. Generally, larger, older fish may be more contaminated than younger, smaller fish. You can minimize your health risk by eating smaller fish (within legal size limits) and releasing the larger fish. Vary the kinds of fish you eat. Contaminants build up in large predators and bottom-feeding fish, like bass and catfish, more rapidly than in other species. By substituting a few meals of panfish, such as bream (e.g. bluegill, redear), and crappie, you can reduce your risk. Eat smaller meals when you eat big fish and eat them less often. If you catch a big fish, freeze part of the catch (mark container or wrapping with species and location), and space the meals from this fish over a period of time. Clean and cook your fish properly. How you clean and cook your fish can reduce the level of contaminants by as much as half in some fish. Some chemicals have a tendency to concentrate in the fatty tissues of fish. By removing the fish's skin and trimming fillets according to the following diagram, you can reduce the level of chemicals substantially. Mercury is bound to the meat of the fish, so these precautions will not help reduce this contaminant. Remove the skin from fillets or steaks. The internal organs (intestines, liver, roe, and so forth), and skin are often high in fat and contaminants. Trim off the fatty areas shown in black on the drawing. These include the belly fat, side or body fat, and the flesh along the top of the back. Careful trimming can reduce some contaminants by 25 to 50%. Cook fish so fat drips away. Broil, bake or grill fish and do not use the drippings. Deep-fat frying removes some contaminants, but you should discard and not reuse the oil for cooking. Pan frying removes few, if any, contaminants. 9 Using These Guidelines Check the following pages (or Index), for the area where you fish. The lakes and rivers on the list are arranged in alphabetical order. If your fish or fishing location is NOT in this booklet, follow the suggestions in Ways to Reduce Risk. If your fish or fishing location is in the booklet, it does not necessarily mean that there are contaminants present, but only that the fish have been tested. Meal advice will depend on what contaminant(s) were found and how much was found in different species and sizes of fish. Follow these instructions carefully. The current Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations should be consulted for the legal sizes and creel limits for different species in a water body. Some legal size limit information is provided in the following tables. The regulations also provide detailed information on how to measure fish length, other seafood size measures, and color pictures for identification. Measure fish from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail fin. In the tables find your lake or river and the species and size of fish you caught. If there is no meal frequency listed for a particular size fish, that size has not been tested or is illegal to keep. For rivers, the size that was tested was the common creel size for that species. Listed below are the four different recommended meal frequencies that are possible for different species and sizes of fish. no restriction 1 meal per week 1 meal per month do not eat For the purposes of these guidelines, one meal is assumed to range from 1/4 to 1/2 pound of fish (4-8 ounces) for a 150 pound person. Subtract or add 1 ounce of fish to the range for every 20 pounds of body weight. For example, one meal is assumed to be 3 - 7 ounces for a 130 pound person and 5 - 9 ounces for a 170 pound person. 10 RIVER BASINS OF GEORGIA 1. Chattahoochee River Basin 2. Flint River Basin 3. Coosa River Basin 4. Tallapoosa River Basin 5. Tennessee River Basin 6. Savannah River Basin 7. Ogeechee River Basin 8. Ochlockonee River Basin 9. Suwannee River Basin 10. Satilla River Basin 11. St. Marys River Basin 12. Oconee River Basin 13. Ocmulgee River Basin 14. Altamaha River Basin 11 Fish Consumption Guidelines The tables for public lakes have been separated into two categories based on size. The first set of lakes are those with a surface area of 500 or more acres. The second listing of public lakes includes those having less than 500 acres in surface area. These include Georgia DNR Public Fishing Areas (PFAs) and State Parks with small lakes and ponds, and municipal or other public fishing impoundments. These guidelines are based on a range in fish meal size from 4 to 8 ounces (1/4 to 1/2 pound). Where the guidelines recommend only 1 meal per week or month, you may prefer to have two smaller meals over that period. GEORGIA PUBLIC LAKES 500 ACRES OR LARGER Lake Allatoona Coosa River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Black Crappie No Restrictions Carp No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions White Bass No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Spotted Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Golden Redhorse No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Hybrid Bass 1 meal/week Mercury Lake Andrews Species Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Spotted Sucker Less than 12" 12" - 16" 1 meal/week Chattahoochee River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions Banks Lake Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions 12 Suwannee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Mercury Bear Creek Reservoir Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass* 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Sunfish * No Restrictions * Largemouth Bass 16-22 inches are illegal to keep. ** Bluegill, Redear and Redbreast Sunfish were tested Lake Blackshear Flint River Basin Species Less than 12" 12"- 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass * 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury *Only Largemouth Bass 14 inches and longer may be legally retained. Black Shoals Lake Ocmulgee River Basin (Renamed Randy Poynter Lake in 2003: originally named Big Haynes Reservoir) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Black Crappie 1 meal/week Mercury Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Lake Blue Ridge Tennessee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury White Bass 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury * Lake Blue Ridge has no minimum size on Largemouth Bass 13 Lake Burton Savannah River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass* No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury White Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Spotted Bass 1 meal/week Mercury Walleye 1 meal/week Mercury * Lake Burton has no minimum size on Largemouth Bass Carters Lake Coosa River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Spotted Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Walleye No Restrictions No Restrictions Hybrid Bass No Restrictions Lake Chatuge Species Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Spotted Bass Tennessee River Basin Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond) Savannah River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions White Perch No Restrictions Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Hybrid Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Striped Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Spotted Sucker No Restrictions 14 Goat Rock Lake Chattahoochee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury White Bass 1 meal/month 1 meal/month PCBs Hybrid Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/month 1 meal/month PCBs Spotted Sucker No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions Channel Catfish 1 meal/week 1 meal/month PCBs Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Lake Harding (Bartletts Ferry) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Channel Catfish 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Black Crappie No Restrictions 1 meal/week Hybrid Bass Striped Bass Spotted Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week Chattahoochee River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/week PCBs, Mercury 1 meal/week PCBs PCBs 1 meal/week PCBs 1 meal/week PCBs, Mercury Mercury Lake Hartwell: Tugaloo Arm Savannah River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/month Mercury Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions Hybrid/Striped Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/month Do Not Eat PCBs Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/month PCBs Carp 1 meal/week Mercury Walleye 1 meal/week Mercury Lake Hartwell: Main Body, D.S. Andersonville IS. Georgia/South Carolina Listing Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month 1 meal/month PCBs Hybrid & Striped Bass Do Not Eat Do Not Eat Do Not Eat PCBs Channel Catfish 1 meal/month 1 meal/month 1 meal/month PCBs Main Body.Guidance issued with South Carolina DHEC (Ph.: 1-888-849-7241) High Falls Lake Ocmulgee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Hybrid Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions Jackson Lake Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions Redear Sunfish No Restrictions No Restrictions White Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week PCBs Lake Juliette Ocmulgee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Bullhead species No Restrictions * Lake Juliette has no minimum size on Largemouth Bass 16 15 Lake Sydney Lanier Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Striped Bass No Restrictions Spotted Bass * 1 meal/week * Largemouth Bass * 1 meal/week * White Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Common Carp Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions Chattahoochee River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Mercury Lake Nottely Species Largemouth Bass Striped Bass Channel Catfish Black Crappie Tennessee River Basin Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Lake Oconee Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Hybrid Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions White Catfish No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions Lake Oliver Species Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Hybrid Bass Bluegill Sunfish Redear Sunfish Less than 12" 12" - 16 " 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Chattahoochee River Basin Over 16 " Chemical 1 meal/week PCBs, Mercury 1 meal/month PCBs 17 Lake Rabun Species Largemouth Bass White Catfish Bluegill Sunfish Walleye Savannah River Basin Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions Lake Richard B. Russell Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions White Perch No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Bullhead No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Over 16 " Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Lake Seminole Chattahoochee/Flint River Basin (Apalachicola) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Spotted Sucker No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Lake Sinclair Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Hybrid Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions 18 Lake Tobesofkee Ocmulgee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Lake Tugalo Savannah River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month 1 meal/month Mercury White Catfish No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Walleye 1 meal/week Mercury Lake Varner (Cornish Creek Reservoir, Newton County) Ocmulgee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish No Restrictions Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Lake Walter F. George (Eufaula) Chattahoochee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions Hybrid Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions Spotted Sucker No Restrictions No Restrictions * Only Largemouth Bass 14 inches and longer may be legally retained. West Point Lake Chattahoochee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions No Restrictions Spotted Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Hybrid Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week PCBs Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week PCBs Common Carp No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions * Legal Largemouth 14". ** Striped Bass move between Lake & Morgan Falls Dam 19 Lake Worth (Lake Chehaw; Flint River Reservoir) Flint River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish 1 meal/week 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions Mercury Lake Worth (Lake Chehaw, Old Lake Worth Reservoir) Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Channel Catfish 1 meal/week Mercury Mercury Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Spotted Sucker No Restrictions GEORGIA PUBLIC LAKES AND PONDS LESS THAN 500 ACRES These guidelines are based on a range in fish meal size from 4 to 8 ounces (1/4 to 1/2 pound). Where the guidelines recommend only 1 meal per week or month, you may prefer to have two smaller meals over that period. Lake Acworth Coosa River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions City of Adairsville Pond Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Carp No Restrictions Coosa River Basin Over 16" Chemical Albany By-Pass Pond Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Catfish 1 meal/week Common Carp Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Flint River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/week DDE/DDD DDE/DDD 1 meal/month DDE/DDD 20 Allen Creek Wildlife Management Area, Ponds A and B Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Antioch Lake (East & West), Rocky Mountain PFA Coosa River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Lake Bennett (Marben PFA, Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center) Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass * 1 meal/week* 1 meal/week Mercury Big Lazer PFA (Gum Creek Impoundment) Flint River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish No Restrictions Bowles C. Ford Lake, City of Savannah Savannah River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions White Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Brasstown Valley Kids Fishing Pond Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Tennessee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Bush Field Airport, Augusta: Unnamed Pond Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Over 16" Chemical Mercury 21 Clayton County Water Authority: Blalock Reservoir Ocmulgee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions Clayton County Water Authority: J.W. Smith Reservoir Flint River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Clayton County Water Authority: Shamrock Reservoir Ocmulgee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Dodge County PFA (Steve Bell Lake) Ocmulgee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12 - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Evans County PFA Ogeechee Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish No Restrictions Fort Yargo State Park Lake (Marburg Cr. Watershed Proj.) Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Carp No Restrictions Chemical Hamburg Millpond, Hamburg State Park Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Redear Sunfish No Restrictions 22 Ogeechee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Mercury Heath Lake, Rocky Mountain PFA Coosa River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions Chemical Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Hugh M. Gillis PFA Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Mercury Ken Gardens Lake (Albany, Georgia) Flint River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Brown Bullhead No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Kolomoki Lake, Kolomoki Mounds State Park Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Chattahoochee River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Little Ocmulgee State Park Lake (Gum Creek Swamp)) Ocmulgee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month Mercury Brown Bullhead 1 meal/week Mercury Margery Lake (Marben PFA, Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center) Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass* No Restrictions No Restrictions *Minimum size is 14 inches unless posted otherwise. 23 Lake Mayer (City of Savannah) Ogeechee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Speckled Bullhead No Restrictions No Restrictions McDuffie PFA (East Watershed Ponds) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions *Minimum size is 14 inches unless posted otherwise. Savannah River Basin Over 16" Chemical McDuffie PFA (West Watershed Ponds) Savannah River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass * 1 meal/week * 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions *Minimum size is 14 inches unless posted otherwise. Nancy Town Lake (Habersham County) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Over 16" Chemical Lake Olmstead (Richmond County) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Spotted Sucker No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Over 16" Chemical Paradise PFA (Horseshoe 4) Species Less than 12" Channel Catfish 12" - 16" Suwannee River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions 24 Paradise PFA (Lake Patrick)) Suwannee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions No Restrictions Brown Bullhead No Restrictions No Restrictions *Minimum size is 14 inches unless posted otherwise. Payton Park Pond, Valdosta Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Suwannee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Reed Bingham State Park Lake Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month White Catfish Suwannee River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury Lake Rutledge (Hard Labor Creek State Park) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Oconee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Lake Seed Species Bluegill Sunfish Less than 12" No Restrictions 12" - 16" Savannah River Basin Over 16" Chemical Shepherd Lake (Marben PFA, Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center) Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions *Minimum size is 14 inches unless posted otherwise. South Slappy Blvd. Offramp Pond (Albany, Georgia) Flint River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/month Mercury Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions 25 Stone Mountain Lake Ocmulgee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Mercury Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Tribble Mill Lake, Gwinnett County Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week Black Crappie No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16 " Chemical Mercury Yohola Lake, Kolomoki Mounds State Park Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Chattahoochee River Basin Over 16 " Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Yonah Lake Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Catfish (mixed sp.) 1 meal/week Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Over 16 " Chemical Mercury Mercury 26 GEORGIA FRESHWATER RIVERS AND CREEKS Please note that the consumption guidelines for Georgia rivers are presented in a different format from the lake tables. Due to the flow of rivers, the site tested is important to the consumption guidelines. Consumption guidelines may vary from one stretch of river to another. The fish tested was the common creel size for the location and species. Freshwater rivers and creeks are tabulated first, followed by listings for Georgia tidal estuarine systems. These guidelines are based on a range in fish meal size from 4 to 8 ounces (1/4 to 1/2 pound). Where the guidelines recommend only 1 meal per week or month, you may prefer to have two smaller meals over that period. Alapaha River (Tifton to Stockton) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass U.S.Hwys. 82 to 84 Spotted Sucker See Above Redbreast Sunfish See Above Suwannee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions Alapaha River (Near State Line) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Near Statenville Bullhead See Above Suwannee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury Alapahoochee River (Near State Line) Species Site Tested Bullhead Echols County Suwannee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Alcovy River Species Spotted Sucker Chain Pickerel Site Tested Arrowhatchee Farms See Above Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 27 Allatoona Creek, Cobb County Species Site Tested Spotted Bass Ga. Hwy. 176 Alabama Hog Sucker See Above Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Altamaha River, Altamaha River Basin Near Baxley (U.S. Hwy 1), and Near Jesup, Ga. (U.S. Hwy.s 25/84) Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 1 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Flathead Catfish See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Bluegill Sunfish See Above No Restrictions Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwys 25/84 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish See Above No Restrictions Flathead Catfish See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Striped Mullet Altamaha Park No Restrictions Apalachee River Species Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Site Tested Apalachee Beach See Above Oconee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions Beaver Creek (Tributary to Patsiliga Creek) Species Site Tested Yellow Bullhead Taylor County Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury Boen Creek Species Bluehead Chub Site Tested Rabun County Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Brasstown Creek Species Site Tested Northern Hog Sucker Towns County Tennessee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 28 Brier Creek (Burke County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 56 Spotted Sucker See Above Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Broad River Species Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish Site Tested Ga. Hwy 17 See Above Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Buffalo Creek Species Bluegill Sunfish Site Tested Carroll County Tallapoosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Butternut Creek Species Hog Sucker Site Tested Union County Tennessee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Cane Creek (Wimpy's Air Field) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Lumpkin County Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Canoochee River (Hwy 192 to Lotts Cr.) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy. 280 Channel Catfish See Above Redbreast Sunfish See Above Snail Bullhead See Above Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week 1 meal/month 1 meal/month Mercury Mercury Mercury Canoochee River (Lotts Cr. To Ogeechee River) Ogeechee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Below Canoochee Creek 1 meal/month (Taylor Creek) Mercury Channel Catfish See Above 1 meal/month Mercury 29 Casey Canal (Tributary to Hayners Cr. / Vernon River) Ogeechee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Eisenhower Dr. No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish See Above No Restrictions Striped Mullet See Above 1 meal/week Dieldrin Cedar Creek Tributary (Hart County WMA) Species Site Tested Creek Chubsucker Hart County WMA Redbreast Sunfish See Above Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Chattahoochee River (Near Helen, and Above Lake Lanier) Species Site Tested Redeye Bass Ga. Hwy 75, Helen Snail Bullhead See Above Golden Redhorse See Above Largemouth Bass Belton Bridge Road Channel Catfish See Above Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/month No Restrictions Chemical Mercury Mercury Mercury Mercury Chattahoochee River (Buford Dam to Morgan Falls Dam) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Multiple, Dam to Dam Common Carp See Above Brown Trout See Above Rainbow Trout See Above Yellow Perch Above Morgan Falls Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Chemical Mercury 30 Chattahoochee River (Morgan Falls Dam to Peachtree Creek) Chattahoochee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Below Morgan Falls Dam No Restrictions Common Carp See Above 1 meal/month PCBs Brown Trout See Above No Restrictions Rainbow Trout See Above No Restrictions Jumprock Sucker See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Bluegill Sunfish See Above No Restrictions Chattahoochee River (Peachtree Creek to Pea Creek) Chattahoochee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Common Carp SR 166 (DNR boat ramp) 1 meal/month PCBs Channel Catfish See Above No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish See Above 1 meal/week PCBs White Sucker Peachtree Cr. To I-20 No Restrictions Black Bass Spp. I-285 1 meal/week Mercury Chattahoochee River (Pea Creek to West Point Lake, below Franklin) Chattahoochee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass U.S. 27/SR16 Whitesburg 1 meal/week Mercury Spotted Bass See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish See Above No Restrictions Chattahoochee River: Special for Striped Bass Chattahoochee River Basin (Morgan Falls Dam to West Point Lake, below Franklin) Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Striped Bass Morgan Falls to I-285 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury Note: One population of striped bass migrates annually between West Point Lake and Morgan Falls Dam. Sampled population represents this stretch of river and Lake. 31 Chattahoochee River (West Point Dam to Interstate 85) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Below Dam Spotted Bass See Above Flat Bullhead Catfish See Above Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions Chemical Mercury Chattahoochee River (Oliver Dam to Upatoi Creek, Muscogee County) Chattahoochee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Oliver Dam to Eagle 1 meal/month Phoenix Dam PCBs Bullhead Catfish See Above 1 meal/week PCBs Chattahoochee River Chattahoochee River Basin (Chattahoochee County to Stewart County; Upatoi Creek to Omaha, Ga.) Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Oswichee Creek No Restrictions Spotted Sucker See Above No Restrictions Crappie See Above No Restrictions Channel Catfish See Above No Restrictions Chattahoochee River (Early County) Chattahoochee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Hybrid Bass Downstream of Plant No Restrictions Farley Chattanooga Creek Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish Ga. Hwy 193 Northern Hog Sucker See Above Tennessee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Chattooga River (Northeast Georgia, Rabun County) Savannah River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Northern Hog Sucker Hwy. 24 1 meal/week Mercury Silver Redhorse Above Lake Tugalo 1 meal/week Mercury 32 Chattooga River (Northwest Georgia) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish Chattoogaville Black Crappie See Above Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Chestatee River, Headwaters, Turners Corner Species Site Tested Redeye Bass Hwy. 19 Alabama Hog Sucker See Above Bluehead Chub See Above Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation No Restrictions Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Chestatee River, (Tesnatee River to Lake Lanier) Chattahoochee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Spotted Bass Downstream Ga. 400 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish See Above No Restrictions Redbreast Sunfish See Above No Restrictions Chickamauga Creek (East and South) Species Site Tested Rock Bass Ga. Hwy 2 Redbreast Sunfish See Above Tennessee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Chickamauga Creek (West) Species Site Tested Spotted Bass Ga. Hwy 2 Redbreast Sunfish See Above Tennessee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions Chickasawhatchee Creek, WMA near Elmodel, Ga. Flint River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Spotted Sucker Wildlife Mgm't Area No Restrictions Cohulla Creek (Praters Mill) Species Site Tested Blacktail Redhorse Ga. Hwy. 2 Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 33 Coleman River, Near Mouth, Rabun County Species Site Tested Rainbow Trout Near Tate City Rd. Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Conasauga River: Headwaters in Cohutta Nat'l Forest Coosa River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Rainbow Trout Upstream Rough Cr. No Restrictions Conasauga River: Coosa River Basin State Line to Hwy 286 (Hwy 2); and, Hwy 286 to Calhoun (Old Tilton Bridge) Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Spotted Bass Ga. Hwy. 2 1 meal/week Mercury Smallmouth Buffalo See Above 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury White Bass Old Tilton Bridge 1 meal/month PCBs Smallmouth Buffalo See Above 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury Coosa River (River Mile Zero to Hwy 100) Coosa River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass River Mile 2, Rome 1 meal/month PCBs Spotted Bass See Above 1 meal/week Blue Catfish < 18" Blue Catfish 18-32" Blue Catfish > 32" River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100 1 meal/week River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100 1 meal/month River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100 Do Not Eat PCBs, Mercury PCBs PCBs PCBs Smallmouth Buffalo River Mile 2, Rome Do Not Eat PCBs 34 Coosa River (Hwy 100 to Stateline) Coosa River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Smallmouth Buffalo Below Hwy 100 and at 1 meal/month Brushy Branch PCBs Largemouth Bass See Above 1 meal/week PCBs Spotted Bass See Above No Restrictions Channel Catfish See Above 1 meal/month PCBs Black Crappie Blue Catfish < 18" Blue Catfish 18-32" Blue Catfish > 32" Foster Bend 1 meal/week River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100 1 meal/week River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100 1 meal/month River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100 Do Not Eat PCBs PCBs PCBs PCBs Coosa River: Special Striped Bass Coosa River Basin (River mile zero in Rome to Stateline/Lake Weiss) Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Striped Bass less than Multiple sites on Coosa 1 meal/month 20 inches in length PCBs Striped Bass 20 See Above inches in length Do Not Eat PCBs Note: One population of striped bass migrates annually between Lake Weiss and locations on the Coosa, Etowah (below Thompson-Weinman Dam) and Oostanaula Rivers. Sampled population represents these stretches of river. Coosawattee River (Below Carters Lake Dam) Coosa River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Smallmouth Buffalo Owens Gin Road 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury Bluegill Sunfish As Above No Restrictions Daniels Creek (Dade County) Tennessee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Bluegill Sunfish Cloudland Canyon State No Restrictions Park 35 Dukes Creek (Near Helen) Chattahoochee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Rainbow Trout Near Ga.Hwy. 75 No Restrictions Brown Trout See Above No Restrictions Note: Trout may not be harvested in Smithgall Woods Etowah River (Dawson County) Species Site Tested Blacktail Redhorse Kelly Bridge Road Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Etowah River (Above Lake Allatoona, Cherokee County) Coosa River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Spotted Bass York Street 1 meal/week Mercury Golden Redhorse See Above No Restrictions Etowah River (Below Lake Allatoona, Bartow/Floyd Co.s) Coosa River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Channel Catfish U.S. Hwy. 411 No Restrictions Largemouth Bass See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Striped Bass * Below Allatoona Dam * No Restrictions Spotted Bass See Above 1 meal/week PCBs, Mercury Bluegill Sunfish See Above No Restrictions Smallmouth Buffalo See Above 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury * For Striped Bass below Allatoona Dam and above Thompson-Weinman Dam in Cartersville only. See "Coosa River: Special Striped Bass", for lower Etowah River. Flint River (Spalding/Fayette Counties) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 92 Spotted Sucker See Above Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions 36 Flint River (Meriwether/Pike/Upson Counties) Flint River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Shoal Bass Ga. Hwy. 18 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish See Above No Restrictions Flathead Catfish See Above No Restrictions Flint River (Taylor County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy. 80 Channel Catfish See Above Shoal Bass See Above Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions Flint River (Above Lake Blackshear, Macon/Dooly Co.s) Flint River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Oglethorpe, Ga. Hwy 49 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish See Above No Restrictions Flint River (Below Lake Blackshear, Worth/Lee Co.s) Flint River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass No. Albany, Ga. Hwy 32 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish See Above No Restrictions Flint River (Dougherty/Baker/Mitchell Counties) Flint River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Below Albany & Merck 1 meal/week Mercury Sucker See Above No Restrictions Flathead Catfish <16" Above Newton, GA No Restrictions Flathead Catfish See Above 1 meal/week Mercury 16-30" Flathead Catfish >30" See Above 1 meal/month Mercury Goldmine Branch (Tributary to Warwoman Cr.) Savannah River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Brook Trout Rabun County No Restrictions 37 Gum Creek Species Largemouth Bass Carp Site Tested Crisp County See Above Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restriction Holly Creek (Murray County) Species Site Tested Blacktail Redhorse Fox Bridge Road Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Ichawaynochaway Creek Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Cordays Millpond Spotted Sucker See Above Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restriction Jacks River (Fannin County) Species Site Tested Brown Trout Watson Gap Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Jones Creek (U.S. Forest Service Rd. 28-1) Species Site Tested Brown Trout Lumpkin County Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Kinchafoonee Creek (Sumter/Lee Counties) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwys 49 to 118 Spotted Sucker See Above Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Little Dry Creek (Floyd County) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish Near Rome Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 38 Little River (Above & Below Rocky Cr., Wilkes Co.) Savannah River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Above & Below Rocky 1 meal/week Creek Mercury Silver Redhorse See Above No Restrictions Spotted Sucker See Above No Restrictions Little River (West of Valdosta, Lowndes County) Suwannee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Above Ga. Hwy 133 1 meal/week Mercury Spotted Sucker See Above No Restrictions Little Tallapoosa River Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy. 27 Black Crappie See Above Brown Bullhead See Above Tallapoosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Little Tennessee River (Rabun County) Tennessee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Mixed Bass/Sunfish Above John Kelly Rd. No Restrictions Mixed Sucker Spp. See Above No Restrictions Mixed Bass/Sunfish Species: Rock Bass, Redbreast and Green Sunfish. Mixed Sucker Species: Black Redhorse, Striped Jumprock and Northern Hog Sucker Middle Oconee River (Above & Below Athens) Oconee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Redbreast Sunfish U.S. Hwy 29, (Above) No Restrictions Spotted Sucker See Above No Restrictions Silver Redhorse Below Barber Creek No Restrictions Mill Creek (Whitfield County) Species Site Tested Spotted Sucker Near Dalton Redbreast Sunfish See Above Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 39 Mill Creek (Murray County) Species Site Tested Golden Redhorse Hwy. 411, Eton Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Moccasin Creek (Lake Burton Hatchery) Species Site Tested Rainbow Trout DNR Hatchery Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Muckalee Creek (Sumter/Lee Counties) Flint River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass McLittle Bridge Rd. To 1 meal/week Ga. Hwy 118 Mercury Spotted Sucker See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Mud Creek, Near Powder Springs, Cobb County Chattahoochee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Alabama Hog Sucker Ga. Hwy 360 No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish See Above No Restrictions Nickajack Creek, Cobb County Species Site Tested Alabama Hog Sucker Cooper Lake Road Bluegill Sunfish See Above Noonday Creek Species Site Tested Alabama Hog Sucker Cobb County Redbreast Sunfish See Above Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions North Oconee River (Above and Below Athens, Clarke Co.) Oconee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Redbreast Sunfish Newton Bridge Road No Restrictions Redbreast Sunfish Whitehall Rd. (Below) No Restrictions Flat Bullhead See Above No Restrictions 40 Ochlockonee River (Moultrie to Thomasville) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Above Thomasville, Hwy. 19 White Catfish Redbreast Sunfish Warmouth See Above See Above See Above Ochlockonee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Mercury Mercury Ochlockonee River (Thomasville to State Line) Ochlockonee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 93 1 meal/month Mercury Spotted Sucker See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Redbreast Sunfish See Above No Restrictions Ocmulgee River (Butts/Monroe Counties) Ocmulgee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Below Lloyd Shoals No Restrictions Dam, Lake Jackson Brown Bullhead See Above No Restrictions Ocmulgee River (Bibb County) Ocmulgee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass 6 Miles Downstream of 1 meal/week Tobesofkee Creek Mercury Flathead Catfish See Above 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury Channel Catfish See Above No Restrictions Ocmulgee River (Houston/Twiggs Counties) Species Site Tested Channel Catfish Ga. Hwy. 96 Flathead Catfish See Above Largemouth Bass See Above Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury 41 Ocmulgee River (Pulaski County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Hawkinsville Channel Catfish See Above Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Ocmulgee River (Wilcox/Telfair Counties) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 280 Flathead Catfish See Above Channel Catfish See Above Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions Ocmulgee River (Telfair/Wheeler Counties) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 341 Flathead Catfish See Above Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Oconee River (Clarke and Oconee Counties) Oconee River Basin Confluence of North and Middle Oconee to Barnett Shoals Dam Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Above Barnett Shoals 1 meal/week Mercury Silver Redhorse See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Oconee River (Oconee and Greene Counties) Barnett Shoals Dam to Lake Oconee Species Site Tested Silver Redhorse Ga. Hwy. 15 Channel Catfish See Above Common Carp See Above Oconee River Basin Recommendation No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Chemical Oconee River (Baldwin/Wilkinson Counties) Species Site Tested Flathead Catfish Milledgeville to Dublin Largemouth Bass See Above Channel Catfish See Above Oconee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 42 Oconee River (Laurens County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass I-16 Redbreast Sunfish See Above Channel Catfish See Above Oconee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Ogeechee River (Washington County; near Davisboro) Ogeechee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy 88 1 meal/month Mercury Spotted Sucker See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Ogeechee River (Jefferson County; Louisville) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 1 Spotted Sucker See Above Redbreast Sunfish See Above Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Ogeechee River (Burke County; Midville) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 56 Redbreast Sunfish See Above Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Ogeechee River (Jenkins County; Millen) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 25 Snail Bullhead See Above Redbreast Sunfish See Above Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Ogeechee River (Bulloch County; near Statesboro) Ogeechee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/month Mercury Channel Catfish See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Redbreast Sunfish See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Snail Bullhead See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Spotted Sucker Ga. Hwy. 24 (so. bridge) 1 meal/week Mercury 43 Ogeechee River (Bryan County; near Ellabelle) Ogeechee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy 204 1 meal/month Mercury Redbreast Sunfish See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Ogeechee River (Near Ft. McAllister) Species Site Tested Mullet Fort McAllister Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Ohoopee River (Near Oak Park, Ga.) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass I-16 Redbreast Sunfish See Above Altamaha River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Ohoopee River (Near Reidsville, Ga., Tattnall Co.) Altamaha River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwys 280 to 56 1 meal/month Mercury Redbreast Sunfish See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Spotted Sucker See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Okefenokee Swamp (Stephen Foster State Park) Suwannee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Bowfin Billy's "Lake" 1 meal/month Mercury Flier (sunfish) See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Chain Pickerel See Above 1 meal/month Mercury Olley Creek (Near Austell, Cobb County) Species Site Tested Large Scale Stoneroller Clay Road Redbreast Sunfish See Above Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 44 Oostanaula River (Floyd/Gordon Counties) Species Site Tested Smallmouth Buffalo Ga. Hwy 156, Calhoun Bluegill Sunfish Spotted Bass Bluegill Sunfish Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Buffalo See Above Ga. Hwy 140 See Above See Above See Above Channel Catfish See Above See "Coosa River: Special Striped Bass" Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week PCBs, Mercury No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions 1 meal/week PCBs 1 meal/week PCBs, Mercury 1 meal/week PCBs Patsiliga Creek (Upstream of Beaver Creek, Taylor Co.) Flint River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Spotted Sucker From McCants Millpond No Restrictions to Ga. Hwy 208 No Restrictions Chain Pickerel See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Patsiliga Creek (Downstream of Beaver Creek) Flint River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Bass Spp. * Taylor County 1 meal/month Mercury Sucker Spp. * See Above 1 meal/week Mercury *Bass: Largemouth & Shoal; Suckers: Grayfin Redhorse, Spotted & Greater Jumprock Pipe Makers Canal (Near Savannah, Georgia) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Chatham County Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Ponder Branch (Walker County, Villanow) Species Site Tested Redeye Bass Ga. Hwy 136 Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Proctor Creek, Near Acworth, Cobb County Coosa River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Green Sunfish Ga. Hwy 293, Old US 41 No Restrictions 45 Satilla River (Near Waycross, Ware/Brantley Co.s) Satilla River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 84 1 meal/month Mercury Redbreast Sunfish See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/week Mercury Satilla River (Folkston, Burnt Fort, Charlton/Camden Co.s) Satilla River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 252 1 meal/month Mercury Redbreast Sunfish See Above 1 meal/month Mercury Flathead Catfish 30 See Above inches and smaller 1 meal/month * Mercury Flathead Catfish See Above greater than 30 inches Do Not Eat Mercury * Because there is considerable variation in how much mercury these large predatory fish contain, people who are considered to be especially sensitive to the effects of mercury (pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children), may wish to limit their consumption further than listed above. Savannah River (Below Clarks Hill Dam, Columbia County) Savannah River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Above New Savannah 1 meal/week Bluff Lock & Dam Mercury Spotted Sucker See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Redear Sunfish Above Stevens Cr. Dam No Restrictions Redbreast Sunfish Below Stevens Cr. Dam No Restrictions Savannah River (Richmond/Burke Counties) Savannah River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Below New Savannah 1 meal/week Bluff Lock & Dam Mercury Sucker See Above No Restrictions Striped Mullet See Above No Restrictions Specific consumption guidelines have not been issued for the radionuclides cesium-137 & strontium-90, in the Savannah River (Burke/Screven Co.s), adjacent to the Savannah River Site (SRS). Guidance on mercury were evaluated and deemed to be protective. 46 Savannah River (Screven County) Savannah River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/week Mercury Redear Sunfish See Above No Restrictions Channel Catfish See Above No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Specific consumption guidelines have not been issued for the radionuclides cesium-137 & strontium-90, in the Savannah River (Burke/Screven Co.s), adjacent to the Savannah River Site (SRS). Guidance on mercury were evaluated and deemed to be protective. Savannah River (Effingham County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy 119 Channel Catfish See Above Redbreast Sunfish See Above Savannah River (Fort Howard) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Near Rincon White Catfish See Above Redbreast Sunfish See Above Bowfin See Above Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions 1 meal/month Mercury Savannah River (Chatham County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass I-95 and U.S. Hwy. 17 Channel Catfish U.S. Hwy. 17 Striped Mullet Hwy. 17, Front River Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions Savannah River (Tidal Gate) Species Site Tested Red Drum Tidal Gate White Catfish See Above Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury 47 Savannah River: Special Striped Bass Savannah River Basin (New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam to Estuary, Chatham Co.) Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Striped Bass 27" and Multiple locations, over 1 meal/month * greater in length section noted above Mercury * Because there is considerable variation in how much mercury these large predatory fish contain, people who are considered to be especially sensitive to the effects of mercury (pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children), may wish to limit their consumption further than listed above. Note: one population of striped bass migrates annually between the Savannah estuary and New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam. Current minimum legal size is 27 inches. Sewell Mill Creek (Cobb County) Species Site Tested Alabama Hog Sucker Ga. Hwy 120 Bluegill Sunfish See Above Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Short Creek (Warren County) Species Site Tested Sunfish Warren County Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Slab Camp Creek (Oconee County) Species Site Tested Greater Jumprock Watson Spring Road Redbreast Sunfish See Above Oconee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions South River (DeKalb/Rockdale County) Ocmulgee River Basin Species Bluegill Sunfish Snail Bullhead Site Tested Recommendation Hwy. 155, Panola Shoals 1 meal/week See Above 1 meal/week Chemical PCBs PCBs South River (Henry County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Snapping Shoals Silver Redhorse See Above Channel Catfish Below Snapping Shoals Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week PCBs No Restrictions No Restrictions 48 South River (Butts County) Species Site Tested Black Crappie Ga. Hwy. 36 Largemouth Bass See Above Channel Catfish See Above Redbreast Sunfish See Above Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Spirit Creek Species Largemouth Bass Spotted Sucker Redear Sunfish Savannah River Basin Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Above Richmond Factory No Restrictions Pond See Above No Restrictions See Above No Restrictions Spring Creek (Seminole/Decatur/Miller Counties) Flint River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 84 1 meal/week Mercury Spotted Sucker See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Redear Sunfish See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Stamp Creek (Cherokee County) Species Site Tested Rainbow Trout Pine Log WMA Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Stekoa Creek Species Striped Jumprock Site Tested Rabun County Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions St. Marys River (Charlton County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Near St. George Redbreast Sunfish See Above St. Marys River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury No Restrictions 49 St. Marys River (Camden County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy. 17 Redbreast Sunfish See Above Striped Mullet See Above St. Marys River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions Sugar Creek (Murray County) Species Site Tested Golden Redhorse Sugar Creek Road Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Sumac Creek (Murray County) Species Site Tested Golden Redhorse Hwy. 225 Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Suwannee River (Clinch/Ware/Echols Co.s) Suwannee River Sill to State Line Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Short Camp Road Bullhead Catfish See Above Chain Pickerel See Above & U.S. 441 Flier U.S. Hwy 441 Suwannee River Basin Recommendation 1 meal/month 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Chemical Mercury Mercury Mercury Mercury Swamp Creek (Whitfield County) Species Site Tested Redeye Bass Redwine Cove Road Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Talking Rock Creek (Downtown Talking Rock, Pickens Co.) Coosa River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Redeye Bass Near Fire Department 1 meal/week Mercury Tallapoosa River Species Blacktail Redhorse Bluegill Sunfish Site Tested U.S. Hwy. 27 See Above Tallapoosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 50 Blacktail Redhorse Ga. Hwy. 100 Tallulah River, Towns County Species Site Tested Rainbow Trout Charlies Creek Road 1 meal/week Mercury Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Tributary to Hudson River (Alto, Ga., Banks County) Savannah River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Redeye Bass Below Alto Prison 1 meal/week Mercury Brown Bullhead See Above No Restrictions Upatoi Creek Species Grayfin Redhorse Site Tested Above Mouth Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation No Restrictions Chemical Withlacoochee River Suwannee River Basin (Hahira to State Line, Berrien/Lowndes Counties) Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Redbreast Sunfish Ga. Hwy 122 1 meal/week Mercury Largemouth Bass Near Clyattville 1 meal/month Mercury Redbreast Sunfish See Above 1 meal/week Mercury Yahoola Creek (Consolidated Goldmine) Species Site Tested Alabama Hog Sucker Lumpkin County Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Yellow River Species Site Tested Flat Bullhead Catfish Porterdale Dam Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 51 GEORGIA ESTUARINE SYSTEMS Estuaries and freshwaters in Georgia are included in the watersheds of 14 different river basins, using the United States Geological Survey Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC), cataloging system. Estuarine systems often communicate with adjoining basins due to natural interconnections and manmade structures and actions such as causeways, tidal gates and dredging. Terry Creek, Dupree Creek, the Back River, Academy Creek and the lower Brunswick River are technically in the Satilla River Basin, but because of tidal dynamics, water exchange occurs between them and the Altamaha River system. These guidelines are based on a range in fish meal size from 4 to 8 ounces (1/4 to 1/2 pound). Where the guidelines recommend only 1 meal per week or month, you may prefer to have two smaller meals over that period. Academy Creek Species Blue Crab Site Tested Academy Creek Satilla River Basin Recommendations Chemical No Restrictions Altamaha River Estuary Species Site Tested Striped Mullet Below Hwy. 17 Spotted Seatrout Multiple in Delta Altamaha River Basin Recommendations Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Floyd Creek (to St. Andrews Sound) Species Site Tested Blue Crab Floyd Creek, So. Southern Kingfish of Floyd Basin Satilla River Basin Recommendations Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Hayners Creek Species Blue Crab Site Tested Above SR 204 Ogeechee River Basin Recommendations Chemical No Restrictions North Newport River (Upper) and Cay/Peacock Cr.s, Riceboro Ogeechee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendations Chemical Striped Mullet Blue Crab No. Newport River No Restrictions Cay & Peacock Creeks nr. I-95 1 meal/week Mercury 52 Turtle River System: Satilla River Basin Purvis and Gibson Creeks , (St. Simons Estuary) Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Red Drum, Flounder Shrimp, Black Drum, Spot Purvis & Gibson Creeks 1 meal/week 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury PCBs Blue Crab, Spotted Seatrout, Southern Kingfish (whiting), Sheepshead 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury Striped Mullet, Atlantic Croaker Do Not Eat PCBs Clams, Mussels, Oysters Not applicable Do Not Eat Shellfish Ban * * Shellfish Ban: National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For information see Coastal Resources Division website: http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us Upper Turtle & Buffalo Rivers (St. Simons Estuary) Satilla River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical White Shrimp Blue Crab, Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout Flounder Turtle and Buffalo Rivers, Upriver of Georgia Hwy 303 No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/week PCBs, Mercury PCBs Southern Kingfish, Sheepshead 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury Black Drum, Croaker, Spot 1 meal/month PCBs Striped Mullet Do Not Eat PCBs Clams, Mussels, Oysters Not applicable Do Not Eat Shellfish Ban * * Shellfish Ban: National Shellfish Sanitation Program Middle Turtle River (St. Simons Estuary) Satilla River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical White Shrimp Red Drum, Flounder Blue Crab, Atlantic Croaker, Black Drum, Spotted Seatrout, Southern Kingfish, Sheepshead State Hwy 303 to Channel Marker 9 No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury PCBs, Mercury Striped Mullet, Spot Do Not Eat PCBs Clams, Mussels, Oysters Not applicable Do Not Eat Shellfish Ban * * Shellfish Ban: National Shellfish Sanitation Program 53 Lower Turtle & South Brunswick Rivers (St. Simons Estuary) Satilla River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical White Shrimp, Flounder Turtle River Blue Crab (From Channel Marker 9) and Black Drum, Red Drum, South Sheepshead Brunswick Spotted Seatrout River (Downstream Atlantic Croaker, Striped to Dubignon Mullet, Spot and Parsons Southern Kingfish (whiting) Creeks) No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/month 1 meal/month Mercury PCBs PCBs, Mercury PCBs PCBs, Mercury Clams, Mussels, Oysters Not applicable Do Not Eat Shellfish Ban * * Shellfish Ban: National Shellfish Sanitation Program St. Simons Sound Species Tripletail Site Tested Northern end of Jekyll Island Recommendations No Restrictions Chemical Savannah River Estuary Species Site Tested Striped Mullet U.S. Hwy 17/SR 25 Savannah River Basin Recommendations Chemical No Restrictions Savannah River Estuary Savannah River Basin (New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam to Estuary, Chatham Co.) Species Site Tested Recommendations Chemical Striped Bass 27" Multiple locations, 1 meal/month * and greater in over section noted length above Mercury * Because there is considerable variation in how much mercury these large predatory fish contain, people who are considered to be especially sensitive to the effects of mercury (pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children), may wish to limit their consumption further than listed above. Note: one population of striped bass migrates annually between the Savannah estuary and New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam. Current minimum legal size is 27 inches. 54 SPECIAL LISTINGS Terry & Dupree Creeks & Back River to St. Simons Sound (St. Simons Estuary) Satilla River Basin Location Species Recommendation Chemical Terry Creek South of Torras Causeway to Lanier Basin Silver Perch (Yellowtail) Blue Crab, Shrimp, Spot, Striped Mullet, Atlantic Croaker, Southern Kingfish (e.g. Ga. whiting), Spotted Seatrout 1 meal/week No Restrictions PCBs, Mercury Terry & Dupree Creeks North of Torras Causeway to Confluence with Back River Blue Crab, Shrimp Red Drum Striped Mullet, Atlantic Croaker, Southern Kingfish, Spotted Seatrout No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/month Toxaphene and related compounds Spot Do Not Eat Back River 1 mi. above Terry Cr. to Confluence w/ Torras Causeway Blue Crab, Shrimp, Striped Mullet, Atlantic Croaker, Southern Kingfish, Spotted Seatrout, Red Drum No Restrictions Spot 1 meal/month Toxaphene and related compounds Back River From Causeway to St. Simons Sound Blue Crab, Shrimp, Spot, Striped Mullet, Southern Kingfish, Spotted Seatrout, Red Drum No Restrictions Atlantic Croaker 1 meal/week Toxaphene and related compounds Do Not Eat Clams, Mussels or Oysters; Shellfish Ban, Nat'l Shellfish Sanitation Program. For information see Coastal Resources Division website: http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us 55 SPECIAL MERCURY GUIDANCE ON KING MACKEREL On March 23, 2000, Georgia joined together with North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida in issuing a joint health advisory for the consumption of large king mackerel caught offshore in the South Atlantic Ocean that have been found to have high mercury concentrations. This advisory was issued to provide guidance on the safe consumption of king mackerel to the general public and sensitive populations such as pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children. It does not prevent fishermen from landing fish larger than 39 inches. Georgia DNR officials began working with the other Southeast States to determine levels of mercury in king mackerel in 1998 after learning that Gulf Coast States initiated a similar program. Each State's findings documented consistent levels of mercury over a range of sizes with high levels found in large king mackerel. This is Georgia's first consumption advisory for ocean waters. The king mackerel is a migratory species with the Atlantic population ranging from South Florida through North Carolina and into the Mid-Atlantic. King Mackerel: Atlantic Ocean Offshore Georgia Coast Atlantic Ocean Size Range (Fork Length = FL) Recommendation 24 to Less than 33 inches No Restrictions 33 to 39 inches (a 33 inch fish weighs 1 meal per month ** for pregnant women, nursing approximately 10 pounds) mothers and children age 12 and younger 1 meal per week ** for other adults Over 39 inches (approximately 15 to Do Not Eat 17 pounds) King Mackerel are measured in Fork Length (FL), which is from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail. The minimum legal size in Georgia is 24 inches FL, with a maximum daily creel limit of 3 fish per person. Federally permitted commercial fishermen are limited to 3500 pounds per trip, and a minimum size of 24 inches FL. ** One meal portion in this special guidance is 8 ounces or 1/2 pound. King mackerel spawn along the continental shelf of the Atlantic Coast, rapidly growing to approximately 20 inches in length in the first year. Their diet consists almost exclusively of other fish. King mackerel typically have a maximum life span of 15 years, reaching approximately 4 feet in length and 25 to 30 pounds in weight. Most fish landed are considerably smaller. As a fast-growing, long-lived top predator, the king mackerel has a propensity for accumulating high levels of mercury. 56 Index A Academy Creek, 50 Adairsville, City of, Pond, 18 Alapaha River, 25 Alapahoochee River, 25 Albany By-Pass Pond, 18 Alcovy River, 25 Allatoona Creek, 26 Allen Creek Wildlife Management Area, Ponds A and B, 18 Altamaha River, 26 Altamaha River Estuary, 50 Antioch Lake, 18 Apalachee River, 26 Atlantic Ocean, 54 B Back River, 53 Banks Lake, 10 Bartletts Ferry, 13 Bear Creek Reservoir, 11 Beaver Creek, 26 Big Haynes Reservoir, 11 Big Lazer PFA, 19 Black Shoals Lake, 11 Boen Creek, 26 Bowles C. Ford Lake, 19 Brasstown Creek, 26 Brasstown Valley Kids Fishing Pond, 19 Brier Creek, 27 Broad River, 27 Buffalo Creek, 27 Buffalo River, 51 Bush Field Airport,, 19 Butternut Creek, 27 Cedar Creek Tributary, 28 Chattahoochee River, 28, 29, 30 Chattanooga Creek, 30 Chattooga River, NE Georgia, 30 Chattooga River, NW Georgia, 31 Chestatee River, 31 Chickamauga Creek (East & South), 31 Chickamauga Creek (West), 31 Chickasawhatchee Creek,, 31 Clarks Hill Lake, 12 Clayton County Water Authority: Blalock Reservoir, 19 Clayton County Water Authority: J.W. Smith Reservoir, 19 Clayton County Water Authority: Shamrock Reservoir, 20 Cohulla Creek, 31 Coleman River, 32 Conasauga River, 32 Coosa River, 32, 33 Coosawattee River, 33 Cornish Creek Reservoir, 17 D Daniels Creek, 33 Dodge County PFA (Steve Bell Lake), 20 Dukes Creek, 34 Dupree Creek, 53 E Etowah River, 34 Etowah River, 34 Evans County PFA, 20 F C Cane Creek, 27 Canoochee River, 27 Carters Lake, 12 Casey Canal, 28 Cay Creek, 50 Flint River, 34, 35 Flint River Reservoir, 17 Floyd Creek, 50 Fort Yargo State Park Lake, 20 G Gibson Creek, 51 57 Goat Rock Lake, 13 Goldmine Branch, 35 Gum Creek, 36 H Hamburg Millpond, Hamburg State Park, 20 Hard Labor Cr. State Park, 23 Hart County WMA, 28 Hayners Creek, 50 Heath Lake, 20 High Falls Lake, 14 Holly Creek, 36 Horseshoe 4, Paradise PFA, 22 Hugh M. Gillis PFA, 21 I Ichawaynochaway Creek, 36 J J. Strom Thurmond Lake, 12 Jacks River, 36 Jackson Lake, 14 Jones Creek, 36 K Ken Gardens Lake, 21 Kinchafoonee Creek, 36 King Mackerel, 54 Kolomoki Lake, 21 Kolomoki Mounds State Park, 21, 24 L Lake Acworth, 18 Lake Allatoona, 10 Lake Andrews, 10 Lake Bennett, 19 Lake Blackshear, 11 Lake Blue Ridge, 11 Lake Burton, 12 Lake Chatuge, 12 Lake Chehaw, 17 Lake Eufaula, 17 Lake Harding, 13 Lake Hartwell: Main Body, 13 Lake Hartwell: Tugaloo Arm, 13 Lake Juliette, 14 Lake Mayer, 21 Lake Nottely, 15 Lake Oconee, 15 Lake Oliver, 15 Lake Olmstead, 22 Lake Patrick, Paradise PFA, 22 Lake Rabun, 15 Lake Richard B. Russell, 16 Lake Rutledge, 23 Lake Seed, 23 Lake Seminole, 16 Lake Sinclair, 16 Lake Sydney Lanier, 14 Lake Tobesofkee, 16 Lake Tugalo, 16 Lake Varner, 17 Lake Walter F. George, 17 Lake Worth, 17 Lake Yonah, 24 Little Dry Creek, 36 Little Ocmulgee State Park Lake, 21 Little River, Lowndes Co., 37 Little River, Wilkes Co., 37 Little Tallapoosa River, 37 Little Tennessee River, 37 M Marben PFA, Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center, 23 Marben PFA, Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center, 19, 21 Margery Lake, 21 McDuffie PFA, 22 Middle Oconee River, 37 Mill Creek, Murray Co., 38 Mill Creek, Whitfield Co., 37 Moccasin Creek, 38 Muckalee Creek, 38 Mud Creek, 38 N Nancy Town Lake, 22 Nickajack Creek, 38 Noonday Creek, 38 North Newport River, 50 North Oconee River, 38 O Ochlockonee River, 39 Ocmulgee River, 39, 40 Oconee River, 40, 41 Offshore Georgia Coast, 54 Ogeechee River, 41, 42 Ohoopee River, 42 Okefenokee Swamp, 42 Olley Creek, 42 Oostanaula River, 43 P Paradise PFA, 22 Patsiliga Creek, 43 Payton Park Pond, Valdosta, 23 Peacock Creek, 50 Pipe Makers Canal, 43 Ponder Branch, 43 Praters Mill, 31 Proctor Creek, 43 Purvis Creek, 51 R Randy Poynter Lake, 11 Reed Bingham State Pk. Lake, 23 Rocky Mountain PFA, 18, 20 S Satilla River, 44 Savannah River, 44, 45, 46 Savannah River Estuary, 52 Sewell Mill Creek, 46 Shepherd Lake, 23 Short Creek, 46 Slab Camp Creek, 46 South Brunswick River, 52 South River, 46, 47 South Slappy Blvd. Offramp Pond, 23 Spirit Creek, 47 Spring Creek, 47 St. Marys River, 47, 48 Stamp Creek, 47 Stekoa Creek, 47 Stone Mountain Lake, 23 Sugar Creek, 48 Sumac Creek, 48 Suwannee River, 48 Swamp Creek, 48 T Talking Rock Creek, 48 Tallapoosa River, 48 Tallulah River, 49 Terry Creek, 53 Tribble Mill Lake, 24 Tributary to Hudson River, 49 Turtle River System, 51 Turtle River, Lower, 52 Turtle River, Middle, 51 Turtle River, Upper, 51 U Upatoi Creek, 49 W West Point Lake, 17 Withlacoochee River, 49 Y Yahoola Creek, 49 Yellow River, 49 Yohola Lake, 24 59