- Collection:
- Georgia Government Publications
- Serial:
- Guidelines for eating fish from Georgia waters.
- Title:
- Guidelines for eating fish from Georgia waters, 2020
- Creator:
- Georgia. Department of Natural Resources. Environmental Protection Division
- Contributor to Resource:
- Georgia. Environmental Protection Division.
Georgia. Wildlife Resources Division.
Georgia. Coastal Resources Division. - Publisher:
- Atlanta, Ga. : Georgia. Department of Natural Resources. Environmental Protection Division
- Date of Original:
- 2020
- Subject:
- Georgia. Wildlife Resources Division
Georgia. Coastal Resources Division - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- serials (publications)
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- Guidebook for eating fish from Georgia waters.
- External Identifiers:
- Call Number GA N200.E5 S1 F5 2020
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:dlg_ggpd_y-ga-bn200-pe5-bs1-bf5-b2020-belec-p-btext
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:dlg_ggpd_y-ga-bn200-pe5-bs1-bf5-b2020-belec-p-btext
- Language:
- eng
- Holding Institution:
- University of Georgia. Map and Government Information Library
- Rights:
-
Guidelines For Eating Fish From
Georgia Waters
2020
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 Fisheries Management Section
2070 U.S. Hwy 278, S.E. Social Circle, GA 30025
(770) 557-3305
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 2020 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), White Crappie (Pomoxis annularis) 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
FRESHWATER AND SALT WATER FISH OF GEORGIA
9
FISH CONSUMPTION GUIDELINES:
GEORGIA PUBLIC LAKES 500 ACRES OR LARGER
10
GEORGIA PUBLIC LAKES AND PONDS LESS THAN 500 ACRES
17
GEORGIA FRESHWATER RIVERS AND CREEKS
22
GEORGIA ESTUARINE SYSTEMS
39
SPECIAL LISTINGS
41
SPECIAL MERCURY GUIDANCE ON KING MACKEREL
44
INDEX
46
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, arsenic, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, thallium, chlordane, 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, four contaminants, arsenic, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, and thallium, were frequently detected in significant amounts in a few species from some bodies of water in Georgia. Three additional contaminants, chlordane, toxaphene-like compounds, and dieldrin were also detected infrequently. This publication provides you with information on those six contaminants: arsenic, PCBs, mercury, thallium, chlordane, 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 in Proctor Creek 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. 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.
3
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. 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.
4
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
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 8 14. Altamaha River Basin
FRESHWATER AND SALT WATER FISH OF GEORGIA
Largemouth Bass Black Bass Spp. Redeye Bass Black Bass Spp.
Bluegill Sunfish Green Sunfish
Shoal Bass Black Bass Spp. Spotted Bass Black Bass Spp.
Redbreast Sunfish Redear Sunfish
Hybrid Bass
Bowfin
Striped Bass
Carp
White Bass Brown Bullhead Catfish
Chain Pickerel Sucker
Bullhead Catfish
Yellow Perch
Flat Bullhead Catfish
Snail Bullhead Catfish Spotted Bullhead Catfish Yellow Bullhead Catfish Blue Catfish Channel Catfish
Walleye Atlantic Croaker Black Drum Red Drum Sheepshead Southern Flounder
Flathead Catfish
Southern Kingfish
White Catfish
Spot
Brook Trout Brown Trout Rainbow Trout
Spotted Seatrout
Striped Mullet Blue Crab/Shrimp 9
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.
Typically Carp, Redhorse Spp,, and Sucker Spp. Are not game fish and/or targeted for table fair and therefore are not include.
Georgia Public Lakes 500 Acres or Larger
Lake Allatoona Species
Black Crappie Bluegill Sunfish Channel Catfish
Hybrid Bass
Largemouth Bass
Spotted Bass White Bass
Lake Andrews Species
Catfish Spp. Largemouth Bass
Banks Lake Species
Bluegill Sunfish Largemouth Bass
Less than 12" Do Not Eat
No Restrictions Do Not Eat
Do Not Eat No Restrictions
Do Not Eat
12" 16"
Do Not Eat Do Not Eat Do Not Eat 1 meal/week
Coosa River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
Thallium
Do Not Eat Do Not Eat Do Not Eat 1 meal/week
AMnteimrcounryy, AMnetirmcuornyy, , Thallium Mercury, Thallium
Mercury
Thallium
Less than 12" 1 meal/week
Chattahoochee River Basin
12" - 16"
Over 16"
Chemical
No Restrictions
1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Less than 12" 12" - 16" No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/month
Suwannee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
Mercury
Bear Creek Reservoir
Species
Less than 12"
Bluegill Sunfish
1 meal/week
Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass
1 meal/week
Redbreast Sunfish
1 meal/week
Redear Sunfish
No Restrictions
12" - 16" 1 meal/week 1 meal/week
10
Oconee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
Mercury
1 meal/week
Mercury Mercury
Mercury
Lake Blackshear Species
Channel Catfish
Less than 12" No Restrictions
12"- 16" 1 meal/week
Flint River Basin Over 16" Chemical
Mercury
Flathead Catfish
No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass*
1 meal/week No Restrictions Mercury
*Only Largemouth Bass greater than 14 inches may be kept.
Black Shoals Lake (Randy Poynter Lake)
Species
Less than 12"
Black Crappie
1 meal/week
Channel Catfish
No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass
Redear Sunfish
No Restrictions
12" - 16"
1 meal/week 1 meal/week
Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16" Chemical
Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury
Lake Blue Ridge Species
Bluegill Sunfish Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass White Bass
Less than 12" No Restrictions
No Restrictions
12" - 16"
Tennessee River Basin Over 16" Chemical
No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week
No Restrictions 1 meal/month
Mercury Mercury Mercury
Lake Burton Species
Bluegill Sunfish Brown Trout Catfish Spp.
Largemouth Bass
Spotted Bass Walleye
Less than 12" 1 meal/month
No Restrictions
12" - 16"
No Restrictions 1 meal/week
No Restrictions
Savannah River Basin Over 16" Chemical
Thallium 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions
1 meal/week Mercury
1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions
Carters Lake Species
Catfish Spp. Hybrid Bass Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Striped Bass Walleye
Less than 12" No Restrictions
12" - 16" No Restrictions
No Restrictions No Restrictions
No Restrictions
Coosa River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury
Lake Chatuge Species
Catfish Spp. Hybrid Bass Largemouth Bass
Spotted Bass
Less than 12" No Restrictions
12" - 16" 1 meal/week
No Restrictions 1 meal/week 11
Tennessee River Basin
Over 16" Chemical
1 meal/week Mercury
1 meal/week Mercury
1 meal/week Mercury
No Restrictions
Mercury
Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond)
Savannah River Basin
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Over 16"
Chemical
Black Crappie
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions No Restrictions
Brown Bullhead
No Restrictions
Channel Catfish
Do Not Eat No Restrictions No Restrictions Thallium
Hybrid Bass
1 meal/month No Restrictions Do Not Eat
Largemouth Bass Redear Sunfish
1 meal/month 1 meal/week No Restrictions
Do Not Eat
Antimony, Thallium Antimony, Mercury, Thallium
Striped Bass
No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
White Perch
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Yellow Bullhead
No Restrictions
Goat Rock Lake Species
Black Crappie Bluegill Sunfish Channel Catfish Hybrid Bass Largemouth Bass White Bass
Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions
1 meal/month
12" 16" No Restrictions
1 meal/week 1 meal/month No Restrictions 1 meal/month
Chattahoochee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
1 meal/month Mercury, PCBs
1 meal/month
PCBs
1 meal/month Mercury, PCBs
PCBs
Lake Harding (Bartletts Ferry)
Species
Less than 12"
Black Crappie
No Restrictions
Channel Catfish
1 meal/week
Hybrid Bass
Do Not Eat
Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Striped Bass White Bass
No Restrictions
12" 16" 1 meal/week No Restrictions
No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions
Chattahoochee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
PCBs
1 meal/week
PCBs
1 meal/week
Mercury, PCBs, Thallium
1 meal/month Mercury
1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs
1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs
Lake Hartwell: Tugaloo Arm
Species
Less than 12"
Black Crappie
No Restrictions
Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions
Channel Catfish Hybrid & StripedBass
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass No Restrictions
Spotted Bass
Walleye
12" 16" No Restrictions
No Restrictions 1 meal/month No Restrictions No Restrictions
Savannah River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
No Restrictions 1 meal/month Mercury, PCBs 1 meal/week Mercury
1 meal/week Mercury
12
Lake Hartwell: Main Body, D.S. Andersonville IS. Georgia/South Carolina Listing
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Over 16"
Chemical
Channel Catfish 1 meal/month 1 meal/month 1 meal/month
PCBs
Hybrid Bass
Do Not Eat
Do Not Eat
Do Not Eat
PCBs
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month 1 meal/month 1 meal/month
Spotted Bass
1 meal/month 1 meal/month 1 meal/month
PCBs PCBs
Main Body. Guidance issued with South Carolina DHEC (Ph.: 1-888-849-7241)
High Falls Lake Species
Black Crappie Channel Catfish Hybrid Bass Largemouth Bass
Redear Sunfish
Less than 12" No Restrictions
No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/month
12" - 16" No Restrictions No Restrictions
No Restrictions
Ocmulgee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
Thallium
Jackson Lake Species
Black Crappie Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass
Redear Sunfish
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Ocmulgee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
No Restrictions
No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/week
Mercury
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Snail Bullhead White Catfish
No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
Lake Juliette Species
Catfish Spp.
Less than 12"
12" - 16"
Ocmulgee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass* No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week
Redear Sunfish No Restrictions
Striped Bass
No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
Mercury
Lake Sydney Lanier
Chattahoochee River Basin
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Over 16"
Chemical
Black Crappie
No Restrictions
Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions
Catfish Spp.
No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week * 1 meal/month Mercury
Spotted Bass
1 meal/week * 1 meal/week Mercury
Striped Bass
No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury
Walleye
1 meal/week Mercury
White Bass
1 meal/week Mercury
*Only Largemouth, Spotted, and Shoal Bass greater than 14 inches may be kept.
13
Lake Nottely Species
Black Crappie Catfish Spp. Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Striped Bass
Less than 12" No Restrictions
No Restrictions No Restrictions
12" - 16 "
1 meal/week 1 meal/week No Restrictions
Tennessee River Basin Over 16 " Chemical
No Restrictions Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury
1 meal/week Mercury
Lake Oconee
Oconee River Basin
Species
Less than 12"
12" - 16 "
Over 16 "
Black Crappie
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Blue Catfish
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions
Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
Hybrid Bass
No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass* No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions
Redbreast Sunfish No Restrictions
White Catfish
No Restrictions
*Only Largemouth Bass greater than 14 inches may be kept.
Chemical Mercury
Lake Oliver Species
Bluegill Sunfish Channel Catfish
Hybrid Bass
Largemouth Bass
Redear Sunfish
Less than 12" 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions
No Restrictions
12" - 16 " No Restrictions 1 meal/week
Chattahoochee River Basin
Over 16 "
Chemical
Antimony
1 meal/month
Chromium, PCBs
1 meal/week
Mercury, PCBs
Lake Rabun Species
Bluegill Sunfish
Catfish Spp. Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Walleye
Less than 12" 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions
12" - 16 "
1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week No Restrictions
Savannah River Basin
Over 16 "
Chemical
Selenium
1 meal/week Mercury
1 meal/week Mercury
1 meal/month
1 meal/week Mercury
Lake Richard B. Russell
Species
Less than 12"
Black Crappie
No Restrictions
Channel Catfish No Restrictions
Flat Bullhead
1 meal/week
Largemouth Bass No Restrictions
12" - 16 " No Restrictions
Do Not Eat
Do Not Eat
Savannah River Basin
Over 16 "
Chemical
No Restrictions 1 meal/month
Thallium Mercury Mercury, Thallium
14
Lake Richard B. Russell
Species
Less than 12"
Sunfish Spp.
No Restrictions
12" - 16 "
Spotted Bass
No Restrictions No Restrictions
White Catfish
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Savannah River Basin
Over 16 "
Chemical
1 meal/week Mercury
Lake Seminole Species
Black Crappie Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass Spotted Sucker Sunfish Spp. Yellow Bullhead
Chattahoochee/Flint River Basin (Apalachicola)
Less than 12" 12" - 16 "
Over 16 "
Chemical
No Restrictions No Restrictions
No Restrictions No Restrictions
1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
No Restrictions No Restrictions
No Restrictions
No Restrictions 1 meal/week
Mercury
Lake Sinclair Species
Black Crappie Channel Catfish Hybrid Bass Largemouth Bass Yellow Bullhead
Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
12" - 16 " No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
Do Not Eat
Oconee River Basin
Over 16 "
Chemical
No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
Mercury, Zinc
Lake Tobesofkee Species
Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass
Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions
12" - 16 " No Restrictions 1 meal/week
Ocmulgee River Basin
Over 16 "
Chemical
No Restrictions
1 meal/week Mercury
Lake Tugalo Species
Bluegill Sunfish Catfish Spp. Largemouth Bass Walleye
Less than 12" 12" - 16 " 1 meal/week
No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week
No Restrictions
Savannah River Basin
Over 16 "
Chemical
Selenium
1 meal/month 1 meal/week
Mercury Mercury
Lake Varner (Cornish Creek Reservoir, Newton County)
Ocmulgee River Basin
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16 "
Over 16 "
Chemical
Channel Catfish
No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass
1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Redear Sunfish
1 meal/week
Cadmium
15
Lake Walter F. George (Eufaula)
Chattahoochee River Basin
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16 "
Over 16 "
Chemical
Black Crappie
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
Hybrid Bass
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass *
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
Black Crappie
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week
PCBs
Hybrid Bass
1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/week
PCBs
Largemouth Bass *
No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury
Spotted Bass
No Restrictions 1 meal/week
Mercury
Striped Bass
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 "
Channel Catfish
Largemouth Bass
1 meal/week
Flint River Basin
Over 16 "
Chemical
1 meal/week Mercury
Mercury
Lake Worth/Lake Chehaw (Old Lake Worth Reservoir)
Flint River Basin
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16 "
Over 16 "
Chemical
Flathead Catfish
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass
1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Redear Sunfish No Restrictions
16
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
Bluegill Sunfish
Largemouth Bass
Less than 12" No Restrictions
12" - 16"
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Coosa River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury, Thallium
Allen Creek Wildlife Management Area, Ponds A and B
Oconee River Basin
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Over 16"
Chemical
Bluegill Sunfish
No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week
1 meal/week
PCBs
Antioch Lake, East & West (Rocky Mountain PFA)
Coosa River Basin
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Over 16"
Chemical
Black Crappie
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Bluegill Sunfish
No Restrictions
Channel Catfish
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
Lake Bennett (Marben PFA, Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center)
Oconee River Basin
Species
Less than 12"
12" - 16"
Over 16"
Chemical
Channel Catfish
No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Redear Sunfish No Restrictions
Big Lazer PFA (Gum Creek Impoundment)
Flint River Basin
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Over 16"
Chemical
Channel Catfish
No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass
No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury
Lake Buncombe (A.H Stephens State Park)
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Bluegill
No Restrictions
Channel Catfish
No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions
Savannah River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
No Restrictions
17
Bush Field Airport, Augusta: Unnamed Pond
Species
Less than 12"
12" - 16"
Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week
Clayton County Water Authority: Blalock Reservoir
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Black Crappie Largemouth Bass
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Savannah River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
Mercury
Ocmulgee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
Clayton County Water Authority: Shamrock Reservoir
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Bluegill Sunfish
No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 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
Bluegill Sunfish
No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
Channel Catfish
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Evans County PFA
Species
Less than 12"
Channel Catfish
Largemouth Bass No Restrictions
12" - 16" 1 meal/week
Ogeechee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
No Restrictions
1 meal/week 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 No Restrictions
Hamburg Millpond (Hamburg State Park)
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week
Redear Sunfish No Restrictions
Ogeechee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
Mercury
18
Heath Lake (Rocky Mountain PFA)
Coosa River Basin
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Over 16"
Chemical
Black Crappie
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions
Channel Catfish
1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs
Largemouth Bass
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Hugh M. Gillis PFA
Species
Less than 12"
Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions
Channel Catfish
Largemouth Bass
12" - 16"
No Restrictions 1 meal/week
Oconee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
No Restrictions
Mercury
Ken Gardens Lake (Albany, Georgia)
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions
Brown Bullhead No Restrictions
Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass
No Restrictions
Flint River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
Kolomoki Lake (Kolomoki Mounds State Park)
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week
Redear Sunfish No Restrictions
Chattahoochee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
Laura S Walker Lake
Species
Less than 12"
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month
Sunfish Spp.
1 meal/week
12" - 16" 1 meal/month
Suwannee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
1 meal/month Mercury
Mercury
Little Ocmulgee State Park Lake (Gum Creek Swamp)
Ocmulgee River Basin
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Over 16"
Chemical
Brown Bullhead
1 meal/week
Mercury
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week
1 meal/month Mercury
Lonice C. Barrett Lake (Flat Creek PFA )
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions
Channel Catfish
Largemouth Bass
1 meal/week
Redear Sunfish No Restrictions
Oconee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
1 meal/week 1 meal/month
Mercury Mercury
19
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 Restriction No Restrictions
Mayers Lake (City of Baxley)
Species
Less than 12"
Black Crappie
No Restrictions
Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass No Restrictions
12" - 16" 1 meal/week
Altamaha River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
1 meal/week Mercury
McDuffie PFA (East Watershed Ponds)
Species
Less than 12"
12" - 16"
Channel Catfish
No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass
No Restrictions
McDuffie PFA (West Watershed Ponds)
Species
Less than 12"
12" - 16"
Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions
Channel Catfish
No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass
No Restrictions
Savannah River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
Savannah River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury
Lake Olmstead (Richmond County)
Species
Less than 12"
Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass No Restrictions
Less than 12" 1 meal/week
Lake Bobben (Paradise PFA)
Species
Less than 12"
Largemouth Bass No Restrictions
12" - 16"
Savannah River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
Mercury
Suwannee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
Horseshoe 4 (Paradise PFA)
Species
Less than 12"
Channel Catfish
12" - 16"
Suwannee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
No Restrictions
Lake Patrick (Paradise PFA)
Species
Less than 12"
Bluegill
No Restrictions
Catfish Spp.
Largemouth Bass
12" - 16"
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Suwannee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
No Restrictions No Restrictions
20
Reed Bingham State Park Lake
Species Sunfish Spp.
Less than 12" 1 meal/week
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month
White Catfish
12" - 16" 1 meal/month
Suwannee River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
Mercury
1 meal/month Mercury
1 meal/month Mercury
Lake Rutledge (Hard Labor Creek State Park)
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16"
Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass 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
Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass *
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Silver Lake PFA Species
Bluegill Sunfish Largemouth Bass
Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions
12" - 16" No Restrictions
Flint River Basin
Over 16"
Chemical
No Restrictions
Stone Mountain Lake
Species
Less than 12"
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month
12" - 16 " 1 meal/week
Ocmulgee River Basin
Over 16 "
Chemical
1 meal/week Mercury
Tribble Mill Lake (Gwinnett County)
Species
Less than 12"
Black Crappie
No Restrictions
Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass No Restrictions
12" - 16 " 1 meal/week
Yohola Lake (Kolomoki Mounds State Park)
Species
Less than 12" 12" - 16 "
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week
Ocmulgee River Basin
Over 16 "
Chemical
Mercury
Chattahoochee River Basin
Over 16 "
Chemical
Mercury
Yonah Lake Species
Walleye
Less than 12" 12" - 16 " 21
Savannah River Basin
Over 16 "
Chemical
1/month
Mercury
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. Typically Bowfin, Smallmouth Buffalo, Carp, Chub, Chubsuckers, Redhorse Spp., and Stonerollers, Striped Jumprock, and Sucker Spp. are not game fish and/or targeted for table fair. Freshwater rivers and creeks are tabulated first, followed by listings for Georgia tidal estuarine systems.
Altamaha River Near Baxley (U.S. Hwy 1)
Species
Site Tested
Bluegill Sunfish
U.S. Hwy 1
Channel Catfish
U.S. Hwy 1
Flathead Catfish
U.S. Hwy 1
Largemouth Bass
U.S. Hwy 1
Altamaha River Near Jesup, Ga. (U.S. Hwy 25/84)
Species
Site Tested
Blue Catfish
U.S. Hwy 25/84
Channel Catfish
U.S. Hwy 25/84
Flathead Catfish
U.S. Hwy 25/84
Hybrid Bass
U.S. Hwy 25/84
Largemouth Bass
U.S. Hwy 25/84
Striped Mullet
Altamaha Park
Altamaha River Basin
Recommendation No Restrictions 1 meal/week
Do Not Eat 1 meal/week
Chemical
Mercury
Mercury Mercury, Thallium Mercury
Altamaha River Basin
Recommendation 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/month No Restrictions
Chemical Mercury
Mercury Mercury Mercury
Ohoopee River (Near Reidsville, Ga., Tattnall County)
Altamaha River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation
Chemical
Catfish Spp.
Ga. Hwy 280 to 56
1 meal/week
Mercury
Largemouth Bass
Ga. Hwy 280 to 56
1 meal/month
Mercury
Redbreast Sunfish Ga. Hwy 280 to 56
1 meal/week
Mercury
Chattahoochee River (Near Helen)
Species
Site Tested
Redeye Bass
Ga. Hwy 75, Helen
Snail Bullhead
Ga. Hwy 75, Helen
Chattahoochee River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
1 meal/week
Mercury
22
Chattahoochee River (Above Lake Lanier)
Species
Site Tested
Black Bass Spp.
Belton Bridge Road
Chattahoochee River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
Chattahoochee River (Buford Dam to Morgan Falls Dam)
Species
Site Tested
Bluegill Sunfish
at Buford Hatchery
Trout Spp.
at Buford Hatchery
Yellow Perch
Above Morgan Falls
Chattahoochee River Basin
Recommendation 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions
Chemical PCBs
Chattahoochee River (Morgan Falls Dam to Peachtree Creek)
Species
Site Tested
Black Bass Spp.
Below Morgan Falls
Bluegill Sunfish
Below Morgan Falls
Trout Spp.
Below Morgan Falls
Chattahoochee River Basin
Recommendation No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
Chemical
Chattahoochee River
Chattahoochee River Basin
Species Bluegill Sunfish Channel Catfish
Site Tested SR 166 (DNR boat ramp) SR 166 (DNR boat ramp)
Recommendation 1 meal/week No Restrictions
Chemical PCBs
Chattahoochee River
Chattahoochee River Basin
Special Advisory for Striped Bass:
(Morgan Falls Dam to West Point Lake, below Franklin)
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation
Chemical
Black Bass Sp. (Largemouth, Smallmouth, Shoal, Spotted)
Morgan Falls Dam to I-285
1 meal/week
Mercury
Striped Bass
Morgan Falls Dam to I-285
1 meal/month
Mercury, PCBs
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.
Chattahoochee River/Centralhatchee Creek (Pea Creek to West Point Lake, below Franklin)
Chattahoochee River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation
Chemical
Channel Catfish
U.S. 27/SR16
No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass
U.S. 27/SR16
1 meal/week
Mercury
Shoal Bass Spotted Bass
U.S. 27/SR16 U.S. 27/SR16
1 meal/week No Restrictions
Mercury
23
Chattahoochee River Species
Flat Bullhead Catfish Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass
Site Tested Below Dam Below Dam Below Dam
Chattahoochee River Basin
Recommendation No Restrictions
Chemical
No Restrictions 1 meal/week
Antimony, Mercury
Chattahoochee River (Oliver Dam to Upatoi Creek, Muscogee County)
Chattahoochee River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Catfish Spp.
Oliver Dam to Eagle Phoenix Dam
No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass
Oliver Dam to Eagle Phoenix Dam
1 meal/month
PCBs
Spotted Bass
u/s From North Highland Dam
1 meal/week
Mercury
Chattahoochee River
Chattahoochee River Basin
(Chattahoochee County to Stewart County; Upatoi Creek to Omaha, Ga.)
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Black Crappie
Oswichee Creek
No Restrictions
Channel Catfish
Oswichee Creek
1 meal/month
PCBs
Largemouth Bass
Oswichee Creek
1 meal/week
Mercury
Chestatee River (Headwaters, Turners Corner)
Species
Site Tested
Redeye Bass
Hwy 19
Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
Chestatee River (Tesnatee River to Lake Lanier)
Chattahoochee River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Catfish Spp.
Downstream Ga. 400 No Restrictions
Spotted Bass
Downstream Ga. 400
1 meal/week
Mercury
Sunfish Spp.
Downstream Ga. 400 No Restrictions
Mud Creek (Near Lula, Hall County)
Species
Site Tested
Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass
Pea Ridge Rd nr Lula Pea Ridge Rd nr Lula
Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions 1 meal/month
Mercury
Mud Creek (Near Powder Springs, Cobb County)
Chattahoochee River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Bluegill Sunfish
Ga. Hwy 360
No Restrictions
24
Nickajack Creek (Cobb County)
Species
Site Tested
Bluegill Sunfish
Cooper Lake Road
Olley Creek (Near Austell, Cobb County)
Species
Site Tested
Redbreast Sunfish
Clay Road
Chattahoochee River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
No Restrictions
Chattahoochee River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
No Restrictions
Proctor Creek (near Atlanta, Ga., Fulton County)
Chattahoochee River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation
Chemical
Redbreast & Green N. Ave/James Jackson
Sunfish
Pkwy
1 meal/month
PCBs, Dieldrin, Heptachlor Epoxide
Yellow & Brown Bullhead
N. Ave/James Jackson Pkwy
1 meal/week
PCBs, Dieldrin, Heptachlor Epoxide
Sewell Mill Creek (Cobb County)
Species
Site Tested
Bluegill Sunfish
Ga. Hwy 120
Upatoi Creek Species
Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass
Site Tested Above Mouth Above Mouth
Chattahoochee River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
No Restrictions
Chattahoochee River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
1 meal/week
Mercury
Allatoona Creek (Cobb County)
Species
Site Tested
Redbreast Sunfish
Ga. Hwy 176
Spotted Bass
Ga. Hwy 176
Coosa River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
No Restrictions
1 meal/week
Mercury
Chattooga River (Northwest Georgia)
Species
Site Tested
Bluegill Sunfish
Chattoogaville
Black Crappie
Chattoogaville
Coosa River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
No Restrictions
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
25
Conasauga River: State Line to Hwy 286 (Hwy 2)
Species
Site Tested
Black Crappie
Ga. Hwy 2
Spotted Bass
Ga. Hwy 2
Conasauga River: Hwy 286 to Calhoun (Old Tilton Bridge)
Species
Site Tested
Channel Catfish
Old Titon Bridge
Spotted Bass
Old Titon Bridge
White Bass
Old Tilton Bridge
Coosa River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
No Restrictions
1 meal/week
Mercury
Coosa River Basin
Recommendation 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/month
Chemical PCBs
PCBs
Coosa River (River Mile Zero to Hwy 100)
Species
Site Tested
Black Crappie
River Mile 2, Rome
Blue Catfish <32"
River Mile 2 & Hwy 100
Blue Catfish >32"
River Mile 2 & Hwy 100
Largemouth Bass
River Mile 2, Rome
Spotted Bass
River Mile 2, Rome
White Bass
Below May's Bar
Coosa River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
Do Not Eat
Thallium
Do Not Eat
Mercury, PCBs
1 meal/month
Mercury, PCBs, Thallium
1 meal/week
Mercury, PCBs
Do Not Eat
Mercury, PCBs
No Restrictions
Coosa River (Hwy 100 to Stateline)
Species
Site Tested
Black Crappie
Foster Bend
Coosa River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
1 meal/week
PCBs
Blue Catfish <32"
Hwy 100
1 meal/month Mercury, PCBs
Blue Catfish >32"
Hwy 100
Do Not Eat
Mercury, PCBs
Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass
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
1 meal/month 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Do Not Eat
PCBs Mercury Mercury, PCBs Thallium
Coosa River: Special Striped Bass (River mile zero in Rome to Stateline/Lake Weiss)
Coosa River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation
Chemical
Striped Bass <22" Multiple sites on Coosa 1 meal/month
PCBs
Striped Bass >22" Multiple sites on Coosa 1 meal/month
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.
26
Coosawattee River (Below Carters Lake Dam)
Species
Site Tested
Bluegill Sunfish
Owens Gin Road
Largemouth Bass
At US Hwy 441
Redeye Bass
Owens Gin Road
Spotted Bass
At US Hwy 441
Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
1 meal/week
Mercury
1 meal/week
Mercury
No Restrictions
Etowah River (Above Lake Allatoona, Cherokee County)
Coosa River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Spotted Bass
SR 5 Spur
1 meal/week
Mercury
Etowah River (Below Lake Allatoona, Bartow/Floyd Counties) Coosa River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Bluegill Sunfish
Below Allatoona Dam No Restrictions
Channel Catfish
U.S. Hwy 411
No Restrictions
Spotted Bass
Below Allatoona Dam
1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs
Striped Bass *
Below Allatoona Dam * No Restrictions
*See also "Coosa River: Special Striped Bass"
Jones Creek (U.S. Forest Service Rd. 28-1)
Species
Site Tested
Brown Trout
Lumpkin County
Coosa River Basin
Recommendation Chemical
Do Not Eat
Antimony, Thallium
Little Dry Creek (Floyd County)
Species
Site Tested
Bluegill Sunfish
Near Rome
Coosa River Basin
Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/month
Antimony, Thallium
Mill Creek (Whitfield County)
Species
Site Tested
Redbreast Sunfish
Near Dalton
Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
Noonday Creek Species
Redbreast Sunfish
Site Tested Cobb County
Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
Oostanaula River (Floyd/Gordon Counties)
Species Bluegill Sunfish
Site Tested Ga. Hwy 156, Calhoun,
GA. Hwy 140
Channel Catfish
Ga. Hwy 140
Spotted Bass
Ga. Hwy 140
See also "Coosa River: Special Striped Bass"
27
Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
No Restrictions 1 meal/week
Mercury
Proctor Creek (Near Acworth, Cobb County)
Species
Site Tested
Green Sunfish
Ga. Hwy 293, Old US 41
Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
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
Beaver Creek (Tributary to Patsiliga Creek)
Species Yellow Bullhead
Site Tested Taylor County
Flint River (Spalding/Fayette Counties)
Species Largemouth Bass Shoal Bass
Site Tested Ga. Hwy 92 Ga. Hwy 92
Flint River Basin
Recommendation 1 meal/month
Chemical Mercury, Thallium
Flint River Basin
Recommendation 1 meal/week No Restrictions
Chemical Mercury
Flint River (Meriwether/Pike/Upon Counties)
Species
Site Tested
Black Bass Spp. Catfish Spp. Sunfish Spp.
Ga. Hwy 18 Ga. Hwy 18 Ga. Hwy 18
Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions
Mercury
Flint River (Taylor County)
Species
Site Tested
Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical
Catfish Spp. Largemouth Bass Shoal Bass
U.S. Hwy 80 U.S. Hwy 80 U.S. Hwy 80
No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions
Mercury
Stripped Bass
U.S. Hwy 80
No Restrictions
Flint River (Above Lake Blackshear, Macon/Dooly Counties)
Flint River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Black Bass Spp.
Oglethorpe, Ga. Hwy 49 1 meal/week
Mercury
Channel Catfish
Oglethorpe, Ga. Hwy 49 No Restrictions
Flint River (Below Lake Blackshear, Worth/Lee Counties)
Flint River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Black Bass Spp.
No. Albany, Ga. Hwy 32 1 meal/week
Mercury
Channel Catfish
No. Albany, Ga. Hwy 32 No Restrictions
28
Flint River (Dougherty/Baker/Mitchell Counties)
Flint River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Flathead Catfish <16"
-
-
-
Flathead Catfish 16-30" Above Newton, GA
Do Not Eat
Thallium
Flathead Catfish >30"
-
-
-
Largemouth Bass
Below Albany & Merck
No Restrictions
Flint River (Decatur County)
Species
Site Tested
Black Bass Spp.
East Bank near Bainbridge
Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
Mercury
Gum Creek Species
Largemouth Bass
Site Tested Crisp County
Ichawaynochaway Creek Species
Largemouth Bass
Site Tested Cordays Millpond
Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
Flint River Basin
Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
Kinchafoonee Creek (Sumter/Lee Counties)
Species
Site Tested
Black Bass Spp.
Ga. Hwy 49 to 118
Flint River Basin
Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
Muckalee Creek (Sumter/Lee Counties)
Species
Site Tested
Black Bass Spp.
McLittle Bridge Rd. to Ga. Hwy 118
Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
Patsiliga Creek (Upstream of Beaver Creek, Taylor County)
Flint River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Chain Pickerel
McCants Millpond to Ga. Hwy 208
1 meal/week
Mercury
Largemouth Bass
McCants Millpond to Ga. Hwy 208
No Restrictions
Patsiliga Creek (Downstream of Beaver Creek)
Species
Site Tested
Bass Spp. *
Taylor County
*Bass: Largemouth & Shoal
Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/month
Mercury
Spring Creek (Seminole/Decatur/Miller Counties)
Flint River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Largemouth Bass
Ga. Hwy 84
1 meal/week
Mercury
Sunfish Spp.
Ga. Hwy 84
1 meal/week
Mercury
29
Ochlockonee River (Moultrie to Thomasville)
Species
Site Tested
Catfish Spp.
Hwy 19
Largemouth Bass
Hwy 19
Sunfish Spp.
Hwy 19
Warmouth
Hwy 19
Ochlockonee River Basin Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
1 meal/month
Mercury
1 meal/week
Mercury
1 meal/week
Mercury
Ochlockonee River (Thomasville to State Line)
Species
Site Tested
Largemouth Bass
Ga. Hwy 93
Sunfish Spp.
Ga. Hwy 93
Ochlockonee River Basin
Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/month
Mercury
No Restrictions
Ocmulgee River (Butts/Monroe Counties)
Species
Site Tested
Catfish Spp.
Below Lake Jackson
Largemouth Bass
Below Lake Jackson
Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Ocmulgee River (Jones/Monroe Counties)
Species
Site Tested
Channel Catfish
Popes Ferry
Largemouth Bass
Popes Ferry
Shoal Bass
Popes Ferry
Ocmulgee River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
1 meal/week
Mercury
Ocmulgee River (Bibb County)
Species
Site Tested
Black Crappie Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish Largemouth Bass
6 Miles Downstream of Tobesofkee Creek
6 Miles Downstream of Tobesofkee Creek
6 Miles Downstream of Tobesofkee Creek
6 Miles Downstream of Tobesofkee Creek
Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
1 meal/week
Mercury
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 Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
1 meal/week
Mercury
Ocmulgee River (Pulaski County)
Species
Site Tested
Channel Catfish
Hawkinsville
Largemouth Bass
Hawkinsville
30
Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
No Restrictions
Ocmulgee River (Wilcox/Dodge/Ben Hill/Telfair Counties) Ocmulgee River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Bluegill Sunfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish Largemouth Bass
U.S. Hwy 280 U.S. Hwy 280 U.S. Hwy 280 U.S. Hwy 441
1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/month 1 meal/week
Mercury Mercury Mercury Mercury
Ocmulgee River (Telfair/Coffee/Jeff Davis Counties)
Ocmulgee River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Flathead Catfish
US Hwy 341/ Flat Tub Rd
1 meal/week
Mercury
Largemouth Bass
US Hwy 341
1 meal/week
Mercury
South River (DeKalb/Rockdale County)
Species
Site Tested
Bluegill Sunfish
Hwy 155, Panola Shoals
Largemouth Bass
Hwy 155, Panola Shoals
Snail Bullhead
Hwy 155, Panola Shoals
Ocmulgee River Basin
Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/week
PCBs
No Restrictions
1 meal/week
PCBs
South River (Henry County)
Species
Site Tested
Black Crappie
Snapping Shoals
Channel Catfish
Below Snapping Shoals
Largemouth Bass
Snapping Shoals
Redear Sunfish Spotted Bass
Snapping Shoals Snapping Shoals
Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/week
PCBs
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
No Restrictions No Restrictions
South River (Butts County) Species
Black Crappie Brown Bullhead Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass Redear Sunfish Snail Bullhead White Catfish
Site Tested Ga. Hwy 36 Ga. Hwy 36 Ga. Hwy 36 Ga. Hwy 36 Ga. Hwy 36 Ga. Hwy 36 Ga. Hwy 36
Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
1 meal/week
PCBs
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
31
Yellow River Species
Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass
Apalachee River Species
Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass
Site Tested Hwy 36 Hwy 36
Site Tested Apalachee Beach Apalachee Beach Apalachee Beach
Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Oconee River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
Middle Oconee River (Above & Below Athens)
Species
Site Tested
Redbreast Sunfish U.S. Hwy 29 (Above)
Oconee River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
North Oconee River (Above and Below Athens, Clarke County) Oconee River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Flat Bullhead Redbreast Sunfish
Whitehall Rd. (Below) Newton Bridge Road Whitehall Rd. (Below)
No Restrictions No Restrictions
Oconee River (Clarke/Oconee/Greene Counties)/Cedar Creek Oconee River Basin
Species Bluegill Sunfish Catfish Spp. Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass
Site Tested Barnett Shoals Drive
Ga. Hwy 15 Barnett Shoals Drive Barnett Shoals Drive
Recommendation No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions
Chemical Mercury
Oconee River (Baldwin/Wilkinson Counties)
Species
Site Tested
Channel Catfish
Milledgeville to Dublin
Flathead Catfish
Milledgeville to Dublin
Largemouth Bass
Bear Dam WMA
Oconee River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
1 meal/week
Mercury
Oconee River (Laurens County)
Species
Site Tested
Channel Catfish
I-16
Flathead Catfish
I-16
Largemouth Bass
I-16
Redbreast Sunfish
I-16
Oconee River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
1 meal/week
Mercury
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
32
Canoochee River (Hwy 192 to Ogeechee River)
Species
Site Tested
Catfish Spp.
U.S. Hwy 280
Largemouth Bass
U.S. Hwy 280
Sunfish Spp.
U.S. Hwy 280
Snail Bullhead
U.S. Hwy 280
Ogeechee River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
1 meal/month
Mercury
1 meal/month
Mercury
1 meal/month
Mercury
Ogeechee River (Jefferson County, Louisville)
Species
Site Tested
Bullhead
U.S. Hwy 1
Largemouth Bass
U.S. Hwy 1
Redbreast Sunfish
U.S. Hwy 1
Ogeechee River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
1 meal/month
Mercury
1 meal/month
Mercury
1 meal/week
Mercury
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
Ogeechee River (Jenkins County, Millen)
Species
Site Tested
Catfish Spp.
Scarboro Road
Hybrid Bass
U.S. Hwy 25
Largemouth Bass
Scarboro Road
Redbreast Sunfish
Scarboro Road
Striped Bass
U.S. Hwy 25
Ogeechee River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
1 meal/week
Mercury
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
Channel Catfish
Ga. Hwy 24 (so. bridge)
1 meal/week
Mercury
Largemouth Bass Redbreast Sunfish Snail Bullhead
Ga. Hwy 24 (so. bridge) U.S. Hwy 301 U.S. Hwy 301
1 meal/month 1 meal/week 1 meal/week
Mercury Mercury Mercury
Yellow Bullhead
U.S. Hwy 301
1 meal/week
Mercury
Ogeechee River (Bulloch/Effingham Counties)
Species
Site Tested
Bluegill Sunfish
Hwy 119
Largemouth Bass
Hwy 119
Redbreast Sunfish
Hwy 119
Ogeechee River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
1 meal/week
Mercury
1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs
33
Ogeechee River (Bryan County, Black Ck near Ellabelle)
Ogeechee River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Channel Catfish
Ga. Hwy 204
1 meal/month
Mercury
Largemouth Bass
Ga. Hwy 204
1 meal/month
Mercury
Redbreast Sunfish
Ga. Hwy 204
1 meal/week
Mercury
Ogeechee River (Near Ft. McAllister)
Species Striped Mullet
Site Tested Fort McAllister
Ogeechee River Basin
Recommendation No Restrictions
Chemical
Short Creek (Warren County)
Species
Site Tested
Sunfish
Warren County
Ogeechee River Basin
Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
Satilla River (Near Waycross, Ware/Brantley Counties)
Satilla River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Bullhead
U.S. Hwy 84
1 meal/week
Mercury
Largemouth Bass
U.S. Hwy 84
1 meal/month
Mercury
Satilla River (Folkston, Burnt Fort, Charlton/Camden Counties) Satilla River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Bullhead-Catfish Spp.
Ga. Hwy 252
1 meal/week
Mercury
Flathead Catfish <30"
Ga. Hwy 252
1 meal/month
Flathead Catfish >30"
Ga. Hwy 252
1 meal/month
Mercury
Largemouth Bass Sunfish Spp. White Catfish
Ga. Hwy 252 Ga. Hwy 252 Ga. Hwy 252
1 meal/month 1 meal/week No Restrictions
Mercury Mercury
Brier Creek (Burke County) Species
Largemouth Bass
Site Tested Ga. Hwy 56
Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/month
Mercury
Chattooga River (Northeast Georgia, Rabun County)
Savannah River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Brown Trout
Burrell's Ford Bridge
No Restrictions
Green Sunfish
Redbreast Sunfish
Redeye Bass
Hwy 28 nr Pine Mountain
Burrell's Ford Bridge Hwy 28 nr Pine Moun-
tain
No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/week
Mercury Mercury, Selenium
34
Coleman River (Near Mouth, Rabun County)
Species
Site Tested
Rainbow Trout
Near Tate City Rd.
Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
Ebenezer Creek Species
Bluegill Sunfish Largemouth Bass White Catfish
Site Tested Tommy Long Boat Ramp Tommy Long Boat Ramp Tommy Long Boat Ramp
Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
1 meal/month
Mercury
1 meal/week
Mercury
Panther Creek (Stephens County)
Species
Site Tested
Bluegill Sunfish
At Yonah Dam Road
Channel Catfish
At Yonah Dam Road
Flat Bullhead
At Yonah Dam Road
Largemouth Bass White Catfish
At Yonah Dam Road At Yonah Dam Road
Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
1 meal/week
Mercury
1 meal/week
Mercury
1 meal/week 1 meal/week
Mercury Mercury
Savannah River (Below Clarks Hill Dam, Columbia County) Savannah River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation
Chemical
Bluegill Sunfish Largemouth Bass Striped Mullet
Above New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam
Above New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam
Above New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam
No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
Savannah River (Richmond/Burke Counties)
Savannah River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation
Chemical
Largemouth Bass
Below New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam
1 meal/week
Mercury
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 Counties), 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
Bluegill Sunfish
U.S. Hwy 301
1 meal/week
Mercury
Channel Catfish
U.S. Hwy 301
No Restrictions
Largemouth Bass
U.S. Hwy 301
1 meal/month
Mercury
Redear Sunfish
U.S. Hwy 301
No Restrictions
Specific consumption guidelines have not been issued for the radionuclides cesium-137 & strontium-90, in the Savannah River (Burke/Screven Counties), adjacent to the Savannah River Site (SRS). Guidance on mercury were evaluated and deemed to be protective.
35
Savannah River (Effingham County)
Species
Site Tested
Channel Catfish
Ga. Hwy 119
Largemouth Bass
Ga. Hwy 119
Sunfish Spp.
Ga. Hwy 119
Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
1 meal/week
Mercury
No Restrictions
Savannah River (Fort Howard)
Species
Site Tested
Bowfin
Near Rincon
Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass Redbreast Sunfish
U.S. Hwy 17 Near Rincon, I-95, and
U.S. Hwy 17 Near Rincon
White Catfish
Near Rincon
Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/month No Restrictions
Mercury
1 meal/week
Mercury
No Restrictions 1 meal/week
Mercury
Savannah River (Tidal Gate)
Species
Site Tested
White Catfish
Tidal Gate
Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
Savannah River: Special Striped Bass
Savannah River Basin
(New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam to Estuary, Chatham County.)
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Striped Bass 26" 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 con-
tain, 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 26 inches.
Spirit Creek Species
Bluegill Sunfish
Largemouth Bass
Redear Sunfish
Site Tested Above Richmond
Factory Pond Above Richmond
Factory Pond Above Richmond
Factory Pond
Savannah River Basin
Recommendation Chemical
Do Not Eat
Mercury, Thallium
Do Not Eat
Thallium
Do Not Eat
Thallium
Tallulah River Species
Rainbow Trout
Site Tested Charlies Creek Road
Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
36
Tributary to Hudson River (Alto, Ga., Banks County)
Savannah River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Brown Bullhead
Below Alto Prison
No Restrictions
Redeye Bass
Below Alto Prison
1 meal/week
Mercury
St. Marys River (Charlton County)
Species
Site Tested
Bluegill Sunfish
US Hwy 301 nr Folkston
Channel Catfish
US Hwy 301 nr Folkston
Largemouth Bass
US Hwy 301 nr Folkston
Redbreast Sunfish
Near St. George
St. Marys River Basin
Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
1 meal/week
Mercury
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
St. Marys River Basin Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/month
Mercury
1 meal/week
Mercury
No Restrictions
Alapaha River (Tifton to Stockton)
Species
Site Tested
Bullhead Largemouth Bass
Near Statenville
Near Statenville, U.S.Hwy 82 to 84
Redbreast Sunfish
U.S.Hwy 82 to 84
Suwannee River Basin Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/month
Mercury
1 meal/month
Mercury
No Restrictions
Alapahoochee River (Near State Line)
Species
Site Tested
Bullhead
Echols County
Suwannee River Basin
Recommendation Chemical
1 meal/week
Mercury
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
Okefenokee Swamp (Stephen Foster State Park)
Suwannee River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Bowfin
Billy's "Lake"
1 meal/month
Mercury
Chain Pickerel
Billy's "Lake"
1 meal/month
Mercury
Flier (sunfish)
Billy's "Lake"
1 meal/week
Mercury
37
Suwannee River (Clinch/Ware/Echols Counties) Suwannee River Sill to State Line
Suwannee River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Bowfin Chain Pickerel Flier
U.S. Hwy 441
Short Camp Road & U.S. 441 U.S. Hwy 441
1 meal/month 1 meal/week 1 meal/week
Mercury Mercury Mercury
Warmouth
U.S. Hwy 441
No Restrictions
Yellow Bullhead
U.S. Hwy 441
No Restrictions
Withlacoochee River
Suwannee River Basin
(Hahira to State Line, Berrien/Lowndes Counties)
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Largemouth Bass
Below Hwy 84
1 meal/month
Mercury
Redbreast Sunfish
Below Hwy 84
1 meal/week
Mercury
Buffalo Creek Species
Bluegill Sunfish Brown Bullhead
Site Tested Carroll County Carroll County
Tallapoosa River Basin
Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions
1 meal/week
PCBs
Little Tallapoosa River Species
Black Crappie Brown Bullhead Largemouth Bass
Tallapoosa River Species
Black Crappie
Site Tested U.S. Hwy 27 U.S. Hwy 27 U.S. Hwy 27
Site Tested Ga Hwy 100
Tallapoosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
Tallapoosa River Basin
Recommendation
Chemical
Do Not Eat
Mercury, Thallium
Little Tennessee River (Rabun County)
Tennessee River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Mixed Bass/Sunfish 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
Rock Creek Species
Brown Trout Rainbow Trout
Site Tested Southeast of Blue Ridge Southeast of Blue Ridge
Tennessee River Basin Recommendation Chemical
No Restrictions No Restrictions
38
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.
Savannah River Estuary
Savannah River Basin
(New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam to Estuary, Chatham County)
Species
Site Tested
Recommendations
Chemical
Striped Bass 27"
and greater in
U.S. Hwy 17/SR 25
1 meal/month *
Mercury
length
* 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.
Savannah River Estuary
Species Sheepshead Striped Mullet
Site Tested CB_02_15762 U.S. Hwy 17/SR 25
Savannah River Basin
Recommendations 1 meal/week No Restrictions
Chemical Mercury
Wassaw Sound Species
Shrimp
Spotted Seatrout
Site Tested Multiple Multiple
Recommendation No Restrictions
No Restrictions
Chemical
Ossabaw Sound Species
Blue Crab Striped Mullet
Site Tested Casey Canal Casey Canal
Ogeechee River Basin Recommendations Chemical
No Restrictions No Restrictions
St Catherines Sound North Newport River (Upper) & Cay/Peacock Cks, Riceboro Ogeechee River Basin
Species Blue Crab Striped Mullet
Site Tested N. Newport River Cay & Peacock Creeks nr. I-95
Recommendations 1 meal/week No Restrictions
Chemical Mercury
39
Sapelo Sound Species
Brown Shrimp
Site Tested Multiple
Ogeechee River Basin Recommendations Chemical
No Restrictions
Sapelo Sound--Mud River
Species
Site Tested
White Shrimp
Mud River
Ogeechee River Basin Recommendations Chemical
No Restrictions
Altamaha Sound Species
Flounder Spotted Seatrout Striped Mullet
Site Tested Below Hwy 17 Multiple in Delta Below Hwy 17
Altamaha River Basin
Recommendations Chemical
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
1 meal/week
Thallium
Saint Simons Sound Species
Tripletail
Site Tested Northern end of Jekyll
Island
Satilla River Basin Recommendations Chemical
No Restrictions
St Andrew Sound (Satilla River)
Species Blue Crab Southern Kingfish Spot Spotted Seatrout
Site Tested
CB_02_15762 U.S. Hwy 17/SR 25
Satilla River Basin
Recommendations
Chemical
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
Cumberland Sound Species
Shrimp
Site Tested Multiple
St. Mary's Basin Recommendations Chemical
No Restrictions
40
SPECIAL LISTINGS
Turtle River System: Purvis & Gibson Creeks (St. Simons Estuary)
Satilla River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Atlantic Croaker
Do Not Eat
PCBs
Black Drum
1 meal/week
PCBs
Blue Crab
1 meal/week
Mercury
Red Drum
1 meal/week
PCBs
Sheepshead
1 meal/week
Mercury
Shrimp
Purvis &
No Restrictions
Silver Hake
Southern Flounder Southern Kingfish (whiting)
Gibson Creeks
1 meal/week 1 meal/week
Do Not Eat
Mercury PCBs
Mercury, PCBs
Spot
1 meal/month
PCBs
Spotted Seatrout
1 meal/month Mercury, PCBs
Striped Mullet
Do Not Eat
PCBs
Clams, Mussels, Oysters
Not applicable
Do Not Eat
Harvesting Prohibited *
* Shellfish Harvesting Prohibited : National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For infor-
mation see Coastal Resources Division website: https://coastalgadnr.org
Turtle River System: Upper Turtle & Buffalo Rivers (St. Simons Estuary)
Satilla River Basin
Species Atlantic Croaker
Site Tested
Recommendation 1 meal/month
Chemical PCBs
Black Drum
No Restrictions
Blue Crab
1 meal/week
Mercury
Red Drum Sheepshead Shrimp Southern Flounder Southern Kingfish (whiting)
Spot
Spotted Seatrout
Turtle and Buffalo Rivers, Upriver of Georgia Hwy
303
1 meal/week 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions
1 meal/week
Do Not Eat
1 meal/week
Mercury Mercury, PCBs
Mercury, PCBs PCBs,
Thallium Mercury
Striped Mullet
1 meal/month
PCBs
Clams, Mussels, Oysters
Not applicable
Do Not Eat
Harvesting Prohibited *
* Shellfish Harvesting Prohibited : National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For information see Coastal Resources Division website: https://coastalgadnr.org
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Turtle River System: Middle Turtle River (St. Simons Estuary)
Satilla River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Atlantic Croaker
1 meal/month
PCBs
Black Drum
1 meal/week
PCBs
Blue Crab
1 meal/week
Mercury
Blue Fish
Do Not Eat
Thallium
Red Drum
1 meal/week
Mercury
Sheepshead
Shrimp
Southern Flounder Southern Kingfish (whiting)
State Hwy 303 to Channel Marker 9
1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions
1 meal/month
Mercury, PCBs PCBs
Spot
1 meal/month
PCBs
Spotted Seatrout
1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs
Striped Mullet
1 meal/month
PCBs
Clams, Mussels, Oysters
Not applicable
Do Not Eat
Harvesting Prohibited *
* Shellfish Harvesting Prohibited : National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For infor-
mation see Coastal Resources Division website: https://coastalgadnr.org
Turtle River System: Lower Turtle & South Brunswick Rivers (St. Simons Estuary)
Satilla River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Atlantic Croaker
1 meal/week
PCBs
Black Drum
No Restrictions
Blue Crab
No Restrictions
Red Drum
No Restrictions
Sheepshead
1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs
Shrimp
No Restrictions
Silver Hake Silver Perch (Yellowtail)
State Hwy 303 to Channel Marker 9
1 meal/week 1 meal/week
PCBs Mercury
Southern Flounder Southern Kingfish (whiting)
No Restrictions 1 meal/week
Mercury, PCBs
Spot
1 meal/week
PCBs
Spotted Seatrout
1 meal/week
Mercury
Striped Mullet
1 meal/week
PCBs
Clams, Mussels, Oysters
Not applicable
Do Not Eat
Harvesting Prohibited *
* Shellfish Harvesting Prohibited : National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For information see Coastal Resources Division website: https://coastalgadnr.org
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St. Simons Estuary:
Satilla River Basin
Terry & Dupree Creeks & Back River to St. Simons Sound
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Atlantic Croaker
No Restrictions
Blue Crab
No Restrictions
Red Drum Shrimp Silver Hake Southern Flounder
Terry and Dupree Creeks North of Torras Causeway to Conflu-
No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
Spot
ence with Back River
No Restrictions
Spotted Seatrout
No Restrictions
Striped Mullet
No Restrictions
Clams, Mussels, Oysters
Not applicable
Do Not Eat
Harvesting Prohibited *
* Shellfish Harvesting Prohibited : National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For information see Coastal Resources Division website: https://coastalgadnr.org
St. Simons Estuary:
Satilla River Basin
Terry & Dupree Creeks & Back River to St. Simons Sound
Species Black Drum
Site Tested
Recommendation No Restrictions
Chemical
Blue Crab
No Restrictions
Red Drum Shrimp Silver Perch (Yellowtail)
Terry Creek South of Torras Causeway to
Lanier Basin
No Restrictions No Restrictions
1 meal/week
Mercury
Spot
1 meal/month
Thallium
Spotted Seatrout
No Restrictions
Striped Mullet
No Restrictions
Clams, Mussels, Oysters
Not applicable
Do Not Eat
Harvesting Prohibited *
* Shellfish Harvesting Prohibited : National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For information see Coastal Resources Division website: https://coastalgadnr.org
St. Simons Estuary:
Satilla River Basin
Terry & Dupree Creeks & Back River to St. Simons Sound
Species
Site Tested
Recommendation Chemical
Blue Crab
Back River 1 mile above 1 meal/month
Thallium
Shrimp
Terry Creek Confluence No Restrictions
Spot
with Torras Causeway to No Restrictions
Thallium
Spotted Seatrout
St Simons Sound
No Restrictions
Clams, Mussels, Oysters
Do Not Eat
Harvesting Prohibited *
* Shellfish Harvesting Prohibited : National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For information see Coastal Resources Division website: https://coastalgadnr.org
Academy Creek
Satilla River Basin
Species
Site Tested
Recommendations Chemical
Blue Crab
Academy Creek 43
No Restrictions
Atlantic Ocean Species
Southern Flounder
Spotted Seatrout Summer Flounder Summer Flounder Summer Flounder Summer Flounder Summer Flounder Summer Flounder
Location
Altamaha Estuary River
Altamaha Estuary River
DRH Artificial Reef CDH Reef HLHA Reef
J Artificial Reef JY Artificial Reef
SFC Reef
Recommendation
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week
Chemical
Arsenic Arsenic Arsenic Arsenic Arsenic
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.
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King Mackerel: Atlantic Ocean Offshore Georgia Coast
Atlantic Ocean
Size Range (Fork Length = FL)
Recommendation
24 to Less than 33 inches 33 to 39 inches (a 33 inch fish weighs approximately 10 pounds)
No Restrictions 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 to 17 pounds)
Do Not Eat
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 fastgrowing, long-lived top predator, the king mackerel has a propensity for accumulating high levels of mercury.
45
Index
A Academy Creek ...............................43 Alapaha River..................................37 Alapahoochee River ........................37 Allatoona Creek ..............................25 Allen Creek Wildlife Management Area,
Ponds A and B............................ 17 Altamaha River ...............................22 Altamaha Sound .............................40 Antioch Lake ...................................17 Apalachee River ..............................32 Atlantic Ocean ................................44
B Back River ..................................42-43 Banks Lake ......................................10 Bear Creek Reservoir ......................10 Beaver Creek...................................28 Big Lazer PFA...................................17 Black Shoals Lake (Big Haynes Res/
Randy Poynter Lake) ...................11 Brier Creek .....................................34 Bush Field Airport ..........................18
C Canoochee River ............................33 Carters Lake ....................................11 Cedar Creek (nr Athens) ..................32 Centralhatchee Creek (nr Franklin)..23 Chattahoochee River..................22-24 Chattooga River, NE Georgia ........... 34 Chattooga River, NW Georgia..........25 Chestatee River...............................24 Clarks Hill Lake (Lake Thurmond) ....12 Clayton County Water Authority:
Blalock Reservoir ........................ 18 Clayton County Water Authority:
Shamrock Reservoir .................... 18 Coleman River.................................35 Conasauga River ........................ 25-26 Coosa River ..................................... 26 Coosawattee River .......................... 27 Cumberland Sound ......................... 40
D Dodge County PFA (Steve Bell Lake) 18 Dupree Creek.................................. 43
E Ebenezer Creek .............................. 35 Etowah River .................................. 27 Evans County PFA ........................... 18
F Flint River .................................. 28-29 Fort Yargo State Park Lake .............. 18
G Gibson Creek .................................. 41 Goat Rock Lake ............................... 12 Gum Creek...................................... 29
H Hamburg Millpond, Hamburg State
Park ............................................ 18 Heath Lake (Rocky Mountain PFA ) .19 High Falls Lake ................................13 Horseshoe 4 (Paradise PFA) ............20 Hugh M. Gillis PFA ..........................19
I Ichawaynochaway Creek ................29
J Jackson Lake ...................................13 Jones Creek ....................................27
K Ken Gardens Lake ...........................19 Kinchafoonee Creek........................29 Kolomoki Lake ................................19
L Lake Acworth..................................17 Lake Allatoona................................10 Lake Andrews .................................10 Lake Blackshear ..............................11 Lake Blue Ridge ..............................11 Lake Bobben (Paradise PFA) ...........20 Lake Buncombe ..............................17
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L Lake Burton.................................... 11 Lake Chatuge ................................. 11 Lake Chehaw (Flint River Res) ........ 16 Lake Harding (Bartletts Ferry)......... 12 Lake Hartwell ............................ 12-13 Lake Juliette ................................... 13 Lake Nottely................................... 14 Lake Oconee .................................. 14 Lake Oliver ..................................... 14 Lake Olmstead ............................... 20 Lake Patrick (Paradise PFA) ............ 20 Lake Rabun .................................... 14 Lake Richard B. Russell.............. 14-15 Lake Rutledge (Hard Labor Ck) ........21 Lake Seed........................................21 Lake Seminole.................................15 Lake Sinclair ....................................15 Lake Sydney Lanier..........................13 Lake Tobesofkee .............................15 Lake Tugalo.....................................15 Lake Varner.....................................15 Lake Walter F. George (Eufaula)......16 Lake Worth (Flint River Reservoir)...16 Laura S Walker Lake........................19 Little Dry Creek ...............................27 Little Ocmulgee State Park Lake ......19 Little River, Lowndes County ...........37 Little Tallapoosa River .....................38 Little Tennessee River .....................38 Lonice C. Barrett Lake (Flat Creek
PFA) ............................................. 19
M Margery Lake (Marben PFA)............20 Lake Mayers....................................20 McDuffie PFA ..................................20 Middle Oconee River.......................32 Mill Creek, Whitfield County .......... 27 Muckalee Creek ............................. 29 Mud Creek ......................................24 Mud River (Sapelo Sound)...............40
N Nickajack Creek .............................. 25 Noonday Creek ............................... 27 North Oconee River ........................ 32
O Ochlockonee River.......................... 30 Ocmulgee River ......................... 30-31 Oconee River .................................. 32 Ogeechee River.......................... 33-34 Ohoopee River................................ 22 Okefenokee Swamp........................ 37 Olley Creek ..................................... 25 Oostanaula River ............................ 27 Ossabaw Sound .............................. 39
P Panther Creek ................................ 35 Patsiliga Creek ............................... 29 Proctor Creek (Cobb Co.)................. 28 Proctor Creek (Fulton Co.)............... 25 Purvis Creek.................................... 41
R Reed Bingham State Pk. Lake.......... 21 Rock Creek...................................... 38
S Saint Simon's Sound ....................... 40 Sapelo Sound.................................. 40 Satilla River..................................... 34 Savannah River .......................... 35-36 Savannah River Estuary .................. 39 Sewell Mill Creek ............................ 25 Shepherd Lake (Marben PFA).......... 21 Short Creek..................................... 34 Silver Lake PFA................................ 21 South Brunswick River .................... 41 South River ..................................... 31 Spirit Creek ..................................... 36 Spring Creek ................................... 29 St. Andrews Sound.......................... 40 St Catherines North Newport River &
Cay/Peacock Creeks.................... 39
47
S St. Marys River................................37 Stone Mountain Lake ......................21 Suwannee River ..............................38 Swamp Creek ..................................28
T Talking Rock Creek ..........................28 Tallapoosa River..............................38 Tallulah River ..................................36 Terry Creek......................................43 Tribble Mill Lake..............................21 Tributary to Hudson River ...............37 Turtle River System .................... 41-42 Turtle River, Lower..........................42 Turtle River, Middle ........................42 Turtle River, Upper..........................41
U Upatoi Creek ...................................25
W Wassaw Sound................................39 West Point Lake ..............................16 Withlacoochee River .......................38
Y Yellow River ....................................32 Yohola Lake.....................................21 Yonah Lake......................................21
48