Guidelines For Eating Fish From Georgia Waters 2017 Georgia Department of Natural Resources 2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, S.E., Suite 1252 Atlanta, Georgia 30334-9000 i ii For more information on fish consumption in Georgia, contact the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Environmental Protection Division Watershed Protection Branch 2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, S.E., Suite 1152 Atlanta, GA 30334-9000 (404) 463-1511 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 2015 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations, Click on Wild- life Resources Division. Click on Fishing. Choose Fishing Regulations. Or, go to http://www.gofishgeorgia.com For more information on Coastal Fisheries and 2015 Regulations, Click on Coastal Resources Division, or go to http://CoastalGaDNR.org 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), Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) on Front Cover. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Line Drawings by Robert Savannah (courtesy of the USFWS): Snowy Egret (p. 4); Raccoon (p. 8). Diagram of Fish Fat Areas (p. 9): Redrawn by Georgia EPD from other sources. iii Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 1 ARE GEORGIA'S FISH SAFE TO EAT? 2 HOW DO FISH BECOME CONTAMINATED? 3 BENEFITS OF EATING FISH 4 RISKS OF CONTAMINATED FISH 4 SPECIAL NOTICE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN, NURSING MOTHERS & CHILDREN 5 WAYS TO REDUCE RISK 6 USING THESE GUIDELINES 7 RIVER BASINS OF GEORGIA 8 FISH CONSUMPTION GUIDELINES: GEORGIA PUBLIC LAKES 500 ACRES OR LARGER 9 GEORGIA PUBLIC LAKES AND PONDS LESS THAN 500 ACRES 16 GEORGIA FRESHWATER RIVERS AND CREEKS 22 GEORGIA ESTUARINE SYSTEMS 43 SPECIAL LISTINGS 47 SPECIAL MERCURY GUIDANCE ON KING MACKEREL 48 INDEX 49 iv 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. 1 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. 2 Fish at only one site (Albany By-Pass Pond, pg.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, pg. 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. 3 Larger, older fish and fish which eat other fish may accumulate more contaminants than smaller, younger fish. 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. 4 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 child's brain and how your child 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. 5 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 preda- tors 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. 6 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. 7 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 8 Fish Consumption Guidelines The tables for public lakes have been separated into two categories based on size. The first set of lakes is 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 Species Black Crappie Carp White Bass Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Golden Redhorse Channel Catfish Hybrid Bass Bluegill Coosa River Basin Less than 12" 12" 16" Over 16" No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions Chemical Mercury Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 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 Largemouth Bass Bluegill Sunfish Less than 12" No Restrictions 12" - 16" 1 meal/month 9 Suwannee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Mercury Bear Creek Reservoir Species Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Sunfish Less than 12" No Restrictions 12" - 16" 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Oconee River Basin Over 16" 1 meal/week Chemical Mercury Mercury Lake Blackshear Flint River Basin Species Less than 12" 12"- 16" Over 16" Largemouth Bass* 1 meal/week Channel Catfish No Restrictions 1 meal/week *Only Largemouth Bass greater than 14 inches may be kept. Chemical Mercury Mercury Black Shoals Lake Ocmulgee River Basin (Renamed Randy Poynter Lake in 2003: originally named Big Haynes Reservoir) Species Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Black Crappie Redear Sunfish Less than 12" No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions 12" - 16" 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Over 16" 1 meal/week Chemical Mercury Mercury Mercury Lake Blue Ridge Tennessee River Basin Species Largemouth Bass Bluegill White Bass Channel Catfish Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/week Chemical Mercury Mercury Mercury Lake Burton Savannah River Basin Species Largemouth Bass White Catfish Channel Catfish Bluegill Sunfish Spotted Bass Walleye Carters Lake Species Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Channel Catfish Walleye Hybrid Bass Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 12" - 16" Over 16" No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions Chemical Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Coosa River Basin Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Chemical Mercury Mercury 10 Lake Chatuge Species Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Spotted Bass Hybrid Bass Less than 12" Tennessee River Basin 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury 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 No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions White Perch No Restrictions Bluegill 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 Goat Rock Lake Species Largemouth Bass White Bass Hybrid Bass Spotted Sucker Black Crappie Channel Catfish Bluegill Sunfish Chattahoochee River Basin Less than 12" 12" 16" Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury 1 meal/month 1 meal/month PCBs 1 meal/week 1 meal/month 1 meal/month PCBs No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/month PCBs 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 11 Lake Hartwell: Tugaloo Arm Savannah River Basin Species Largemouth Bass Black Crappie Bluegill Hybrid & Striped Bass Channel Catfish Carp Walleye Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 12" 16" 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/month No Restrictions Over 16" 1 meal/week Do Not Eat 1 meal/month 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Chemical Mercury PCBs PCBs Mercury 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 Species Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Redear Sunfish Hybrid Bass Black Crappie Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 12" - 16" No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Jackson Lake Species Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Black Crappie Redear Sunfish White Catfish Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 12" - 16" 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week PCBs Lake Juliette Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass* No Restrictions Striped Bass No Restrictions Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Bullhead species No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury 12 Lake Sydney Lanier Chattahoochee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Striped Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Spotted Bass 1 meal/week * 1 meal/week Mercury Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week * 1 meal/week Mercury White Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Common Carp 1 meal/week Mercury Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions Walleye 1 meal/week Mercury *Only Largemouth, Spotted, and Shoal Bass greater than 14 inches may be kept. 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 Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Hybrid Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions White Catfish No Restrictions Blue Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions *Only Largemouth Bass greater than 14 inches may be kept. Lake Oliver Species Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Hybrid Bass Bluegill Sunfish Redear Sunfish Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Chattahoochee River Basin 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical 1 meal/week 1 meal/week PCBs, Mercury No Restrictions 1 meal/month PCBs 13 Lake Rabun Species Largemouth Bass White Catfish Bluegill Sunfish Walleye Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions 12" - 16 " No Restrictions No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Over 16 " Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 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 Species Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Spotted Sucker Black Crappie Redear Sunfish Lake Sinclair Species Largemouth Bass Hybrid Bass Catfish Black Crappie Lake Tobesofkee Species Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Chattahoochee/Flint River Basin (Apalachicola) Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Oconee River Basin Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16 " Chemical 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 14 Lake Tugalo Species Largemouth Bass White Catfish Bluegill Sunfish Walleye Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Savannah River Basin Over 16 " Chemical 1 meal/month 1 meal/month Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions 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 greater than 14 inches may be kept. West Point Lake Chattahoochee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical Largemouth Bass * 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Spotted Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Hybrid Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week PCBs Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Common Carp No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions *Only Largemouth Bass greater than 14 inches may be kept. Lake Worth (Lake Chehaw; Flint River Reservoir) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Channel Catfish No Restrictions Flint River Basin Over 16 " Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions Lake Worth (Lake Chehaw, Old Lake Worth Reservoir) Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Channel Catfish 1 meal/week Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Spotted Sucker No Restrictions Mercury Mercury 15 Georgia Public Lakes and Ponds Less Than 500 Acres Please note that the minimum size for Largemouth Bass is 14 inches for all of Georgia's Public Fishing Areas operated by the Department of Natural Resources, unless posted otherwise. Lake Acworth Species Largemouth Bass Bluegill Sunfish Less than 12" No Restrictions 12" - 16" No Restrictions Coosa River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury City of Adairsville Pond Species Less than 12" Carp Albany By-Pass Pond Species Less than 12" Largemouth Bass Catfish Common Carp Redear Sunfish No Restrictions 12" - 16" No Restrictions 12" - 16" 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Coosa River Basin Over 16" Chemical Flint River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/week DDE/DDD DDE/DDD 1 meal/month DDE/DDD Allen Creek Wildlife Management Area, Ponds A and B Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Oconee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Antioch Lake (East & West), Rocky Mountain PFA Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Coosa River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Lake Bennett (Marben PFA, Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center) Oconee River Basin Species Largemouth Bass Redear Sunfish Less than 12" No Restrictions 12" - 16" No Restrictions Over 16" No Restrictions Chemical 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 16 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" Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions 12" - 16" 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 Clayton County Water Authority: Blalock Reservoir Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Clayton County Water Authority: J.W. Smith Reservoir Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Over 16" Flint River Basin Chemical Clayton County Water Authority: Shamrock Reservoir Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16" Chemical 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 Species Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Less than 12" Ogeechee River Basin 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions 17 Flat Creek PFA (Lonice C. Barrett Lake) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Bluegill No Restrictions Channel Catfish 1 meal/week Oconee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Mercury Mercury Fort Yargo State Park Lake (Marburg Cr. Watershed Proj.) Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Carp No Restrictions Hamburg Millpond, Hamburg State Park Ogeechee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Mercury Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Heath Lake, Rocky Mountain PFA Coosa River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions 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) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Brown Bullhead No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Flint River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 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 18 Little Ocmulgee State Park Lake (Gum Creek Swamp) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass Brown Bullhead 1 meal/week Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 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. Lake Mayer (City of Savannah) Species Less than 12" Largemouth Bass Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Bluegill No Restriction Speckled Bullhead Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restriction Ogeechee River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions McDuffie PFA (East Watershed Ponds) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions Bluegill No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions 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 * No Restrictions No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions 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" Largemouth Bass Spotted Sucker Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Over 16" Chemical 19 Paradise PFA (Horseshoe 4) Species Less than 12" Channel Catfish Paradise PFA (Lake Patrick) 12" - 16" Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions Brown Bullhead Bluegill No Restrictions No Restrictions Suwannee River Basin Over 16" No Restrictions Suwannee River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 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 Suwannee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month 1 meal/month Mercury White Catfish 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 12" - 16" Chemical Shepherd Lake (Marben PFA, Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center) Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" 12" - 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions 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 20 Silver Lake WMA Species Largemouth Bass Bluegill Sunfish Flint River Basin Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Stone Mountain Lake Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Largemouth Bass Catfish No Restrictions No Rstrictions Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16 " Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Tribble Mill Lake, Gwinnett County Species Less than 12" Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Black Crappie No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions 12" - 16 " 1 meal/week 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 Largemouth Bass Catfish (mixed sp.) Bluegill Sunfish Less than 12" No Restrictions 12" - 16 " 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Savannah River Basin Over 16 " Chemical Mercury Mercury 21 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. Alapaha River (Tifton to Stockton) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass U.S.Hwys. 82 to 84 Spotted Sucker U.S.Hwys. 82 to 84 Redbreast Sunfish U.S.Hwys. 82 to 84 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 Near Statenville Alapahoochee River (Near State Line) Species Bullhead Site Tested Echols County Suwannee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury Suwannee River Basin Recommendation 1 meal/week Chemical Mercury Alcovy River Species Spotted Sucker Chain Pickerel Site Tested Arrowhatchee Farms Arrowhatchee Farms Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Allatoona Creek, Cobb County Species Site Tested Spotted Bass Ga. Hwy. 176 Alabama Hog Sucker Ga. Hwy. 176 Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 22 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 U.S. Hwy 1 1 meal/week Mercury Flathead Catfish U.S. Hwy 1 1 meal/week Mercury Bluegill Sunfish U.S. Hwy 1 No Restrictions Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwys 25/84 1 meal/month Mercury Channel Catfish U.S. Hwys 25/84 No Restrictions Flathead Catfish U.S. Hwys 25/84 1 meal/week Mercury Striped Mullet Altamaha Park No Restrictions Apalachee River Species Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Site Tested Apalachee Beach Apalachee Beach Beaver Creek (Tributary to Patsiliga Creek) Species Yellow Bullhead Site Tested Taylor County Oconee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions Flint River Basin Recommendation 1 meal/month Chemical Mercury Boen Creek Species Bluehead Chub Site Tested Rabun County Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Brasstown Creek Species Northern Hog Sucker Site Tested Towns County Brier Creek (Burke County) Species Largemouth Bass Spotted Sucker Site Tested Ga. Hwy. 56 Ga. Hwy. 56 Broad River Species Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish Site Tested Ga. Hwy 17 Ga. Hwy 17 Tennessee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 23 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 Cane Creek (Wimpy's Air Field) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Lumpkin County Tennessee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 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 U.S. Hwy. 280 Redbreast Sunfish U.S. Hwy. 280 Snail Bullhead U.S. Hwy. 280 Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury Canoochee River (Lotts Cr. To Ogeechee River) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Below Canoochee Creek (Taylor Creek) Channel Catfish Below Canoochee Creek (Taylor Creek) Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury Casey Canal (Tributary to Hayners Cr. / Vernon River) Ogeechee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Eisenhower Dr. No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish Eisenhower Dr. No Restrictions Striped Mullet Eisenhower Dr. 1 meal/week Dieldrin Cedar Creek Tributary (Hart County WMA) Species Site Tested Creek Chubsucker Hart County WMA Redbreast Sunfish Hart County WMA Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 24 Chattahoochee River (Near Helen, and Above Lake Lanier) Species Site Tested Redeye Bass Ga. Hwy 75, Helen Snail Bullhead Ga. Hwy 75, Helen Golden Redhorse Ga. Hwy 75, Helen Largemouth Bass Belton Bridge Road Spotted/Shoal Bass Belton Bridge Road Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/month 1 meal/week Chemical Mercury Mercury Mercury Mercury Mercury Channel Catfish Belton Bridge Road Chattahoochee River (Buford Dam to Morgan Falls Dam) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Multiple, Dam to Dam Common Carp Multiple, Dam to Dam Brown Trout Multiple, Dam to Dam Rainbow Trout Multiple, Dam to Dam Yellow Perch Above Morgan Falls No Restrictions Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Chemical Mercury Chattahoochee River (Morgan Falls Dam to Peachtree Creek) Species Site Tested Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Common Carp Spotted Bass Shoal Bass Brown Trout Rainbow Trout Jumprock Sucker Bluegill Sunfish Below Morgan Falls Dam Below Morgan Falls Dam Below Morgan Falls Dam Below Morgan Falls Dam Below Morgan Falls Dam Below Morgan Falls Dam Below Morgan Falls Dam Below Morgan Falls Dam No Restrictions 1 meal/month No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions PCBs Mercury Chattahoochee River (Peachtree Creek to Pea Creek) Species Site Tested Common Carp SR 166 (DNR boat ramp) Channel Catfish SR 166 (DNR boat ramp) Bluegill Sunfish SR 166 (DNR boat ramp) White Sucker Peachtree Cr. To I-20 Black Bass Spp. I-285 Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation 1 meal/month No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/week Chemical PCBs PCBs Mercury 25 Chattahoochee River (Pea Creek to West Point Lake, below Franklin) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass U.S. 27/SR16 Whitesburg Spotted Bass U.S. 27/SR16 Whitesburg Channel Catfish U.S. 27/SR16 Whitesburg Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions Chattahoochee River (West Point Dam to Interstate 85) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Below Dam Spotted Bass Below Dam Flat Bullhead Catfish Below Dam Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions Chemical Mercury Chattahoochee River Species Largemouth Bass Bullhead Catfish Spotted Bass Site Tested Oliver Dam to Eagle Phoenix Dam Oliver Dam to Eagle Phoenix Dam Columbus Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month 1 meal/week No Restrictions PCBs PCBs Chattahoochee River Species Largemouth Bass Spotted Sucker Crappie Channel Catfish Site Tested Oswichee Creek Oswichee Creek Oswichee Creek Oswichee Creek Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Chattahoochee River (Early County) Species Hybrid Bass Site Tested Downstream of Plant Farley Chattanooga Creek Species Bluegill Sunfish Northern Hog Sucker Site Tested Ga. Hwy 193 Ga. Hwy 193 26 Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation No Restrictions Chemical 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 Redbreast Sunfish Burrell's Ford Bridge 1 meal/week Mercury Brown Trout Burrell's Ford Bridge No Restrictions Chattooga River (Northwest Georgia) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish Chattoogaville Black Crappie Chattoogaville Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Chestatee River, Headwaters, Turners Corner Species Site Tested Redeye Bass Hwy. 19 Alabama Hog Sucker Hwy. 19 Bluehead Chub Hwy. 19 Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Chestatee River, (Tesnatee River to Lake Lanier) Species Site Tested Spotted Bass Downstream Ga. 400 Channel Catfish Downstream Ga. 400 Redbreast Sunfish Downstream Ga. 400 Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions Chickamauga Creek (East and South) Tennessee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Rock Bass Ga. Hwy 2 No Restrictions Redbreast Sunfish Ga. Hwy 2 No Restrictions Chickamauga Creek (West) Tennessee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Spotted Bass Ga. Hwy 2 1 meal/week Mercury Redbreast Sunfish Ga. Hwy 2 No Restrictions Chickasawhatchee Creek, WMA near Elmodel, Ga. Flint River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Spotted Sucker Wildlife Mgm't Area Cohulla Creek (Praters Mill) No Restrictions Coosa River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Blacktail Redhorse Ga. Hwy. 2 1 meal/week Mercury Coleman River, Near Mouth, Rabun County Species Rainbow Trout Site Tested Near Tate City Rd. 27 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 Ga. Hwy. 2 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury White Bass Old Tilton Bridge 1 meal/month PCBs Smallmouth Buffalo Old Tilton Bridge 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury Coosa River (River Mile Zero to Hwy 100) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass River Mile 2, Rome Spotted Bass River Mile 2, Rome Smallmouth Buffalo Blue Catfish < 18" Blue Catfish 18-32" Blue Catfish > 32" White Bass River Mile 2, Rome River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100 River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100 River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100 Above Blacks Bluff Road Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month PCBs 1 meal/week PCBs, Mercury Do Not Eat PCBs 1 meal/week PCBs 1 meal/month PCBs Do Not Eat PCBs No Restrictions Coosa River (Hwy 100 to Stateline) Species Smallmouth Buffalo Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Channel Catfish Black Crappie Blue Catfish < 18" Blue Catfish 18-32" Blue Catfish > 32" Site Tested Below Hwy 100 and at Brushy Branch Below Hwy 100 and at Brushy Branch Below Hwy 100 and at Brushy Branch Below Hwy 100 and at Brushy Branch Foster Bend River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100 River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100 River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100 Coosa River Basin Recommendation 1 meal/month Chemical PCBs 1 meal/week PCBs No Restrictions 1 meal/month PCBs 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/month Do Not Eat PCBs PCBs PCBs PCBs 28 Coosa River: Special Striped Bass Coosa River Basin (River mile zero in Rome to Stateline/Lake Weiss) Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Striped Bass <20" Multiple sites on Coosa 1 meal/month PCBs Striped Bass > 20" Multiple sites on Coosa 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) Species Site Tested Smallmouth Buffalo Bluegill Sunfish Owens Gin Road Owens Gin Road Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical PCBs, 1 meal/month Mercury No Restrictions Daniels Creek (Dade County) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish Cloudland Canyon State Park Tennessee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Dukes Creek (Near Helen) Chattahoochee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Rainbow Trout Near Ga.Hwy. 75 No Restrictions Brown Trout Near Ga.Hwy. 75 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 York Street No Restrictions Etowah River (Below Lake Allatoona, Bartow/Floyd Counties) Coosa River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Channel Catfish U.S. Hwy. 411 No Restrictions Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy. 411 1 meal/week Mercury Striped Bass * Below Allatoona Dam * No Restrictions Spotted Bass Bluegill Sunfish Smallmouth Buffalo Below Allatoona Dam Below Allatoona Dam Below Allatoona Dam 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury PCBs, Mercury 29 Flint River (Spalding/Fayette Counties) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 92 Spotted Sucker Ga. Hwy. 92 Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions Flint River (Meriwether/Pike/Upson Counties) Species Site Tested Shoal Bass Ga. Hwy. 18 Channel Catfish Ga. Hwy. 18 Flathead Catfish Ga. Hwy. 18 Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions Redbreast Sunfish Ga. Hwy. 18 Black Bass Sp. Ga. Hwy. 18 Flint River (Taylor County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy. 80 Channel Catfish U.S. Hwy. 80 Shoal Bass U.S. Hwy. 80 No Restrictions No Restrictions 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 Oglethorpe, Ga. Hwy 49 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 No. Albany, Ga. Hwy 32 Flint River (Dougherty/Baker/Mitchell Counties) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Below Albany & Merck Sucker Below Albany & Merck Flathead Catfish <16" Above Newton, GA Flathead Catfish 16-30" Above Newton, GA Flathead Catfish >30" Above Newton, GA No Restrictions Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury Goldmine Branch (Tributary to Warwoman Cr.) Species Site Tested Brook Trout Rabun County Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 30 Gum Creek Species Largemouth Bass Carp Site Tested Crisp County Crisp County Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restriction Holly Creek (Murray County) Species Site Tested Blacktail Redhorse Fox Bridge Road Ichawaynochaway Creek Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Cordays Millpond Spotted Sucker Cordays Millpond Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 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 Ga. Hwys 49 to 118 Little Dry Creek (Floyd County) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish Near Rome Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Little River (Above & Below Rocky Cr., Wilkes County) Savannah River Basin Species Largemouth Bass Site Tested Above & Below Rocky Creek Recommendation 1 meal/week Chemical Mercury Silver Redhorse Above & Below Rocky Creek No Restrictions Spotted Sucker Above & Below Rocky Creek 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 Above Ga. Hwy 133 No Restrictions 31 Little Tallapoosa River Species Largemouth Bass Black Crappie Brown Bullhead Site Tested U.S. Hwy. 27 U.S. Hwy. 27 U.S. Hwy. 27 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. Above John Kelly Rd. 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) Species Site Tested Redbreast Sunfish U.S. Hwy 29, (Above) Spotted Sucker U.S. Hwy 29, (Above) Silver Redhorse Below Barber Creek Mill Creek (Whitfield County) Species Spotted Sucker Redbreast Sunfish Site Tested Near Dalton Near Dalton Mill Creek (Murray County) Species Site Tested Golden Redhorse Hwy. 411, Eton Moccasin Creek (Lake Burton Hatchery) Species Site Tested Rainbow Trout DNR Hatchery Muckalee Creek (Sumter/Lee Counties) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass McLittle Bridge Rd. To Ga. Hwy 118 Spotted Sucker McLittle Bridge Rd. To Oconee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Coosa River Basin Recommendation No Restrictions No Restrictions Chemical Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Mud Creek, Near Powder Springs, Cobb County Species Site Tested Alabama Hog Sucker Ga. Hwy 360 Bluegill Sunfish Ga. Hwy 360 32 Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Nickajack Creek, Cobb County Species Site Tested Alabama Hog Sucker Cooper Lake Road Bluegill Sunfish Cooper Lake Road Noonday Creek Species Alabama Hog Sucker Redbreast Sunfish Site Tested Cobb County Cobb County 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 Whitehall Rd. (Below) No Restrictions Ochlockonee River (Moultrie to Thomasville) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Hwy. 19 White Catfish Hwy. 19 Redbreast Sunfish Hwy. 19 Warmouth Hwy. 19 Ochlockonee River (Thomasville to State Line) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 93 Spotted Sucker Ga. Hwy. 93 Redbreast Sunfish Ga. Hwy. 93 Ochlockonee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Ochlockonee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions Ocmulgee River (Butts/Monroe Counties) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Below Lake Jackson Brown Bullhead Below Lake Jackson Ocmulgee River (Bibb County) Species Largemouth Bass Flathead Catfish Channel Catfish Site Tested 6 Miles Downstream of Tobesofkee Creek 6 Miles Downstream of Tobesofkee Creek 6 Miles Downstream of Tobesofkee Creek 33 Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions Ocmulgee River (Houston/Twiggs Counties) Species Site Tested Channel Catfish Ga. Hwy. 96 Flathead Catfish Ga. Hwy. 96 Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 96 Ocmulgee River (Pulaski County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Hawkinsville Channel Catfish Hawkinsville Ocmulgee River (Wilcox/Telfair Counties) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 280 Flathead Catfish U.S. Hwy 280 Channel Catfish U.S. Hwy 280 Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions Oconee River (Clarke and Oconee Counties) Oconee River Basin Confluence of North and Middle Oconee to Barnett Shoals Dam Species Largemouth Bass Site Tested Above Barnett Shoals Recommendation 1 meal/week Chemical Mercury Spotted Bass Bluegill Sunfish Channel Catfish Silver Redhorse Above Barnett Shoals Above Barnett Shoals Above Barnett Shoals Above Barnett Shoals No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Oconee River (Oconee and Greene Counties) Barnett Shoals Dam to Lake Oconee Species Site Tested Silver Redhorse Channel Catfish Common Carp Ga. Hwy. 15 Ga. Hwy. 15 Ga. Hwy. 15 Oconee River Basin Recommendation No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Chemical Oconee River (Baldwin/Wilkinson Counties) Species Flathead Catfish Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Site Tested Milledgeville to Dublin Milledgeville to Dublin Milledgeville to Dublin Oconee River Basin Recommendation No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Chemical 34 Oconee River (Laurens County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass I-16 Redbreast Sunfish I-16 Channel Catfish I-16 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 Ga. Hwy 88 1 meal/week Mercury Ogeechee River (Jefferson County; Louisville) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 1 Spotted Sucker U.S. Hwy 1 Redbreast Sunfish U.S. Hwy 1 Ogeechee River (Burke County; Midville) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 56 Redbreast Sunfish Ga. Hwy. 56 Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Ogeechee River (Jenkins County; Millen) Species Site Tested Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Snail Bullhead Redbreast Sunfish U.S. Hwy 25 U.S. Hwy 25 U.S. Hwy 25 1 meal/month 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Mercury 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 U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/week Mercury Redbreast Sunfish U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/week Mercury Snail Bullhead U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/week Mercury Spotted Sucker Ga. Hwy. 24 (so. bridge) 1 meal/week Mercury 35 Ogeechee River (Bulloch/Effingham Counties) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Hwy 119 Spotted Sucker Hwy 119 Redbreast Sunfish Hwy 119 Ogeechee River (Bryan County; near Ellabelle) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy 204 Redbreast Sunfish Ga. Hwy 204 Channel Catfish Ga. Hwy 204 Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Ogeechee River (Near Ft. McAllister) Species Site Tested Mullet Fort McAllister Ohoopee River (Near Oak Park, Ga.) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass I-16 Redbreast Sunfish I-16 Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Altamaha River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Ohoopee River (Near Reidsville, Ga., Tattnall County) Altamaha River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwys 280 to 56 1 meal/month Mercury Redbreast Sunfish Ga. Hwys 280 to 56 1 meal/week Mercury Spotted Sucker Ga. Hwys 280 to 56 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish Ga. Hwys 280 to 56 1 meal/week Mercury Okefenokee Swamp (Stephen Foster State Park) Species Site Tested Bowfin Billy's "Lake" Flier (sunfish) Billy's "Lake" Chain Pickerel Billy's "Lake" Largemouth Bass Billy's "Lake" Bluegill Billy's "Lake" Suwannee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Olley Creek (Near Austell, Cobb County) Species Site Tested Large Scale Clay Road Stoneroller Redbreast Sunfish Clay Road Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 36 Oostanaula River (Floyd/Gordon Counties) Species Site Tested Smallmouth Buffalo Ga. Hwy 156, Calhoun Bluegill Sunfish Spotted Bass Bluegill Sunfish Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Buffalo Ga. Hwy 156, Calhoun Ga. Hwy 140 Ga. Hwy 140 Ga. Hwy 140 Ga. Hwy 140 Channel Catfish Ga. Hwy 140 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 No Restrictions Patsiliga Creek (Upstream of Beaver Creek, Taylor Co.) Flint River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Spotted Sucker From McCants Millpond to Ga. Hwy 208 No Restrictions No Restrictions Chain Pickerel From McCants Millpond to Ga. Hwy 208 1 meal/week Mercury Patsiliga Creek (Downstream of Beaver Creek) Species Site Tested Bass Spp. * Taylor County Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury Sucker Spp. * Taylor County 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 Species Site Tested Green Sunfish Ga. Hwy 293, Old US 41 Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 37 Satilla River (Near Waycross, Ware/Brantley Counties) Satilla River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 84 1 meal/month Mercury Bullhead U.S. Hwy 84 1 meal/week Mercury Redbreast Sunfish U.S. Hwy 84 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/week Mercury Satilla River (Folkston, Burnt Fort, Charlton/Camden Counties) Satilla River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 252 1 meal/month Mercury Redbreast Sunfish Ga. Hwy. 252 1 meal/month Mercury Flathead Catfish <30" Ga. Hwy. 252 1 meal/month Mercury Flathead Catfish >30" Ga. Hwy. 252 Do Not Eat Mercury Savannah River (Below Clarks Hill Dam, Columbia County) Savannah River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Above New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam 1 meal/week Mercury Spotted Sucker Above New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam 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) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Below New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Sucker Below New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam No Restrictions Striped Mullet Below New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam 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. Savannah River (Screven County) Savannah River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/week Mercury Redear Sunfish U.S. Hwy 301 No Restrictions Channel Catfish U.S. Hwy 301 No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish U.S. Hwy 301 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. 38 Savannah River (Effingham County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy 119 Channel Catfish Ga. Hwy 119 Redbreast Sunfish Ga. Hwy 119 Savannah River (Fort Howard) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Near Rincon White Catfish Near Rincon Redbreast Sunfish Near Rincon Bowfin Near Rincon Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions 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 Tidal Gate Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury 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 greater in length section noted above 1 meal/month * 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 Ga. Hwy 120 Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 39 Short Creek (Warren County) Species Site Tested Sunfish Warren County Slab Camp Creek (Oconee County) Species Greater Jumprock Redbreast Sunfish Site Tested Watson Spring Road Watson Spring Road Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Oconee River Basin Recommendation No Restrictions No Restrictions Chemical South River (DeKalb/Rockdale County) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish Hwy. 155, Panola Shoals Snail Bullhead Hwy. 155, Panola Shoals Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week PCBs 1 meal/week PCBs South River (Henry County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Snapping Shoals Silver Redhorse Snapping Shoals Channel Catfish Below Snapping Shoals Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week PCBs No Restrictions No Restrictions South River (Butts County) Species Black Crappie Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Redbreast Sunfish Site Tested Ga. Hwy. 36 Ga. Hwy. 36 Ga. Hwy. 36 Ga. Hwy. 36 Spirit Creek Species Largemouth Bass Spotted Sucker Redear Sunfish Site Tested Above Richmond Factory Pond Above Richmond Factory Pond Above Richmond Factory Pond Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 40 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 Ga. Hwy. 84 1 meal/week Mercury Redear Sunfish Ga. Hwy. 84 1 meal/week Mercury Stamp Creek (Cherokee County) Species Rainbow Trout Site Tested Pine Log WMA Stekoa Creek Species Striped Jumprock Site Tested Rabun County Coosa River Basin Recommendation No Restrictions Chemical Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions St. Marys River (Charlton County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Near St. George Redbreast Sunfish Near St. George St. Marys River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury No Restrictions St. Marys River (Camden County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy. 17 Redbreast Sunfish U.S. Hwy. 17 Striped Mullet U.S. Hwy. 17 Sugar Creek (Murray County) Species Site Tested Golden Redhorse Sugar Creek Road Sumac Creek (Murray County) Species Site Tested Golden Redhorse Hwy. 225 St. Marys River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Suwannee River (Clinch/Ware/Echols Counties) Suwannee River Sill to State Line Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Short Camp Road Bullhead Catfish Short Camp Road Chain Pickerel Short Camp Road & U.S. 441 Flier U.S. Hwy 441 Suwannee River Basin Recommendation 1 meal/month 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Chemical Mercury Mercury Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 41 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 County) Coosa River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Redeye Bass Near Fire Department 1 meal/week Mercury Tallapoosa River Species Blacktail Redhorse Bluegill Sunfish Blacktail Redhorse Site Tested U.S. Hwy. 27 U.S. Hwy. 27 Ga. Hwy. 100 Tallapoosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Tallulah River, Towns County Species Site Tested Rainbow Trout Charlies Creek Road 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 Below Alto Prison No Restrictions Upatoi Creek Chattahoochee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Grayfin Redhorse Above Mouth No Restrictions 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 Below Hwy 84 1 meal/month Mercury Redbreast Sunfish Below Hwy 84 No Restrictions Spotted Sucker Below Hwy 84 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 Flat Bullhead Catfish Site Tested Porterdale Dam 42 Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 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. Academy Creek Species Blue Crab Altamaha Sound Species Striped Mullet Spotted Seatrout Site Tested Academy Creek Site Tested Below Hwy. 17 Multiple in Delta Recommendations No Restrictions Satilla River Basin Chemical Altamaha River Basin Recommendations No Restrictions Chemical No Restrictions Cumberland Sound Species Brown Shrimp Site Tested Multiple Recommendations No Restrictions St. Mary's Basin Chemical Floyd Creek (to St. Andrews Sound) Species Blue Crab Southern Kingfish Site Tested Floyd Creek, So. of Floyd Basin Hayners Creek Species Blue Crab Site Tested Above SR 204 Mud River Species White Shrimp Site Tested Mud River Satilla River Basin Recommendations Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Ogeechee River Basin Recommendations Chemical No Restrictions 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 N. Newport River Cay & Peacock Creeks nr. I-95 No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury 43 Saint Simons Sound Species Site Tested Tripletail Northern end of Jekyll Island Sheepshead Atlantic Ocean Sapelo Sound Species Brown Shrimp Site Tested Multiple Savannah River Estuary Species Site Tested Striped Mullet U.S. Hwy 17/SR 25 Satilla River Basin Recommendations Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week Arsenic Ogeechee River Basin Recommendations Chemical No Restrictions 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" and greater in length U.S. Hwy 17/SR 25 1 meal/month * 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. Turtle River System: Satilla River Basin Purvis and Gibson Creeks , (St. Simons Estuary) Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Atlantic Croaker Do Not Eat PCBs Southern Kingfish (whiting), Black Drum, Spot, Spotted 1 meal/month PCBs Seatrout Sheepshead Striped Mullet Purvis & Gibson Creeks 1 meal/month 1 meal/week PCBs, Mercury PCBs Red Drum, Flounder 1 meal/week PCBs, Mercury Blue Crab 1 meal/week Mercury Shrimp No Restrictions Clams, Mussels, Oysters Not applicable Do Not Eat Shellfish Ban * * Shellfish Ban: National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For information see Coastal 44 Upper Turtle & Buffalo Rivers (St. Simons Estuary) Satilla River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Spotted Seatrout, Spot, Southern Kingfish (whiting), Atlantic Croaker Red Drum, Black Drum, Striped Mullet Sheepshead Blue Crab Turtle and Buffalo Rivers, Upriver of Georgia Hwy 303 1 meal/month 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week PCBs PCBs PCBs, Mercury Mercury Shrimp, Flounder No Restrictions 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 Spot Do Not Eat PCBs Spotted Seatrout, Sheepshead, Striped Mullet, Southern Kingfish (whiting) Black Drum Red Drum, Flounder State Hwy 303 to Channel Marker 9 1 meal/month 1 meal/week 1 meal/week PCBs PCBs PCBs, Mercury Blue Crab 1 meal/week Mercury Shrimp No Restrictions Clams, Mussels, Oysters Not applicable Do Not Eat Shellfish Ban * * Shellfish Ban: National Shellfish Sanitation Program Lower Turtle & South Brunswick Rivers (St. Simons Estuary) Satilla River Basin Species Atlantic Croaker, Spot Spotted Seatrout, Black Drum, Southern Kingfish (whiting) Red Drum, Sheepshead, Striped Mullet, Blue Crab, Shrimp, Flounder Clams, Mussels, Oysters Site Tested Turtle River (From Channel Marker 9) and South Brunswick River (Downstream to Dubignon and Par- sons Creeks) Recommendation 1 meal/month 1 meal/week No Restrictions Not applicable Do Not Eat Chemical PCBs PCBs Shellfish Ban * * Shellfish Ban: National Shellfish Sanitation Program 45 Wassaw Sound Species Brown Shrimp Spotted Seatrout Site Tested Multiple Multiple Recommendation No Restrictions No Restrictions Chemical 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 Spot No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/month Do Not Eat Toxaphene and related compounds 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 Spot No Restrictions 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 Atlantic Croaker No Restrictions 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 46 Atlantic Ocean Location DRH Artificial Reef CDH Reef HLHA Reef J Artificial Reef JY Artificial Reef SFC Reef Species Summer Flounder Summer Flounder Summer Flounder Summer Flounder Summer Flounder Summer Flounder Recommendation 1 meal/month 1 meal/month 1 meal/month 1 meal/month 1 meal/month 1 meal/month Chemical Arsenic Arsenic Arsenic Arsenic Arsenic Arsenic 47 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 approximately 10 pounds) 1 meal per month ** for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children age 12 and younger 1 meal per week ** for other adults Over 39 inches (approximately 15 Do Not Eat to 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. 48 Index A Academy Creek ...............................43 Adairsville, City of, Pond .................16 Alapaha River..................................22 Alapahoochee River ........................22 Albany By-Pass Pond.......................16 Alcovy River ....................................22 Allatoona Creek ..............................22 Allen Creek Wildlife Management Area, Ponds A and B............................ 16 Altamaha River ...............................23 Altamaha Sound .............................43 Antioch Lake ...................................16 Apalachee River ..............................23 Atlantic Ocean ................................47 B Back River .......................................46 Banks Lake ........................................9 Bear Creek Reservoir ......................10 Beaver Creek...................................23 Big Lazer PFA...................................16 Black Shoals Lake (Big Haynes Res/ Randy Poynter Lake) ...................10 Boen Creek .....................................23 Bowles C. Ford Lake .......................17 Brasstown Creek ............................23 Brasstown Valley Kids Fishing Pond.17 Brier Creek .....................................23 Broad River ....................................23 Buffalo Creek .................................24 Buffalo River ..................................45 Bush Field Airport ..........................17 Butternut Creek .............................24 C Cane Creek......................................24 Canoochee River ............................24 Carters Lake ....................................10 Casey Canal.....................................24 Cay Creek........................................43 Cedar Creek Trib (Hart Co WMA) ... 24 Chattahoochee River ................. 25-26 Chattanooga Creek ......................... 26 Chattooga River, NE Georgia ........... 27 Chattooga River, NW Georgia ......... 27 Chestatee River .............................. 27 Chickamauga Creek (East & South) 27 Chickamauga Creek (West), ............ 27 Chickasawhatchee Creek ................ 27 Clarks Hill Lake (Lake Thurmond) .... 11 Clayton County Water Authority: Blalock Reservoir ........................ 17 Clayton County Water Authority: J.W. Smith Reservoir................... 17 Clayton County Water Authority: Shamrock Reservoir.................... 17 Cohulla Creek (Praters Mill) ............ 27 Coleman River ................................ 27 Conasauga River ............................. 28 Coosa River................................ 28-29 Coosawattee River .......................... 29 Cumberland Sound ......................... 43 D Daniels Creek.................................. 29 Dodge County PFA (Steve Bell Lake) 17 Dukes Creek.................................... 29 Dupree Creek.................................. 46 E Etowah River .................................. 29 Evans County PFA ........................... 17 F Flat Creek PFA................................. 18 Flint River ....................................... 30 Floyd Creek..................................... 43 Fort Yargo State Park Lake .............. 18 G Gibson Creek .................................. 44 Goat Rock Lake ............................... 11 Goldmine Branch ............................ 30 Gum Creek...................................... 31 49 H Hamburg Millpond, Hamburg State Park .................................................. 18 Hayners Creek................................ 43 Heath Lake (Rocky Mountain PFA ) 18 High Falls Lake ............................... 12 Holly Creek..................................... 31 Horseshoe 4, Paradise PFA ............. 20 Hugh M. Gillis PFA.......................... 18 I Ichawaynochaway Creek ................ 31 J Jacks River ..................................... 31 Jackson Lake .................................. 12 Jones Creek .................................... 31 K Ken Gardens Lake........................... 18 Kinchafoonee Creek ....................... 31 Kolomoki Lake................................ 18 L Lake Acworth ................................. 16 Lake Allatoona ................................. 9 Lake Andrews .................................. 9 Lake Bennett (Marben PFA)............ 16 Lake Blackshear ............................. 10 Lake Blue Ridge .............................. 10 Lake Burton.................................... 10 Lake Chatuge ................................. 11 Lake Chehaw (Flint River Res) ........ 15 Lake Harding (Bartletts Ferry)......... 11 Lake Hartwell ................................. 12 Lake Juliette ................................... 12 Lake Mayer .................................... 19 Lake Nottely ................................... 13 Lake Oconee .................................. 13 Lake Oliver ..................................... 13 Lake Olmstead ............................... 19 Lake Patrick (Paradise PFA) ............ 20 Lake Rabun .................................... 14 Lake Richard B. Russell ................... 14 Lake Rutledge (Hard Labor Ck) ........20 Lake Seed ....................................... 20 Lake Seminole ................................ 14 Lake Sinclair ................................... 14 Lake Sydney Lanier ......................... 13 Lake Tobesofkee............................. 14 Lake Tugalo .................................... 15 Lake Varner .................................... 15 Lake Walter F. George (Lake Eufaula) ................................................... 15 Lake Worth (Flint River Reservoir) .. 15 Little Dry Creek ............................... 31 Little Ocmulgee State Park Lake...... 19 Little River, Lowndes Co.................. 31 Little River, Wilkes Co. .................... 31 Little Tallapoosa River .................... 32 Little Tennessee River ..................... 32 M Margery Lake (Marben PFA) ........... 19 McDuffie PFA.................................. 19 Middle Oconee River ...................... 32 Mill Creek, Murray Co..................... 32 Mill Creek, Whitfield Co. ................. 32 Moccasin Creek .............................. 32 Muckalee Creek.............................. 32 Mud Creek...................................... 32 Mud River ...................................... 43 N Nancy Town Lake ........................... 19 Nickajack Creek .............................. 33 Noonday Creek............................... 33 North Newport River ...................... 43 North Oconee River ........................ 33 O Ochlockonee River...........................33 Ocmulgee River ..........................33-34 Oconee River ..............................34-35 Ogeechee River ..........................35-36 Ohoopee River ................................36 Okefenokee Swamp ........................36 Olley Creek......................................36 Oostanaula River .............................37 50 P Patsiliga Creek ................................37 Payton Park Pond, Valdosta ...........20 Peacock Creek .................................43 Pipe Makers Canal...........................37 Ponder Branch ................................37 Proctor Creek ..................................37 Purvis Creek ....................................44 R Reed Bingham State Pk. Lake ..........20 S Saint Simon's Sound ........................44 Sapelo Sound ..................................44 Satilla River .....................................38 Savannah River .......................... 38-39 Savannah River Estuary ...................44 Sewell Mill Creek.............................39 Shepherd Lake (Marben PFA) ..........20 Short Creek .....................................40 Silver Lake WMA .............................21 Slab Camp Creek .............................40 South Brunswick River.....................45 South River .....................................40 S. Slappy Blvd. Offramp Pond ..........20 Spirit Creek .....................................40 Spring Creek ....................................41 St. Marys River ................................41 Stamp Creek....................................41 Stekoa Creek ...................................41 Stone Mountain Lake ......................21 Sugar Creek .....................................41 Sumac Creek ...................................41 Suwannee River ..............................41 Swamp Creek ..................................42 U Upatoi Creek...............................42 W Wassaw Sound............................46 West Point Lake ..........................15 Withlacoochee River ...................42 Y Yahoola Creek.............................42 Yellow River................................42 Yohola Lake................................21 Yonah Lake .................................21 T Talking Rock Creek ..........................42 Tallapoosa River..............................42 Tallulah River ..................................42 Terry Creek......................................46 Tribble Mill Lake..............................21 Tributary to Hudson River ...............42 Turtle River System .........................44 Turtle River, Lower ..........................45 Turtle River, Middle ........................45 Turtle River, Upper..........................45 51 52