Fisheries Section annual report, fiscal year 1980

\

FISHERIES SECTION ANNUAL REPORT

FY 80

July 1, 1979- June 30, 1980

Game and Fish Division Department of Natural Resources
Atlanta, Georgia

June 1981

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The role of the Fisheries Section of the Game and Fish Division is to preserve, enhance, and provide for utilization of Georgia's freshwater fishery resources. To accomplish this goal, the Fisheries Section operates a number of programs including: private waters management, public waters management, trout production and stocking, warmwater hatchery production, operation of Public Fishing Areas, and research and surveys.
The statewide fisheries program continued its success in FY 80. Approximately 1.2 million fishermen fished about 20.4 million days, generating considerable economic impact within the state. The Fisheries Section expended $2.98 million in FY 80, $540,000 of which were federal funds. Sport fishing license sales generated $2.5 million, and freshwater fishermen spent about $395 million resulting in state revenues of $11.85 million from sales tax. These figures provide evidence of the overall cost effectiveness of the Section's program.
In private waters management, a program which provides technical assistance to pond owners, field investigations were conducted on 1,028 ponds in FY 80. Additionally, about 5,000 pond owners received assistance by telephone and office consultations. Over 6.6 million fish were provided to stock 1,997 ponds.
Expenditures totaling over $856,700 were directed toward management of public waters in FY 80 which makes this program the most important in terms of money and manpower expended. The breadth of services and activities covered by this program suggests its significance. Formulation of fishing laws and regulations, management of state park lakes, pollution and fish kill investigations, fish surveys, aquatic plant surveys and treatments, boat ramp construction
i

and maintenance, management and development, technical coordination with other agencies, and environmental reviews and assessments are all activities comprising this program.
Forty-nine public water fish kills were investigated; aquatic plant surveys were conducted on four rivers and one lake; and chemical treatments were applied on fourteen bodies of water. Also, 95 boat ramps were inspected and deeds for 24 ramps were transferred from the state to local governments. Technical assistance was provided to the Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division regarding the management of lakes on 16 parks, and 105 environmental reviews and assessments were conducted.
The trout production and stocking program is one of the most popular programs of the Fisheries Section. Over 1 million catchable (approximately 9 inches) trout were stocked into waters open for public fishing to accommodate approximately 150,000 trout anglers who annually spend about 1.2 million days trout fishing. The sale of trout stamps generated $186,513 in license year 1980 which paid 40% of the trout management program.
The warmwater hatchery production program provides bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass, channel catfish, striped bass, hybrid bass and other species for stocking new or renovated private ponds and to meet fishery management needs of public waters. Approximately 22.4 million fish were distributed from the state's 7 warmwater hatcheries in FY 80. Of this total, 31% went to private ponds with the remainder going to public waters and to other fisheries agencies.
Six Public Fishing Areas with 24 lakes (508.6 acres} were managed by the Fisheries Section in FY 80. Two areas were closed for renovation. The four areas open to the public provided 47,793 fishing trips. Harvest from these areas was 107,175 fish weighing 68,989 pounds or an average of 2.24 fish weighing 1.44
i i

pounds per fisherman trip. Sixty-two percent of the fishermen were required by law to purchase the daily-use permit, generating $29,961 in state revenues. The total operating cost of this program was $165,068 or a net cost of $2.83 per fishing trip provided.
The research and surveys program is essential because it provides information regarding the condition of the states fishery resources, indicates when management activities are needed, and provides an evaluation of management techniques and program effectiveness. In FY 80, 4,984 man-days were devoted to 35 studies at a cost of $430,028. The Dingell-Johnson Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration Program supplied $305,334 of this total and the Anadromous Fish Federal Aid Program supplied $1,893.
Capital improvements during FY 80 included installation of fish holding vats at Cordele and McDuffie Hatcheries and the foundation for a fish holding house at McDuffie. Work continued at Lake Burton Hatchery on a project funded during FY 78 and FY 79 which includes raceway renovation and construction of waste treatment facilities and a five-stall garage.
iii

INTRODUCTION
Georgia's aquatic habitat includes 182,116 acres of impoundments less than 50 acres, 37,076 acres of impoundments between 50 and 500 acres, and 312,398 acres of impoundments larger than 500 acres. Also 12,338 miles of warmwater streams wider than 10 feet, 3,987 miles of designated trout streams, and a significant estuarine resource exist in Georgia. Previous reports have erroneously given the warmwater stream mileage as 21,252. The Georgia Wildlife Habitat Inventory recently was found to contain an error that grossly inflated the estimated mileage of warmwater streams.
Fishermen represent the largest group of wildlife-oriented recreationists in Georgia. Approximately 1.2 million fishermen, representing almost half the state's households, spend about 20.4 million days each year fishing.
Recreational fishing has considerable economic value to the state. The 761,447 sport fishing licenses and permits sold during the license year ending March 1980 generated $2.5 million. Freshwater fishermen spend about $395 million annually which results in additional state revenues of $11.85 million from sales tax. In FY80, the Fisheries Section expended $2.98 million, $540,000 of which were federal funds, to manage the fishery resource. This total expenditure is equal to approximately 15 per fishing day or $2.50 per fishermen.
The statewide fisheries program is administered from a central office in Atlanta, seven regional offices, and ten district offices (Figure 1). Services are provided primarily at the regional and district levels by 31 fishery biologists, 44 fishery technicians, 11 clerical employees, and 5 construction/ maintenance employees. Forty-two non-merit seasonal laborers serve as sup-
1

* Central Office Atlanta [] Regional Offices 1 Calhoun 2 Gainesville 3 Walton 4 Ft. Valley 5 Albany 6 Waycross 7 Oemeries Creek

<:) District Offices
1 Calhoun 2 Gainesville 3 Walton Hatchery 4 McDuffie Hatchery 5 Manchester 6 Ft. Valley 7 Steve Cocke Hatchery 8 Bowens Mill Hatchery 9 Metter 10 Demeri es Creek

0 . State Hatcheries ~P'ublic Fishing Areas

1 Burton

2 Surnnerville

3 Buford

4 Walton

5 McDuffie

6 Steve Cocke

7 Cordele

8 .g

Bowens Mill Richmond Hill

1 Arrowhead 2 McDuffie 3 Baldwin Forest 4 Williams 5 Treutlen County 6 Evans County

Figure 1. Georgia Fisheries regions, showing locations of administrative officies. hatcheries, and Public Fishing Areas.

2

porting staff. Active programs in FY 80 included: private waters management, public
waters management, trout production and stocking, warmwater hatchery production, state operation of public fishing areas, research and surveys, hatchery renovation, weed control, boat ramp construction and maintenance, and a few lesser programs. Most of the FY 80 expenditures went to public waters management, hatchery production, and research and surveys (Table 1}. Region IV had the largest program expenditure primarily because of capital outlay projects administered there.
This report summarizes fishery management activities of the section in FY 80 and quantifies where possible the level of service provided through various programs. Cost analyses are provided where appropriate and when accounting records are available.
PRIVATE WATERS MANAGEMENT The primary objective of this program is to provide technical assistance to pond owners in the management of ponds and lakes. Fisheries personnel provide this service at the district level upon request from the pond owner. Assistance is directed at needs or problems relating to fish population balance, aquatic vegetation, fish kills, and general management. Pre-stocking checks are performed to verify information on fish applications. Fisheries personnel conducted 1,028 field investigations during FY 80 (Table 2} down from 1,066 field checks in FY 79. Also, an estimated 5,000 pond owners and managers were provided technical assistance by telephone and office consultations. Pond extension work required 2,015 man-days of work at a total cost (excluding the cost of producing fish for stocking} of$170,500
3

Table 1. Fisheries Section expenditures (expressed in thousands of dollars~ in FY 80 by region and program.

Program

Atlanta Officea I

II Ill

Region

IV

v VI VII Tota1b

Public Waters Mgt. 47.2 72.8 94.6 137.6 191.2 106.4 107.2 99.7 856.7

Private Waters Mgt. 10.2 20.5 3.5 30.8 22.8 28.4 39.2 25.3 180.7

Warmwater Hatcheries 18.3 3.4

84.0

127.6 48.2 46.0 327.5

Trout Production/ Stocldng

25.8 64.0 372.8

462.6

Public Fishing Areas

9.9 58.7

36.0 40.8 6.9 24.3

176.5

Federa1 Aid Surveys/ 19.7 17.4 96.6 33.1 23.0 111.9 95.8 78.8 476.3 Research/Development

Weed Control

1.6

25.8

27.4

Facility Maint.

2.7

43.6

46.3

Hatchery Renovation

C.O. Funds

34.9

34.9

Administration

b.O

65.6

71.6

Boat Ramp Repair

C.O. Funds

50.3

27.8

78.1

Administration

13.0

13.0

Land Acquisition

226.0

226.0

Total

417.7 236.8 567.5 321.4 488.5 381.2 314.6 249.9 2977.6

arxpenses of the Atlanta office were prorated among all state funded programs after applying federal aid coordination, boat ramp repair, and land acquisition costs solely to those programs. Drhe figures in this table may not add to the totals given due to rounding to nearest 0.1 thousand.

4

Table 2. Field investigations carried out on private waters in each district during FY 80.

Region

District

Balance

General management

Type of pond check {Number)

Aquatic vegetation

Fish kills

Pre-stocking checks

Total

Calhoun

14

0

2

9

53

78

II

Gainesville

14

5

3

3

7

32

(.TI

III

Walton

Thomson

89

9

30

14

5

32

1

136

18

26

2

90

IV

Macon

Manchester

95

18

71

25

18

9

0

140

11

5

1

113

v

Albany

Cordele

18

10

49

10

1

11

2

42

2

26

0

87

VI

Waycross

Metter

35

18

26

21

17

36

9

115

20

40

0

107

VII

Richmond Hi 11

34

10

24

15

5

88

Total

475

140

Percent of tota1

46

13

121

212

80

1028

12

21

8

100

or $84.62 per man-day. For comparison 1,854 man-days of effort and $139,402 were spent on this program in FY 79 with 2,824 man-days and $190,000 spent in FY 78. Owners of 1,997 ponds received over 6.8 million fish for stocking (Table 3).
Surveys have shown that 40-50% of the fishing pressure in the state is exerted on small lakes and ponds which verifies the importance of this program. These waters provide a great deal of recreation to the public even though most are privately owned.
PUBLIC WATERS MANAGEMENT This program covers a broad spectrum of services and activities aimed toward the wise use of Georgias vast and diverse aquatic resources. It is an active program encompassing fishing laws and regulations, management of state park lakes, pollution and fish kill investigations, fish surveys, aquatic plant surveys, boat ramp construction and maintenance, management and development, technical coordination with other agencies, environmental reviews and assessments, employee training, special services, and general administration. Fishing Laws and Regulations The Fisheries Section, in conjunction with the Law Enforcement Section, Information and Education Section, and the DNR Legal Staff, developed, reviewed, and printed the fishing laws and regulations for the 1980 fishing season. Major changes in the regulations involved the implementation of a 11 Slot limit" for largemouth bass on Lake Oconee, the reduction in the minimum size limit for largemouth bass from 12 to 6 inches on Lakes Burton and Blue Ridge, and the promulgation of eel harvest regulations for coastal rivers. Fisheries
6

Table 3. Ponds stocked in FY 80.

Region District

Ponds Stocked Number Jkres

Bluegill

ercent of pon s stocked at
fertilized rate

Percent of acres stocked at
fert il i zed rate

Calhoun

44 212

111,535 27,875 13,635 14,235

81

69

II Gainesville

37 143

20,440

5,110

2,555 15,560

78

22

III Walton

96 322

144,055 37,518 18,464 17,084

85

74

Thomson

356 1,319

554,521 138,631 67,959 111,386

93

76

IV Macon

134 665

302,860 75,713 33,713 58,044

94

84

""-J

Manchester

34 98

44,700 11.175

5,028

6,823

100

100

v Albany

180 1,378

726,966 67,975 50,618 55,455

92

48

Cordele

139 746

261,570 57,705 37,755 55,581

75

55

VI Metter

312 1,627

666,750 164,808 79,715 120,053

78

72

Waycross

576 3,931 1,640,078 411,175 240,211 195,059

78

43

VII Ri cl'lnond

89 334

119,335 28,920 18,505 33,220

87

76

Hi 11

Total

1,997 10,779 4,592,810 1,026,425 568,157 682,500

83a

58 a

aweighted means

staff also attended public hearings concerning proposed changes in the regulations. Assistance was provided periodically to the Law Enforcement Section and regularly to the general public in the interpretation of fishing laws and regulations. Pollution and Fish Kills Investigated
Fisheries personnel investigated 49 public water fish kills during FY 80. Esti~ates of the number of fish killed were obtained for 33 of these and totaled 902,714 with a monetary value of $100,155. Investigation costs totaled $12,763. The cause was determined for 39 kills with agricultural, municipal, and industrial pollution being the most common. Civil penalties totaling $16,000 were collected on four fish kills by the Environmental Protection Division {EPD). Several cases involving FY 80 fish kills are still pending. Nineteen pollution reports not involving fish kills were also investigated and reported to the EPD. For comparison, 40 kills were investigated in FY 79 with the cause determined for 30 of these and 18 pollution reports were passed on to EPD. Fish Surveys
This portion of public waters management involves fish population sampling not covered by the section on research and survey studies discussed later.
Fisheries Section personnel surveyed fish populations by electrofishing and/or gillnetting in lakes Blue Ridge, Allatoona, Chatuge, Clarks Hill, Jackson, Sinclair, Tobesofkee, Walter F. George, Bartletts Ferry, Oliver, and Goat Rock. These surveys were conducted for such purposes as to gather general life history data, to locate areas of concentration of important game species, and to determine the success of past stocking activities. Three
8

rotenone samples were also taken atClarksHill. Also surveyed by electrofishing were the Chattahoochee River to determine survival of 1979 trout stockings, and the Flint River and Ichawaynochaway Creek to determine the abundance of shoal bass in response to inquiries by local fishermen. Electrofishing samples were also taken from Hobson and Horseleg Creeks for environmental impact statements (EIS) assessment and from Banks Lake at the request of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to aid in their EIS preparation. Preimpoundment surveys were conducted on two different Little Bear Creeks. Gillnetting to monitor anadromous American shad populations and electrofishing in search of rare species were conducted in the Savannah River. The Fisheries Section also conducted population analyses in lakes at Fort Vargo, James 11 Sloppy 11 Floyd, Hard Labor Creek, Sweetwater Creek, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Reed Bingham State Parks and at Stone Mountain Park. Aquatic Plant Control
The Savannah, Withlacoochee, Little, and New Rivers, and Lake Worth were surveyed for the presence of aquatic weed problems. State Parks and Historic Sites Division personnel were provided technical assistance in weed control at Hard Labor Creek, Fort Vargo, Magnolia Springs, and A. H. Stephens State Parks. Also, a new aquatic herbicide treatment chart recommending treatment levels, sources, and price ranges of various chemicals was developed. Table 4 summarizes statewide aquatic plant herbicide treatments during FV 80. Boat Ramp Program
Ninety-five boat ramps were inspected for general condition and maintenance needs. Numerous directional signs were installed throughout the state. Maintenance costs totaled $41,005 and man-days expended on this activity totaled 161. Deeds for 24 state-owned boat ramps were transferred to local
9

Table 4. Herbicide treatments applied by statewide Aquatic Weed Control Program in FY 80.

Body of Water

County

Target Pest

Acres Affected

Acres Treated

Number of Treatments

Percent Success of treatment

Streams

Radium Springs

Dougherty Hydrilla

7.5

7.5

3

70

Ocmulgee River

Jones

Alligator Weed

0.5

0,5

1

75

Ebenezer Creek

Effingham Alligator Weec

2.5

1.5

1

90

Ogeechee River

Chatham

Alligator Weed

1.5

0,5

1

90

Total

12.0

10.0

6

78a

Reservoirs

Blackshear

Crisp, Sumter Lyngbya

300.0

40.0

7

35

0

Jackson Blackshear

Butts

A11 i gator Weed

15.0

Oooly

Bacopa

10.0

10.0

6

5.0

1

85 Unknown

Worth

Dougherty Water hyacinth

20.0

1.0

1

100

Total

345.0

56.0

15

4la

Publicly-Owned Small Lakes

Indian Springs

Butts

Najas, Potamogeton 30.0

10.0

1

90

High Falls

Monroe Lyngbya

5.0

1.0

1

50

Lake Rutledge

Morgan Watermeal

0.5

0.5

1

75

t1arbury Creek Impoundment Barrow Najas

3.0

3.0

1

100

Wi 11 i ams PFA

Crisp

~1111 ow

40.0

40.0

1

50

Kolomoki State Park

Early

Brasenia sp.

10.0

0.2

1

50

Magnolia Springs State Park Jenkins Water 1i1 ies,

5.0

5.0

1

60

Bacopa, Smartweed,

Parrots feather

Total

93.5

59.7

7

6oa

GRAND TOTAL

450,5

125.7

28

54 a

aweighted means

governments. Grants, to cover repair and maintenance costs, accompanied all of these deeds and totaled $47,758. Several other state-owned ramps were offer~d for transfer but were not accepted by the local governments. Table 5 provides details concerning boat ramp transfers and grants. No new boat ramps were built in FY 80. Management and Development
Fish attractors were constructed or maintained in Lakes Burton, Clarks Hill, Jackson, Bartletts Ferry, and Oliver, and in lakes on Fort Vargo, Hard Labor Creek, and Sweetwater Creek State Parks. Shelters also were installed at Stone Mountain Park Lake.
r~anagement recommendations were provided for: lakes at 16 state parks, 2 city owned lakes, and Stone Mountain Park Lake. Fisheries personnel also worked with Chatham County officials on the Management of Lake Meyer, with Albany/Dougherty County officials on the development of a plan for the management of existing lakes and construction of new lakes, and with Georgia Power Company on the stocking and management of Lake Juliette.
A total of 32 stream alteration structures, including 20 splash dams, 7 cover logs, and 5 pool and cover-producing rock structures, were constructed on Amicalola Creek on Amicalola State Park. This was done to restore stream habitat through the old lake bed. Sixteen cover logs were constructed on Waters Creek to provide additional cover for large trophy-size fish maintained in this stream. Also, maintenance was performed on four existing structures on Waters Creek. All trout stream structure work was financed with OJ funds.
During FY 80, a total of 30 trips were made to Sapelo Island by Coastal Region personnel to perform management functions on 4 freshwater lakes on the island. Management activities included fish population assessments, stocking,
11

Table 5. Boat ramps transferred from state to local government ownership during FY 80.

County
Brantley Bleck ley camden Charlton Coffee Coffee Dodge Effingham Effingham Floyd Floyd laurens laurens Pierce Putnam Richmond Sumter Tattnall Tattnall Tattnall Telfair Telfair Twiggs Wilkinson Total

Repair &Maintenance
Grants ($)
$ 800 2,000 2,000 2,500 1,000 1,000 1,500 1,925 2,750 500 500 2,122 2,426 500 1,000 1,500 4,387 3,500 1,500 1,000 500 500 2,348 10,000
$47,758

12

liming, fertilization, herbicidal treatnents, and a fish kill investigation. A revised management plan also was developed for these lakes.
Plans were developed to initiate a streamway restoration project on the Ogeechee River. Two commercial operations were inspected for possible purchase and use as state fish hatcheries or Public Fishing Areas. Two new water supply reservoirs and a renovated lake owned by the city of Lawrenceville were stocked. Adult threadfin shad were stocked in lakes on Hard Labor Creek, Fort Vargo, and Sweetwater Creek State Parks, and in Lake Blue Ridge. Also, a selective gizzard shad kill was conducted at Hard Labor Creek.
Meetings were held with the Florida Fish and Game Agency regarding hybrid stockings in Lake Seminole and with Auburn University and the Corps of Engineers in developing a fishery management plan for West Point Reservoir. Technical Assistance to Other Agencies
Technical assistance was provided to Georgia Power Company in developing a fisheries management plan for Tallulah Falls Lake. The Tennessee Valley Authority was assisted in developing management plans for Lakes Blue Ridge, Nottely, and Chatuge. Assistance was provided to the Forest Service in management planning for the Chattahoochee National Forest and on road construction and timber sale at Waters Creek. Fisheries biologists commented on a management plan developed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for Banks Lake as a satellite to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service was assisted in formulating a project proposal to investigate PCB levels in Lake Hartwell fishes and in evaluating fish habitat in the upper Chattahoochee River Basin.
Assistance was provided to the U. S. Soil Conservation Service on projects dealing with: Salacoa Creek Watershed, Beaver Creek Watershed, Cedar
13

Creek Watershed, planning small watershed fisheries surveys, and stream temperature modeling.
Biologists worked with the University of Tennessee in developing graduate theses evaluating the management potential of shoreline seeding to ensure consistent year-classes of largemouth bass in Lake Nottely. Also, biologists worked with the University of Georgia in a study of striped bass winter movements in the lower Savannah River and in developing a proposal to study contaminants in this population. Comments were provided on a University of Georgia endangered species report. Auburn University also received assistance in designing a creel survey on Walter F. George Reservoir.
Fisheries personnel aided the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers in developing a bioassay study in the Buford Dam tailwaters, in the monitoring of dredging activities on the Chattahoochee River below Columbia lock and dam, and in considering seaplane landings on Allatoona and Carters Reservoirs. Also, the Corps and the National Park Service were assisted concerning the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area. The Section also assisted the Corps in conjunction with the Department of Transportation regarding boat ramp construction. The South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Division was aided in the completion of the freshwater fisheries portion of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Services Georgia-South Carolina Sea Island Characterization Study. Finally, the Atlanta Regional Council was provided input concerning the proposed Big Haynes Creek Reservoir as was the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia concerning the proposed construction of a hydropower unit at New Savannah Bluff and a re-regulation dam at Carters Reservoir. Environmental Reviews and Assessments
The Fisheries Section (in compliance with the Fish and Wildlife Coordina-
14

tion Act, the Clean Water Act, and other environmental regulations) reviews and comments on projects and programs involving fishery habitat. The purpose of these comments is to provide for protection, enhancement, and/or mitigation of fishery resources.
In FY 80 the Section reviewed 105 such projects (Table 6). Some of these reviews, such as private boat piers or rip rap placement, required little staff time. Others, however, required detailed field review and data analysis. For example, the Atlanta Regional Commission's Metropolitan Atlanta Water Resources Management Study involving the Chattahoochee River trout waters and the Buford Trout Hatchery required a large amount of staff time from the Atlanta office and from two regional offices. Extensive man-hours were spent reviewing documents, attending meetings, and coordinating comments with other agencies.
Comments on these projects are sent through the Game and Fish Division and DNR to the State Clearinghouse in the Office of Planning and Budget. Comments on a~plications for water quality permits are sent to the Environmental Protection Division. Information, Education and Training
Table 7 summarizes the information and education activities conducted by the Fisheries Section in FY 80.
Training activities were comprised of: 106 employees attending 17 different shortcourses, workshops or symposia expending 268 man-days; 47 employees attending 14 merit system training courses expending 85 man-days; and 61 employees attending 13 other training courses and expending 110 man-days. Other Activities
Fisheries Section biologists served on the Pollution, Trout, Warmwater
15

Table 6. Environmental reviews and assessments conducted by Fisheries Section in FY 80.

Subject/Agency
1. Boat docks, boat ramps, piers. rip rap 2. Projects involving dredge and fill activities 3. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and
Department of Energy projects 4. Corps of Engineers
a. River maintenance b. River basin studies c. Flood control d. Plant control 5. Road construction 6. Soil Conservation Service projects 7. A-85 reviews 8. Policies of federal agenciesa 9. Wastewater treatment and related projects 10. Surface water withdrawals a. municipal b. irrigation 11. Rural Electrification Administration
12. Activities of u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service
13. Housing and Urban Development projects 14. Surface mining activities 15. Municipal water supply plans Total

Number
17 11
11
3 3 2
1
8 8 7 7 6
4 1 5 4 3 2 2
105

au.s. Forest Service, National Park Service, Heritage Conservation and
Recreation Service, Tennessee Valley Authority, Department of the Army.

16

Table 7. Information and education activities conducted in FY 80.

Activity

Number

Persons Attending

Man-Days Expended

INFORMATION

Public Talks

49

1867

50

News and Press

91

NA

15

Releases

Magazine Articles

4

NA

6

......

Prepared

.........

Game &Fish Public

24

535

42

Hearings &Meetings

Fish Hatchery Tours

128

2150

14

General &Technical

5920

104

Information Requests

EDUCATION

Classes Taught

25

562

21

Total

6241

5114

252

Streams, Striped Bass, Reservoirs, and Fish Disease Committees of the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society. Georgia participated in a Trout Committee project designed to evaluate the relative survival of wild and hatchery strains of brown trout. Also, information was compiled and provided to the Fish Disease Committee concerning fish disease causes and severity.
Assistance was provided to the Savannah Office of Industry and Trade and the Statesboro Chamber of Commerce in developing plans to re-instate annual shad fishing derbies in the Ogeechee River. A DNR planning team was assisted in evaluating an estate for possible purchase with Heritage Trust funds and the recently purchased Amicolola tract was reviewed and work was begun on a fish management plan.
Blood and liver tissue samples were collected from white bass and striped x white bass hybrids from Clarks Hill Reservoir and sent to Cornell University to aid in a research project. Tilapia were collected from a St. Simons Island
lake and sent to Auburn University and Texas A &MUniversity for studies on
exotic species distribution in the southeast. A joint program with EPD designed to monitor PCB levels in fish from the Coosa River drainage was continued. Also, fish for contaminant analysis were collected from the Coosa River drainage at the request of the Environmental Protection Agency. Biologists worked with local bass clubs collecting age and growth data during tOIJrnaments. Personnel assisted in the clean-up of the Chattahoochee River after the annual raft race.
TROUT PRODUCT! ON Trout stream habitat in Georgia, composed of 3,987 miles or about 7,700 acres of water, is relatively limited considering the number of fishermen utilizing this resource. Approximately 150,000 trout fishermen made about 1.2
18

million trout fishing trips in FY 80 (156 trips per acre). This amount of pressure cannot be sustained by Georgias native trout populations. To buffer pressure on the trout resource and to maintain the quality of native trout fishing, trout are reared to a catchable size (about 9 inches) at Lake Burton, Summerville, and Buford Hatcheries (Figure 1) for stocking into selected public trout streams, tailwaters, and impoundments. These fish are grown from fingerlings provided by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Catchable trout are also produced at federal hatcheries for stocking Georgia's trout waters, a great portion of which occur on federally owned lands.
The states three coldwater hatcheries produced a net weight of 187,816 pounds of trout in FY 80 at at average cost of $1.69 per pound (Table 8). This represents a substantial improvement over the 122,538 pounds at $2.13 per pound produced in FY 79. This improvement was due primarily to increased production at Buford Hatchery resulting from greater overall efficiency and the ability to avoid water quality problems such as have been experienced in the past. Production cost is derived from the annual operating expense of each facility and from salaries and fringe benefits paid to hatchery and administrative personnel through the regional level. Trout were produced at a feed conversion ratio (pounds of feed required to produce one pound of fish) of 1.81 (Table 8).
The number of catchable trout stocked continues to increase each year. A total of 1,036,196 catchable trout were stocked into waters open to public fishing during FY 80 (Table 9). State hatcheries reared and stocked 60% of this total. The remainder were produced at federal hatcheries and stocked by federal and state fisheries personnel. For comparison, 916,889 catchable trout were stocked in FY 79 and 887,665 in FY 78. Trout were distributed by
19

Table 8. Trout production (lbs.), conversion ratios, and costs at state hatcheries in FV 80.

Species

Costs ($)

Hatchery

Rainbow Brook Brown Total

Total Per lb.

Buford

Net weight gain

83,098 2,594 11,600 97,292

157.592 1.62

Conversion ratio

1.69 1.90 1.54

1.68a

N

0

Burton

Net weight gain

81,287

81,287

121,725

1.50

Conversion ratio

1.76

1.76a

Su11111erville

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

9,237 2.94

9,237 2.94a

37,470 4.06

Total

Net weight gain

173,622 2,594 11 ,600 187,816

316.787 1.69

Conversion ratio

1.82 1. 90

1.54

1.8la

aweighted means

Table 9. Number and weight of each species of trout stocked into Georgia's public waters from state and federal hatcheries during FY 80.

Brook

Rainbow

Brown

Total

Facility

Number Weight (1b)

Number Weight ( 1 b)

Number Weight ( 1 b)

Number Weight (1b)

State hatcheries

Buford

catchables

12,400 3,221

208,301 58,983

19,459 5,659

240,160 67,863

_N_,

fingerlings

49,000 1,689

40,000

563

89,000 2,252

Burton catchables fingerlings

271,400 78,202 27,739 1,096

271,400 78,202 27,739 1,096

Sunmerville catchables fingerlings

102,710 24,373

102,710 24,373

Federal hatcheries catchables fingerlings

391,926 112,090

30,000 4,805

26,946

456

421,926 116,895

26,946

456

Total catchables fingerlings

12,400 3,221

974,337 273,648 76,739 2,785

49,459 10,464 1,036,196 287,333

66,946 1,019

143,685 3,804

state personnel at a cost of $0.40 per pound. The State's total cost for rearing and distributing trout to Georgia's public waters was approximately $2.09 per pound {$0.58 per catchable fish) as compared to $2.34 per pound {$0.71 per catchable fish) in FY 79.
Sixty-five percent of the trout were stocked into streams, 20% tailwaters, 12% reservoirs, and 3% small lakes {Table 10). In addition, 143,685 fingerling brown and rainbow trout {3-5 inches long) were stocked into public streams and tailwaters, up from 114,576 stocked last fiscal year.
Resident trout stamp sales have increased substantially in recent years from 68,872 in 1977, to 80,078 in 1978, to 86,964 in 1979. The sale of resident and non-resident trout stamps in licenseyearl979 (Aprill, 1979 -March 31, 1980) generated a revenue of $186,513. Trout stamps, in effect, paid 40% of the State's cost of the trout program. Trout stamp revenues totaled $171,382 in 1979 and $147,134 in 1978.
WARMWATER HATCHERIES The Fisheries Section produced warmwater fish at six hatcheries in FY 80 (Figure 1). Five warmwater hatcheries produced the majority of the fish, with Summerville Trout Hatchery contributing a few. These fish are produced for stocking newly constructed or renovated private ponds and to meet management needs of public waters. Bluegill, redear sunfish, and largemouth bass are generally produced at all hatcheries. Channel catfish are produced only at McDuffie and Cordele Hatcheries. These species are hatched annually from spawning stocks maintained at the hatcheries and reared to fingerlings for distribution to pond owners that have applied for fish. Bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish are distributed from October to March with bass issued the following
22

Table 10. Number and wefght of catchable trout stocked by species fn each habitat type from all hatcheries in FY 80.

Habitat

Brook

Rainbow

Brown

Total

Rumlier Qe~gfit{16} Rum6ir gef gfit [16} RUiiilier lilel gfit(16} Rum6ir Qeigfit{lf.i}

Streams by County

Bartow Catoosa Chattooga Cherokee Dade Dawson Fannin Floyd Gilmer Gordon Habersham Haralson Lumpkin Murray Paulding Pickens Polk Rabun Stephens Towns Union Walker White Whitfield

2.000

568

400

104

Total

2,400

672

TaiZwaters

Buford Dam

10,000

lake Hartwell

Lake Blue Ridge

Total

10,000

2,549 2,549

Reser'VOirs
Burton Chatuge Clark Hill Lanier Tallulah Falls Total

SmaU Lakes
Blackburn Conasauga Dockery Edmondson Nancy Town Rock Creek Vogel Winfield Scott Total Grand Total

12,400

3,221

1,900 6,400
3.825 1,400 3,350 12,000 72,910 15,300 30,100 2,550
21.600 10.900 88,500 10,800 10,700 10,100 6,050 110,289 21,900 43,515 79,009 11,275 77,000
400

264 1,658
724 294 717 3.273 19,418 3,726 8.442 482 5,913 2,688 24,631 2,540 2,721 2,451 1,576 30,223 6,287 11,615 22,551 2,689 21,232 80

651,773 176,195

100,487 35,774 24,497 160,758

27,789 9,939 6,521 44,249

5,000 5,000 19,800 100,096 1,000 130,896

1,374 1,628 6,229 35,555
249
45,035

600 3,000 8,100 2,400 2,000 4,510 4,000 6,300

139 640 2.244 699 507 1,103 1,037 1,800

30,910 8,169

974,337 273,648

1,400

429

1,600

322

1,600

322

1,600

322

3.000

603

1,700

313

3,700

744

1,800

332

16,400 3,387

1,900 6,400 3,825 1.400 3.350 13.400 74,510 15,300 32,100 2,550 23,600 10,900 90,100 10,800
10.700 10,100
6.050 113,289 21.900 45,215 82,709 11,275 78,800
400

264 1,658
724 294 717 3,702 19,740 3,726 9,010 482 6,339 2,688 24,953 2,540 2.721 2,451 1,576 30,826 6.287 11,928 23,295
2,689 21,564
80

670,573 180,254

30,459 6,279

2,600

798

33,059 7,077

140,946 38,374 24,497 203,817

36,617
1o. 737
6,521 53,875

5,000 5,000 19,800 100,096 1,000
130,896

1,374 1,628 6,229 35,555
249
45,035

49,459 10,464

600 3,000 8,100 2,400 2,000 4,510 4,000 6,300

139 640 2,244 699 507 1,103 1,037 1,800

30,910 8,169

1,036,196 287,333

23

spring. These speciess when stocked in combinations have been proven through years of research to provide the best possible fishing.
The above species are also stocked into public waters as dictated by management needs, but striped bass and striped bass x white bass hybrids are the primary warmwater species used in public water stockings. Using intensive culture methods, fisheries personnel artificially propagate these species at Richmond Hill Hatchery from wild fish collected during their natural spawning runs. Dingell-Johnson federal aid funds are used in this production phase. Most of the fry produced are stocked into state hatchery ponds to grow to fingerlings (3/4-1 inch). Small numbers of other warmwater species are occasionally produced to meet specific management needs.
In FY 80, the hatcheries produced approximately 32 million fry and fingerling fish (Table 11). This was an 18% decrease from FY 79 which reflects the closure of Arrowhead and Walton Hatcheries. Average production cost per fish varied from $0.003 for striped bass and striped-white bass hybrid fry to $39.26 for sub-adult bluegill, which were produced in limited numbers at Summerville Hatchery. Fingerling fish cost an average of $0.027 per fish. Production by species and associated costs at each hatchery appear in Tables 12 and 13. The tables do not include forage species, but their costs were included in the cost of predator fish which they fed. Ninety-five percent of the fish produced in FY 80 were distributed (Table 11). Eighty-eight percent of production was distributed in FY 79. The difference in the production and distribution t,;tals results from natural mortalities, handling, holding and transporting mort.. lities, and use of surplus fish as forage to maintain spawning stocks.
Thirty-one percent of all fish distributed went to private pond owntrs 1n FY 80 (Table 14). Bluegills redear sunfishs channel catfish, and largE:th.JII111
24

Table 11. Total numbers and costs per fish of warmwater species produced at and distributed from state hatcheries in FY 80.

Production

Di stri buti on

Species

Acres

Number

Cost per Avg. no per acre fish ($)

Number

Cost pera fish ($)

Bl uegi 11 fingerling sub-adult

35.4 6,148,600

0.2

26

173,689 130

0.014 39.260

5,287,800 0.016 26 39.260

Redear sunfish fingerling

11.6 1,294, 992

111.637

0.028

1,178,440 0.030

Largemouth bass fingerling sub-adult

24.3

856,345

1.7

278

35,241 164

0.070 17.770

770,710 0.080 278 17.770

Striped bass

fry

NA 6,140,000

NA

0.003

6,140,000 0.003

N

fingerling

6.9

633.915

91,767

0.018

627.560 0.019

()"!

Striped-white

hybrid bass

fry

NA 14,195,000

NA

0.003

14,195,000 0.003

fingerling

14.7

928,739

63.180

0.026

910,160 0.027

Channel catfish fry fingerling adult

7.9

495,000

14.4

872,203

4.3

13,363

62,658 60,570 3,108

0.055
o. 071
1.1.10

0 802,430 13,363

NA 0.077 1.110

Shoa 1 bass fingerling

4.6

25,032

5,442

0.686

25,032 0.686

Brown bullhead fingerling adult
Total

0.3 0.7
127 .o

2,500 3,558
31,609,551

8,333 5,083

o. 541
0.367

0 3,558 29,954,357

0 0.367

acost of each latter production phase includes cost associated with previous phase.

Table 12. Number of each warmwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY 80.

Species
--
Bl uegi 11 fingerling sub-adult

Sulll1lerville McDuffie

Cordele

Steve Cocke

Bowens Mill

Richmond Hill

Total

1,439,919 598,000 857,537 1,696,403 1,556,740 6,148,599

26

26

Redear sunfish fingerling

354,634

138,885

536,451

265,022 1,294,992

Largemouth bass fry fingerling sub-adult

298,663

404,400 194,410
278

216,612

146,660

404,400 856,345
278

Striped bass f'ry fingerling

10,400

462,478

6,140,000 161,037

6,140,000 633,915

N O'l

Striped-white hybrid bass

fry

fingerling

594,368

12

14,195,000 14,195,000

334,359

928,739

Channel catfish fry fingerling adult

252,397 13,363

495,000 619,806

495,000 872,203 13,363

Shoal bass fingerling

12,410

12,622

25,032

Brown bull head fingerling adult

2,500 3,558

2,500 3,558

Total

10,426

2,827,512 2,319,584 1,608,144 2,449,466 22,798,818 32,013,950

Table 13. Cost per fish of each warmwater speci~s produced at state hatcheries in FY 80. Cost of each latter production phase includes cost associated with previous phase.

Species

Surnnerville McDuffie Cordele

Steve Cocke

Bowens Richmond

Hill

IIi 11

Bluegill fingerling sub-adult
Redear sunfish fingerling
Largemouth bass fingerling sub-adult
Striped bass fry fingerling
Striped-white hybrid bass fry fingerling
Channel catfish fry fingerling adult
Shoal bass fingerling
Brown bull head fingerling adult

39.260 0.147

0.016 0.000 0.024 0.031
0.007

0.019 0.008 0.066 0.014 0.110 0.100 17.770

0.049 1.112 0.541 0.367

0.014 0.055 0.080 0.804

374.830 0.571

0.016 0.039 0.088 0.003 0.039 0.003 0.047

27

Table 14. Numbers of warmwater fish distributed from state hatcheries in FY 80. Totals include fish provided by federal hatcheries, surplus brood stock, and fish available as by-products of other programs.

Species

Private waters

Reservoirs

Streams

Publicly owned small lakes

Public fishing areas

Other fisheries agencies

Total

Bluegill fingerling sub-adult

4,592,810

145,853 26

308,000

142,000

5,188,663 26

Redear sunfish

fingerling

1,026,425

52,455

77,000

50,000

1,205,880

largemouth bass fingerling sub-adult adult

568,157

106,107 278

12.712

13,775 94

25,900

726,651 278 94

cN o

Striped bass fry

fingerling

523,428

1,535,000 101,909

2,550,000

4,085,000 625,337

Striped-white hybrid fry fingerling

1,650,000 909,732

3,044

7,240,000

8,890,000 912,776

..

Channel catfish fingerling

adult

659,972

8,000

28,100

30,000 13,363

748,600 13,363

Shoal bass fingerling

25,032

25,032

Brown bu 11 head adult

3,558

3,558

Total

6,869,892 3,189,545 1,880,987

430,013

264,821

9,790,000 22,425,258

bass were stocked in 1,997 ponds in 156 counties. In FY 79, twenty-nine percent of the fish distributed went to stock 2,525 private ponds. Public waters received 5.8 million fish from state and federal hatcheries that included 3.2 million fry, 2.5 million fingerlings, and 17.3 thousand sub-adults or adults. These were stocked into 12 reservoirs, 6 rivers or streams, 3 public fishing areas, and 17 publicly owned small lakes. This represents a 58% decrease from the 13.7 million stocked in public waters in FY 79 and is 24% fewer than the 7.6 million stocked in FY 78. The closure of Arrowhead and Walton Hatcheries limited our production of fish for stocking in FY 80. Striped bass and striped x white bass hybrids made up 82% of the warmwater fish stocked in public waters in FY 80. Approximately 9.8 million striped and striped x white bass hybrid fry were distributed to other state's fishery agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and were ultimately stocked into public waters after being reared to fingerlings.
Hatchery production and stocking of striped bass and striped x white bass hybrids by the Section and by bordering states continues to be quite successful in producing popular fisheries in most of the state's large impoundments. Approximately 1.54 million striper and hybrid fingerlings were stocked by the Section into Georgia's public waters in FY 80, down from the 3 million stocked in FY 79. Almost 13 million striper and hybrid fry also were stocked into public waters or were issued to state and federal fish agencies for research and management purposes. Striped bass fisheries are present in Lakes Sinclair, Burton, Nottely, Jackson, Allatoona, and Lanier. Striped x white bass hybrids are well established in Lakes Clarks 'Hill, Hartwell, W. F. George, West Point, Bartlett's Ferry, and Seminole. These fisheries are being maintained by periodic stockings.
29

PUBLIC FISHING AREAS The Fisheries Section managed 6 public fishing areas with 24 lakes totaling 508.6 acres in FY 80 (Table 15). Four areas are owned by the DNR, one by the Georgia Forestry Commission, and the other is leased from a private owner. Evans County PFA, formerly leased from a private owner, was purchased by the state in FY 80 at a cost of $226,000. The Dingell-Johnson Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration Program contributed $169,500 of the purchase cost. Treutlen County PFA and Williams PFA were closed during FY 80 for renovation and repairs. All areas except Arrowhead are managed for largemouth bass and bream fishing. Channel catfish are stocked and grown for one year at Arrowhead, Baldwin Forest, and McDuffie Public Fishing Areas before being fished. All areas except Treutlen County and Williams County require a $1.00 daily-use permit for fishermen ages 16 to 65. A total of 47,793 fishing trips occurred in FY 80 on the 4 areas requiring daily-use permits for an average of 166 trips per acre (Table 15). In FY 79, 53,106 trips were taken to 6 PFAs for an average of 140 trips per acre. This is an indication of this program's popularity. Sixty-two percent of the fishermen (those that were at least 16 years of age and did not have an honorary fishing license) were required to purchase the daily-use permit, generating $29,961 in state revenues. A total of $35,544 was generated by this program in FY 79. The total operating cost of all public fishing areas was $165,068. The operating cost for this program was $165,580 in FY 79 and 171,776 in FY 78. The average gross cost per trip of those areas with use records was $3.45. The average net cost per fishing trip was $2.83 when permit revenues were deducted. The cost per angler trip has remained very stable over the last three years ($2.46 in FY 78 and $2.49 in FY 79).
30

Table 1~ Public fishing areas operated by Fisheries Section in FY so. their operating cost and use.

Region

Area

Ownership

Number of lakes

Total acreage

Operatin} cost ( $

Total trips

Trips/acre

ross cost/trip
($)

Arrowhead

State

2

25.3

58,654 13,747

544

4.27

III

McDuffie

State

13

128.0

35,957 15,529

121

2.31

w_,

IV

Baldwin Forest State

5

51.3

39,215 12,998

253

3.02

v

Williams

State &

1

31.0

6,934 closed due to restocking after dam failure

Private

VI

Evans. County

State

2

84.0

16,933

5,519

66

3.07

VI

Treutlen County Private

1

189.0

7,375

closed for renovation

TOTAL

24

508.6

165,068 47,793

166a

3.45

aAverage for the four areas with use records.

Records available for four areas show a harvest of 107,175 fish averaging 0.64 pounds each (Table 16), down from 115,447 fish at 0.70 pounds each in FY 79. Fishermen caught an average of 2.24 fish weighing 1.44 pounds per trip. Bream (Lepomis sp.} taken at PFAs averaged 0.25 pounds, largemouth bass averaged 1.25 pounds, and channel catfish averaged 1.06 pounds per fish.
RESEARCH AND SURVEYS The Fisheries Section has a comprehensive research and survey program which provides factual information about Georgia's fisheries resources. This program is our primary means of assessing the condition of fish populations, determining the amount of fishing pressure on various waters, and developing and testing new management techniques. Statewide direction and control is provided in the central office through the Dingell-Johnson Federal Aid Coordination Project. Each region has one or more projects consisting of one or more studies. Research and survey studies may be short- or long-term depending on their nature and the information sought. Research studies generally test hypotheses, evaluate management techniques, or determine program effectiveness. Surveys generate data on the status of fishes, their habitats, and fishermen use. The research and survey process basically consists of problem or need identification, proposal development and approval, sampling design, data collection and analysis, report preparation, and dissemination of findings. The information gained from these studies is necessary to continue to provide high quality fishing experiences and to maintain a cost effective fisheries program. In FY 80, the section devoted 4,984 man-days to 35 studies at a cost of $430,028. Included in this cost are $305,334 from the Dingell-Johnson Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration Program and $1,893 from the Anadromous
32

Table 16. FY 80 species harvest and overall catch rate from public fishing areas with creel information.

Harvest

Channel catfish
Avg No Wgtb

Largemouth bass Avg
No Wgt

Breama Avg
No Wgt

Other

Avg

No

Wgt

Total

No

Wgt

Catch rate No/trip Lb/trip

Arrowhead

19,750 1.12

85 0.89

572 0.15

-

-

20,407 22,356 1.48

1.63

w w

Baldwin Forest 18,965 1.08

200 1.20 1~.028 0.15

-

-

32,193 22,786 2.48

1.75

Evans County

9 5. 51

449 2.01 20,166 0.25 4,438C 0.30 25,062 7,411 4.54

1.34

McDuffie

9,894 .89 1,396 1.042 17,127 0.33 1,096 0.49 29,513 16,436 1.90

1.06

Total

48,618 1.06d 2,130 1.25d 50,893 o.2sd 5,534 0.34d 107,175 68,989 2.24d 1.44d

asluegill, redear sunfish, and other panfish species. bpounds. ~Mainly black crappie. Weighted mean.

Fisheries Federal Aid Program. In FY 79, 5,273 man-days were expended on 31 studies at a cost of $446,042 and in FY 78, 7,277 man-days were spent at a cost of $459,000. The man-days and costs of all studies conducted in each region in FY 80 appear in Table 17. Eighteenstudies dealt with reservoir fisheries, seven with warmwater streams, six with ponds and lakes, two with coldwater streams, one with a tailwater, and one with commercial eel fishing.
Final reports, available as public information, were completed on 13 studies during the year and are listed below:
(1) Trout Stream Survey; (2) Evaluation of the Fish Populations of Lakes Chatuge and
Nottely; (3) Relationships Between Striped Bass x White Bass Hybrid and
Largemouth Bass Populations in Clark Hill Reservoir; (4) Evaluation of the Fishery Resources of the Chattahoochee
River (Buford Dam Tailwaters); (5) Fishing Pressure and Harvest from the Lake Rutledge
Impoundment; (6) Fishing Pressure and Harvest fron1 the Marbury Creek Watershed
Impoundment (Fort Vargo); {7) The Effect of Winterkill of Threadfin Shad in Lake Jackson; {8) The Largemouth Bass Fishery of Lake Tobesofkee; (9) A Survey of the Lake Walter F. George Fishery; (10) A Sport Fishery Survey of the Satilla River; (11) A Fisheries Survey of the Ocmulgee River; (12) Balance Success and an Evaluation of Factors Associated
with Balance Success in Newly Stocked Georgia Ponds; and (13) Striped x White Bass Hybrid Fry Survival as Affected
by Direct Sunlight. Cooperative projects were continued with three major universities as part of the research and surveys program. Auburn University provided educa-
34

Table 17. Man-days, cost, and funding source of research and survey studies in each region during FY 80. Cost does not include Y.A.C.C. labor.

Region Northwest Northeast Eastcentra 1
Westcentral
Southwest

Man-days

Cost

Study

Fund Source

68 $ A,743 Trout stream survey

OJ a

54

5,212 Evaluation of the fish population

OJ

and fishery of Carters Reservoir

32

6,926 Evaluation of the fish population

OJ

and fishery of Allatoona Reservoir

257

33,487 Evaluation of predatory fish popu-

OJ

lation in Lake Burton

271

37,100 Evaluation of the sport fish popu-

DJ

lations of Lake Lanier

384

26,000 Trout stream development

DJ

20

2,506 An evaluation of the fisheries re-

OJ

sources of the Chattahoochee River

{Buford Dan Tailwaters)

253

30,550 Analyses of the fish population of

D.,l

Lake Oconee.

13

1,139 Evaluation of fishing pressure and

State

harvest from Marbury Creek Water-

shed Impoundment.

16

1,213 Evaluation of fishing pressure and

State

harvest from Lake Rutledge

4

400 Evaluation of some important river

State

systems in the Walton District

2

190 Relationships between hybrids and

State

largemouth bass in Clark Hill

Reservoir

90

5,660 The largemouth bass fishery of

DJ

Lake Tobesofkee

320

17,335 Sport fishery survey of Lake Jackson

DJ

25

1,875 Fishery survey of the Oconee River

State

378

10,900 Sport fishery survey of Lake

Sinclair

State

60

5,500 Effects of winterkill of threadfin

State

shad in Lake Jackson

6

600 The effect of threadfin shad intro-

State

duction in small impoundments

102

8,350 Telemetry of striped bass

State

115

17,800 Creel survey on the Flint River

OJ

between Lakes Blackshear and Worth

166

9,500 Creel survey of three Chattahoochee

DJ

River Reservoirs

37

1,400 Literature review of stocking

Micropterus sp.

State

102

11,000 Georgia reservoir fish populations

DJ

statistics

65

19,500 A survey of the Lake Walter F.

DJ

George fishery

35

Table 17. Continued.

Region

Man-days

Cost

Study

Fund Source

Southcentral Coastal Total

306 440
660 170 168 200 50 49 29
42
30 4,984

$ 23,972 30,100
47,978 13,933 20,402 13,456 4,333 3,785 4,077
6,137
2,963 $430,028

Black crappie population dynamics in Goat Rock Reservoir A survey of the Lake Seminole fishery with emphasis on the effects of stocking Morone spp. A fisheries survey of the Altamaha River Fish communities of public lakes in Southeast Georgia Population dynamics of redbreast sunfish in the Satilla River Exploitation of largemouth bass in Ocmulgee River Pond stocking evaluation survey Impact of stocking striped bass fingerlings in the Ogeechee River Effects of direct sunlight on survival of striped and/or striped x white bass fry Effects of light intensity on fryto-fingerling survival of Morone spp. in rearing ponds - - Evaluation of three types of eel traps

OJ OJ
OJ OJ DJ OJ State AFSb OJ
OJ
State

;oJ projects are 75% funded by Dingell-Johnson Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration. AFS projects are 50% Anadromous Fish federal aid funds.

36

tional and diagnostic services to fisheries personnel in identification and control of pathogens responsible for fish kills. Technical assistance was provided by North Carolina State University to state biologists in designing research and survey studies and in computer processing of data. The section is also a cooperator with the University of Georgia in supporting the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit located at the University. A contract with Auburn University was continued in FY 80 which provides continuing education workshops to our staff. Also in FY 80, a contract study was initiated with the University of Georgia to study tag loss and mortality in the Par Pond largemouth bass population.
HATCHERY RENOVATION AND FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS Hatchery renovation personnel completed four projects during FY 80. Table 18 provides a listing of these projects with associated costs.
37

Table 18. Hatchery renovation and facility improvements projects in FY 80.

Expenses ($)

Location

Project

Personal Services Travel Capital Outlay Funds Total

Mandays

Burton

Complete new raceways and waste treatment facility

5,021 1,050

oa

6,071

81

McDuffie

Construct vats for new

3,099

303

oa

3,402

50

w

fish holding house

CX>

Cordele

Install new vats, add

14,008 1,784

6,798

22,590

226

siding to residence, com-

plete other repairs to

residence

Walton

Install pipe in main drainage ditch and backfill

16,801 2,196

28,066

47,063

261

Total

38,929 5,333

34,864

79,126

618

asupplies and materials for these projects were purchased with funds appropriated in FY 79.

REPORT APPROVED:
39