Fisheries Section annual report, fiscal year 1981

FISHERIES SECTION ANNUAL REPORT FY 81
July 1, 1980 - June 30, 1981
Game and Fish Division Department of Natural Resources
Atlanta, Georgia
February 1982

The Department of Natural Resources is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental handicap, or other nonmerit factors.

T AB L E 0 F C0 NT E NT S
Executive Summary Introduction Private Waters Management Public Waters Management
Fishing Laws and Regulations Pollution and Fish Kill Investigations . Fish Surveys . . . Aquatic Plant Control Boat Ramp Program . . . Management and Development . . Technical Assistance to Other Agencies Environmental Reviews and Assessments Information, Education and Training Other Activities Trout Production Warmwater Hatcheries Public Fishing Areas Research and Surveys Hatchery Renovation and Facility Improvements .

. ;i

1

3

7

7

7

.. .

8

8

9

9

. 12

13

15

. 15

15

20

27

31

34

i

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Georgia is blessed with abundant and diverse freshwater fishery resources. North Georgia provides almost 4,000 miles of trout streams, the piedmont and coastal plain provide over 12,000 miles of warmwater streams wider than 10 feet, and throughout the state exist almost 532,000 acres of impoundments. Healthy fish populations thrive in most of this habitat. When one also considers Georgia's favorable climate, it becomes obvious that sport fishing in Georgia has great potential.
The Fisheries Section of the Game and Fish Division is responsible for developing this potential. About 1.2 of the state's 5.4 million people participate in freshwater sport fishing making this the most popular wildlife oriented recreational activity. These fishermen paid over $2.5 million for licenses in FY 81 and spent over $395 million for tackle, equipment, travel, etc., which resulted in $11.85 million in state sales tax revenue. The Fisheries Section spent $3.02 million (which included $433,000 in federal funds) to manage the state's fishery resources. This is an indication of the 11 return on investment11 provided by the Section's program.
The goal of the Fisheries Section is to preserve, enhance and provide for the utilization of Georgia's freshwater fishery resources. To accomplish this, a number of programs are administered including private waters management, public waters management, trout production and stocking, warmwater hatchery production, operation of public fishing areas, and research and surveys.
The private waters management program, which provides technical assistance to pond owners, expended $160,800 (including Atlanta office overhead) and 1620 man-days in FY 81. This equa1s 5% of the tota1 section budget and 6% of tota1 manpower, respectively. Field investigations were conducted on 1,085 ponds, about 5,000 pond owners received assistance by telephone and office visits,
ii

and almost 8 million fish were provided to stock 2,535 ponds. Thirty-one percent of the budget ($945,300) and 29% of total manpower
(7636 man-days) went to manage public waters in FY 81. Through this program, 57 public water fish kills were investigated, aquatic plant surveys were conducted on 3 rivers, and 41 chemical treatments were applied to 14 bodies of water. Technical assistance was provided to the Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division regarding the management of lakes on 17 parks, and 122 enviromental reviews and assessments were conducted. Fish attractors were constructed or maintained on nine lakes, and fish populations in 16 bodies of water were sampled.
The section's trout program put .over 1.3 million catchable (approximately 9 inches) trout into public waters in FY 81. This effort required 16% of the total budget (492,300) and 14% of total manpower (3696 man-days). Georgia has about 175,000 trout fishermen who annually spend about 1.3 million days trout fishing. They spent $218,052 for trout stamps in license year 1980 (April 1, 1980- March 31, 1981) which equals 44% of the cost of this 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. Over 28 million fish were distributed from the state's 7 warmwater hatcheries in FY 81. Of this total, 28% went to private ponds with the remainder going to public waters and to other fisheries agencies. This program absorbed 13% of the total budget and 15% of total man-power (3800 man-days).
Six Public Fishing Areas with 24 lakes (478.6 acres) were managed by the Fisheries Section in FY 81 expending 6% of the budget and 8% of total man-power ($187,200 and 2023 man-days). Two areas were closed for renovation. The four areas open to the public provided 49,203 fishing trips. Harvest from these areas was composed of 94,044 fish weighing 58,556 pounds or an average of 1.91
iii

fish weighing 1.19 pounds per fisherman trip. Sixty-two percent of the fishermen were required by law to purchase the daily-use pennit, generating $30,697 in state revenues. The net cost per fishing trip provided was $2.91 or $3.18 when Atlanta's expenses are included.
The research and surveys program provides information regarding the condition of the state's fishery resources, indicates when management activities are needed, and provides an evaluation of management techniques and program effectiveness. In FY 81, 6,121 man-days (23% of total) were devoted to 31 studies at a cost of $524,125 (17% of total budget). The Dingell-Johnson Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration Program supplied $433,000 of this total.
Capital improvements during FY 81 included construction of restrooms at Arrowhead PFA, building maintenance at Burton, Walton, Cordele and Richmond Hill Hatcheries, and an addition to the storage building at the Gainesville regional office. Also, a new deep well was installed at Richmond Hill Hatchery.
iv

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.
Fishermen represent the largest group of wildlife-oriented recreationists in Georgia. Each year approximately 1.2 million fishermen, representing almost half the state's households, spend about 20.4 million days fishing.
Recreational fishing has considerable economic value to the state. The 843,931 sport fishing licenses and permits sold during the license year ending March 1981 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 FY 81, the Fisheries Section expended $3.02 million, $433,000 of which were federal funds, to manage the fishery resource. This total expenditure is equal to approximately 15 per fishing day or $2.52 per fisherman.
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 32 fishery biologists, 41 fishery technicians, 10 clerical employees, and 5 construction/ maintenance employees. Thirty-three non-merit seasonal laborers serve as supporting staff.
Active programs in FY 81 include: private waters management, public waters management, trout production and stocking, warmwater hatchery production,.operati on of public fi shi ng areas, research and surveys, hatchery renovation, weed control, and boat ramp construction and maintenance. Most of the FY 81 expen-
1

,,.

* Central Office Atlanta

[] Regional Offices

1 talhoun

2 Gainesvl lle

3 Walton

4 s

Ft. Valley Albany

6 Waycross

7 Delner1es Creek

<:) 01strict Offices
1 Calhoun 2 Gainesville 3 Walton Hatchery 4 McDuffie Hatchery
s Manchester
6 Ft. Valley 7 Steve Cocke Hatchery 8 Bowens Mill Hatcher,y g Metter 10 Delller1e$ Cree.k

0 State Hatcheries .6~PU:,lic Fishing Areas

1 Burton 2 Sumnerv111 e 3 Buford 4 Walton 5 McDuffie 6 Steve Cocke 7 Cordele 8 Bowens Mill .g Richmond Hi 11

1 Arrowhead 2 McDuffie 3 Baldwin Forest 4 Wi111ams 5 Treutlen County 6 Evans County

Figure 1. Georgia F1sher1es regions. showing locations of administrative officies. hatcheries. and Public Fishing Areas.

2

ditures went to public waters management, hatchery production, and research and surveys (Table 1).
This report summarizes the Section's fishery management activities in FY 81 and quantifies where possible the level of service provided through various programs. Cost analyses are provided where appropriate and when accounting records allowed.
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 1,085 field investigations during FY 81 (Table 2) up from 1,028 in FY 80. Regions I, II and IV experienced increases, while Region V pond checks declined. Also, an estimated 5,000 pond owners and managers were provided technical assistance by telephone and office consultations. Pond extension work required 1,620 man-days of work at a total cost (excluding the cost of producing fish for stocking and Atlanta office overhead) of $149,300 or $92.16 per man-day. For comparison 2,015 man-days of effort and $170,5~0 were spent on this program in FY 80 and 1,854 man-days and $139,402 were spent in FY 79. Owners of 2,535 ponds received over 7.9 mil1ion fish for stocking compared to 1,997 ponds and 6.8 million fish in FY 80 (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 for the public even though most are privately owned.
3

Table 1. Fisheries Section expenditures (thousands of dollars) by region and program in FY 81.

Program

Region

Atlanta

Officea

I

II

III

IV

v

VI

VII

Tota11:'l

Public Waters Mgt.

64.0

69.3 105.9 147.6 215.6 127.8 124.3

90.8

945.3

Private Waters Mgt.

11.5

17.8

3.7

25.7

9.9

21.7

43.6

26.9

160.8

Warmwater Hatcheries

26.3

8.6

106.8

158.7

61.7

41.5

403.6

Trout Production/ Stocking

32.9

57.1 402.3

492.3

Public Fishing Areas

13. 1

59.1

40.2

40.1

5.1

29.6

187.2

Federal Aid Surveys/ Research/Development

34.4

31.6 114.0

44.7

22.2

84.1 100.4 137.5

568.9

..j:::.

Weed Control

3.3

51.5

54.8

Facility Maint.

3.3

4.5

11.0

27.5

10.1

56.4

Hatchery Renovation

C.O. Funds

7.0

7.0

Administration

3.3

49.9

53.2

Boat Ramp Repair

C.O. Funds

4.9

38.9

38.9

Administration

23.6

28.5

New Construction

1.6

5.6

16.3

23.5

Totalb

198.6

249.0 646.6 376.0 486.4 397.4 359.7 306.8 3020.5c

--

aExpenses of Atlanta office were prorated among all state funded programs after applying federal aid coordination cost solely to that program.

bFigures in this table may not add to totals given due to rounding.

cThis total is $1500 more than that shown on the 6/81 FAGS Report. This involved primarily a labor expense which should have been charged to Region VI.

Table 2. Field investigations on private waters in each district during FV 81.

Region

District

Balance

General management

Type of pond check {number}

Aquatic vegetation

Fish Kills

Pre-stocking checks

Tota1 (Percent of Total)

Calhoun

30

0

0

13

58

101 ( 9)

II

Gainesville

ll

4

4

5

15

39 ( 4)

III

Walton

113

1

6

19

5

Thomson

57

25

24

20

0

114246

~

13~ 12

(J"'

IV Macon

52

10

11

12

1

Manchester

72

13

9

10

1

86 ~ 8) 105 1O)

v Albany

46

8

35

5

0

Cordele

88

7

4

12

0

11914 ~ 109~

VI Waycross

26

18

17

41

1

Metter

18

22

15

34

2

10913 ~ ~~

VII

Richmond Hill

23

12

15

10

25

85 ( 8)

Tota1 (Percent 536 (49) of Total)

120 ( 11)

140 (13) 181 (17)

108 (10)

1085 (100)

Table 3. Private water stocking data for FY 81.

Region District

Ponds Stocked Number Acres

Bluegill

Seecies and Number

Redear Largemouth Channel

Sunfish

Bass

Catfish

Percent of ponds stocked at
fertilized rate

Percent of acres stocked at
fertilized rate

Calhoun

65 206

92,545 23,605 11,840 13,465

94

61

II Ga i nesvi 11 e

38

88

29,160

7,290

4,015 11,085

73

67

III Walton

129 391

159,622 39,898 22,476 27,480

78

47

Thomson

403 1,755

832,062 204,889 96,567 110,931

94

73

0'\

IV Macon

160 766

346,362 85,089 49,531 35,980

94

Manchester

59 232

97,347 24,337 12,300 17,287

90

81 88

v Albany

230 1,215

598,259 100,890 72,098 86,549

93

85

Cordele

117 626

224,523 49,436 29,865 51,201

90

83

VI Metter

474 2,753

932,026 178,984 115,362 114,449

70

50

Waycross

741 4,587 1,924,611 377,341 227,559 223,095

51

31

VII Richmond

119 412

161,815 32,485 19,050 27,295

84

78

Hi 11

Total

2,535 13,031 5,398,332 1,124,244 660,663 718,817

58 a

55a

aweighted means.

PUBLIC WATERS MANAGEMENT This program includes varied services and activities promoting the protection and wise use of Georgia's aquatic resources. The program involves 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, the DNR Information officer, and the DNR Legal Staff, developed, reviewed and printed the fishing laws and regulations for the 1981 fishing season. Assistance was provided periodically to the Law Enforcement Section and regularly to the general public in the interpretation of fishing laws and regulations. The major change in this area involved an increase in the fees charged for the various licenses required of sportsmen in Georgia. The Fisheries Sectiqn expended a great deal of effort in explaining to the public the benefits to be derived from the increase which took effect April 1, 1981. Evaluation of experimental eet regulations was completed and permanent regulations passed. Also, a six inch minimum length limit was placed on largemouth bass at Lake Juliette on the Rum Creek Wildlife Management and Public Fishing Area. Pollution and Fish Kill Investigations Fisheries personnel investigated 57 public water fish kills during FY 81. Estimates of the number of fish killed were obtained for 42 of these and totaled 351,432 with a monetary value of $37,654. Investigation costs totaled $15,002. The cause was determined for 35 kills with agricultural, municipal and indus-
7

trial pollution being the most common. Civil penalties totaling $14,500 were collected on four fish kills by the Enviromental Protection Division (EPD). In FY 80, $16,000 in penalties was collected on four kills. Forty~one pollution reports not involving fish kills were also investigated and reported to the EPD. For comparison, 49 kills were investigated in FY 80 with the cause determined for 33 of these and 19 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 Chatuge, Jackson, Sinclair, Tobesofkee, Walter F. George, Bartlett's Ferry, Oliver, Blackshear, Seminole, and Goat Rock and in the Ogeechee, Flint, Ocmulgee, and Chattahoochee Rivers. These surveys were conducted for such purposes as to gather general life history data, to locate areas of concentration of important game species, to investigate complaints by the public, and to determine the success of past stocking activities. Rotenone samples were also taken at lakes Seminole and Chatuge and in the Hartwell tailwaters. Dicks Creek on the Lake Burton Wildlife Management Area (WMA) was surveyed by electrofishing to determine the impacts of the creek chub population on the native brook trout. The Fisheries Section also conducted population analyses in lakes at Fort Vargo, Hard Labor Creek, Sweetwater Creek, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Reed Bingham State Parks and at Stone Mountain Park. Aquatic Plant Control
The statewide Aquatic Plant Control Program is administered from the Fort Valley Regional Office and has assigned to it one biologist and one technician. These employees are responsible for staying abreast of up-to-date
8

information concerning new chemicals and their recommended application rates as well as federal regulations concerning the use of these chemicals.
Chemicals were applied in 41 treatments to 188.5 acres in 14 bodies of water during FY 81. Treatments were applied to three streams, three reservoirs, and eight small public lakes (Table 4). Eight of these areas (92 acres, 31 treatments) were treated by the statewide program crew with the remainder receiving treatment from district personnel. The total cost of the statewide program, including Atlanta office overhead, was $54,800 or $596 per acre treated. Cost of treatments by district personnel was not identified.
Also during FY 81, the Alapaha, upper Satilla and New Rivers were surveyed for aquatic weed problems and recommendations were provided to the Game Management Section concerning aquatic weed control at Grand Bay WMA and Dixon Memorial Forest WMA. Boat Ramp Program
Approximately 50 boat ramps were inspected for general condition.and maintenance needs. Numerous directional signs were installed or maintained throughout the state. Boat ramp maintenance program cost totaled $67,400 (including Atlanta overhead) and man-days expended on this activity totaled 315 (excluding Atlanta man-days). No funds were appropriated to the Fisheries Section for ramp construction in FY 81. However, the section provided technical assistance for the construction of eight ramps funded by other means. Management and Development
Fish attractors were constructed or maintained in Lakes Clarks Hill, Jackson, Sinclair, Tobesofkee, Bartlett's Ferry, and Oliver, and in lakes on Hard Labor Creek, and Sweetwater Creek State Parks. Shelters also were maintained at Stone Mountain Park Lake.
Management recommendations were provided for lakes at five state parks at Stone Mountain Park, and for ponds in the cities of Bainbridge and Thomaston.
9

Table 4. Herbicide treatments applied in statewide Aquatic Weed Control Program in FV 81.

Body of Water

County

Target Pest

Acres

Acres Number of Percent Success

Affected Treated Treatments of Treatment

Streams

Radium Springs .Ocmulgee River Ebenezer Creek

Dougherty Jones Effingham

Hydri 11 a

7.5

4.5

3

99

A11 i gator weed

0.5

0.5

1

90

A11 i gator weed

20.0

10.0

1

90

Total

28.0

15.0

5

93a

Reservoirs

Blackshear

Blackshear

Jackson

I-'

Worth

0

Total

Crisp, Sumter

Lyngbya

300.0

28.0

12

35

Dooly

Bacopa

10.0

10.0

4

90

Butts, Newton, Jasper Alligator weed

15.0

5.0

1

100

Dougherty

Water hyacinth

50.0

30.0

7

100

375.0

73.0

24

74'a

Publicly-Owned Small Lakes

Little Ocmulgee State Park Wheeler

Baldwin Forest PFA Magnolia Springs State Parke Ft. Vargo State Parke Williams PFAc Kolomoki State Parke Reed Bingham State Parke A.H. Stephens State Parke

Baldwin Jenkins Barrow Crisp Early Cook, Colquitt Taliaferro

Southern water

280.0

3.0b

1

grass, Najas, etc.

Needlerush

1.0

1.0

1

Water lilies, Bacopa 20.0

5.0

2

Najas

10.0

2.0

2

Willows, Duckweed

65.0

60.0

1

Brasenia

10.0

0.5

1

Najas, Fanwort

20.0

14.0

2

Coontail, Southern

15.0

15.0

2

water grass

Unknown 90 80 100 50 10 90 97

Total

421.0

100.5

12

6la

GRAND TOTAL

824.0

133.5

41

69a

aweighted means. bThree test plots established to determine effective chemical control. cTreatments applied by district personnel rather than by weed control personnel out of Ft. Valley.

Assistance was also provided: 1) the Corps of Engineers concerning the management of a pond especially for the handicapped; 2) Georgia Southern College in managing two lakes on campus; and, 3) the Air Force in managing four lakes at Moody Air Force Base.
A total of 46 trout stream alteration structures were repaired during FY 81. Temperature data were collected from Amicolola Creek and management recommendations developed for the state-owned portion of the stream. Approximately 24 man-days were expended on Lake Nottely in collecting striped bass for a telemetry project aimed at increasing angler utilization of this species. Signs were posted on Noontootla Creek specifying bait type and size limits for trout fishing and on the Coosa River prohibiting commercial fishing.
During FY 81, a total of 12 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, liming, fertilization, herbicidal treatments, and a fish kill investigation.
Study proposals were developed to investigate the fish population of the Conasauga River and its major tributaries in the area to be inundated by the proposed DaltonReservoir and to investigate the Morone sp. fishery in Allatoona Lake. Blockages of the Ogeechee River were removed in a short-term stream passageway clearing project using CETA and labor personnel. A 30 mile section was cleared at a cost of $261 per mile {including CETA funds) or a total cost to the Department of $162 per mile. The project required a total of 193 man-days or 6.4 man-days per mile.
A draft final report concerning the effect of channel catfish stocking in the Broad River was completed. The project, which began in 1971, included stocking, population monitoring with baskets and rotenone sampling, and the collection of creel data.
11

Signs to assist fishermen in identifying hybrid bass were placed on lakes Oliver, Walter F. George, Blackshear, Bartlett's Ferry and Goat Rock.
Planning sessions were held with representatives of the Corps of Engineers and the state of Alabama to discuss placement of fish attractors in Lake Walter F. George during FY 82. Technical Assistance to Other Agencies
Technical assistance was provided the Corps of Engineers in the following areas: 1) development of plans for boat ramp construction and fishery management at Richard.B. Russell Reservoir; 2) the proposed re-regulation dam on the Chattahoochee River; 3) operation of the Savannah Back River tidegate; 4) the implementation of phase I of the Savannah Comprehensive Harbor Study; 5) evaluating a bioassay experiment designed to identify the cause of trout mortalities at Buford Hatchery, and; 6) preparation of a final report summarizing the results of various contracted studies investigating water quality problems in the Lake Lanier tailwaters.
Assistance was provided the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: 1) regarding the resource inventory of the proposed Dalton Reservoir site; 2) in locating potential sites for use in the Instream Flow Study course held in Atlanta; 3) in conducting rotenone sampling of the Savannah River; 4) in collecting striped bass from the Savannah River for contaminant analysis studies; and 5) in locating suitable sites along the Georgia Coast for construction of the proposed East Coast Anadromous Fish Laboratory.
The Tennessee Valley Authority was presented recommendations on dam safety, tailwater access and winter boat ramp use at Blue Ridge Lake and was assisted in searching for snail darters in South Chickamauga Creek.
Fisheries Section personnel supplied electrofishing data to the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) and met with them concerning the Cedar Creek Watershed
12

Project. Meetings were also attended regarding an SCS erosion control plan for Beaver Creek Watershed in Macon County.
Technical information was provided the Southern Energy Company and its environmental consultants pertaining to the lower Savannah River anadromous fishery resource. This was related to the development of an EIS on the expansion of the Elba Island liquified natural gas processing facility.
Technical assistance was provided the U.S. Forest Service in population sampling on Cane Creek for a project evaluating the effect of stream alteration structures on carrying capacity of a small trout stream. Also, annual meetings at each U.S. Forest Service Ranger District were attended. In these meetings, the year's activities were reported, upcoming work was coordinated, and mutual concerns pertaining to management activities on the Chattahoochee National Forest were discussed. Environmental Reviews and Assessments
The Fisheries Section (in compliance with the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the Clean Water Act, and other environmental statutes) reviews and comments on projects and programs impacting fishery habitat. The purpose of these comments is to provide for protection, enhancement, and/or mitigation of fishery resources.
In FY 81 the Section reviewed 122 such projects {Table 5). 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.
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 applications for water quality permits are sent to the Environmental Protection Division.
13

Table 5. Environmental reviews and assessments conducted by Fisheries Section in FY 81.

Subject/Agency

Number

1. Projects involving dredge and fill

27

2. Boat docks, boat ramps, piers, rip rap

25

3. Projects and policies of federal agenciesa

16

4. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Department

of Energy projects

11

5. Corps of Engineers

a. River maintenance

5

b. River basin studies

1

c. Flood control

3

6. Applications for federal assistance from local governments

8

7. Soil Conservation Service projects

7

8. Wastewater treatment and related projects

3

9. Small-scale hydropower projects

3

10. Electric transmission lines

3

11. Surface mining activities

3

12. Georgia Forestry Commission activities

2

13. A-85 reviews

2

14. Surface water withdrawals

a. Industrial b. Agricultural

15. Underground pipeline construction

Total

122

aDepartment of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, Tennessee Valley Authority, Department of the Army, Environmental Protection Agency, Housing and Urban Development, Federal Aviation Administration.

14

Information, Education and Training Table 6 summarizes the information and education activities conducted by
the Fisheries Section in FY 81. Training activities were comprised of: 81 employees attending 19 different
shortcources, workshops or symposia expending 187 man-days; 66 employees attending 7 merit system training courses expending 59 man-days; and 55 employees attending 11 other training courses and expending 109 man-days. Other Activities
Fisheries Section biologists served on the Pollution, Trout, Wannwater Streams, Striped Bass and Fish Disease Committees of the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society. Information was compiled and provided to the Fish Disease Committee concerning fish disease causes and severity in Georgia. Fisheries staff also served as various officers in the Georgia Fisheries Workers Association.
A great deal of manpower and equipment were provided the Cooperative Fishery Research Unit at the University of Georgia in a largemouth bass tagging study done at Par Pond on the Savannah River Plant. Redeye bass and shoal bass were collected and sent to the Illinois Natural History Survey for taxonomic study. Input concerning largemouth bass habitat evaluation was provided the Oklahoma Department of Conservation. A state record brook trout from the Toccoa River was verified. Public presentations were made in support of the proposed license fee increase. Fishing tournaments were observed and data collected at Lakes Blackshear and Seminole. Biologists also made a presentation to the Wayne County Grand Jury concerning rotenone sampling in the Altamaha River and circumstances responsible for an accidental downstream fish kill.
TROUT PRODUCTION Trout stream habitat in Georgia, composed of 3,987 miles or about 7,700
15

Table 6. Information and education activities conducted in FY 81.

Activity

Number

Persons Attending

Man-Days Expended

INFORMATION

Public Talks

67

1834

60

News and Press

91

NA

10

Releases

.......

~

Magazine Articles

5

tiA

6

Prepared

Game &Fish Public

5

129

9

Hearings &Meetings

Fish Hatchery Tours

as

1386

13

General &Technical

5333

113

Information Requests

EDUCATION

Classes Taught

20

460

22

acres of water, is relatively limited considering the number of fishermen utilizing this resource. Approximately 175,000 trout fishermen made about 1.3 million trout fishing trips in FY 81. Pressure of this magnitude cannot be sustained by Georgia's 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 state's three coldwater hatcheries produced a net weight of 203,306 pounds of trout in FY 81 at an average cost of $1.63 per pound (Table 7). This represents some improvement over the 187,860 pounds at $1.69 per pound in FY 80. The increase was due primarily to an increase of about 12,000 lbs. in the production of Buford Hatchery. 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. The average conversion ratio (pounds of feed required to produce one pound of fish) at state hatcheries in FY 81 was 1.79 (Table 7), an improvement over the average of 1.81 in FY 80.
The number of catchable trout stocked each year continues to increase. A total of 1,305,996 catchable trout were stocked into waters open to public fishing during FY 81 (Table 8). State hatcheries reared and stocked 80% of this total. The remainder were produced at federal hatcheries and stocked by federal and state fisheries personnel. The number contributed by Federal hatcheries decreased from 421,926 in FY 80 to 261,362 in FY 81. For comparison, a total of 1,036,196 catchable trout were stocked from state and federal hatcheries in FY 80
17

Table 7. Trout production (lbs.), conversion ratios, and costs at state hatcheries in FY 81. Costs are for production only and do not include distribution costs.

Hatchery

Rainbow

Species
-
Brook Brown

Total

Costs ( $) Total Per 1b.

t-'
OJ

Buford

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

22,850 2.14

82,242 4,458 109,550

1. 53 1.57

1.65a

165,451

1. 51 a

Burton

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

83,434 1.77

3,446 86,880a

131,393

1. 51

1.59

1.77

Su11111ervill e

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

6,876 3.72

6,876a 3.72

28,805

4.19

Total

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

113,160 82,242 7,904 203,306

2.oob

1.53b 1.58b

1. 79b

325,649

1 6Jii

aThis cost does not include cost of backup pumping system ($24,438). Including that item would raise h~uford cost per pound to $1.73 and system average cost to $1.72 per pound. ~eighted means.

Table 8. Number and weight of each species of trout stocked into Georgia's public waters from state and federal hatcheries during fY 81.

Facility

Brook
--
Number Weight (lb)

Rainbow Number Weight
( 1b)

Brown Number Weight
( 1b)

Total Nuniler Weight
(lb)

State hatcheries Buford catchables fi ngerlf ngs

210,315 73,443

350,927 68,531

11,676 3,584

5,000

250

572,918 145,558

5,000

250

.......
1.0

Burton catchables

Sunnervi 11 e catchab1es

318,141 90,404 125,141 36,910

20,152 4,596

338,293 95,000 125,141 36,910

Walton catchables

8,282 2,125

8,282 2,125

Federal hatcheries catchab1es fi ngerlf ngs

246,362 75,179

15,000

466

15,000 2,307

261,362 77,486.

15,000

466

Total catchables finger1i ngs

210,315 73,443

1,048,853 273,149

15,000

466

46,828 10,487

5,000

250

1,305,996 357,079

20,000

716

and 916,889 in FY 79. Trout were distributed by state personnel at a cost of $0.36 per pound. Therefore, the State's total cost in FY 81 for rearing and distributing trout to Georgia's public waters was approximately $1.99 per pound ($0.54 per catchable fish) as compared to $2.09 per pound ($0.58 per catchable fish) in FY 80 and $2.34 per pound ($0.71 per catchable fish) in FY 79.
Seventy percent of the catchable trout were stocked into streams, 17% tailwaters, 10% reservoirs, and 3% small lakes (Table 9). In addition, 20,000 fingerling brown and rainbow trout (3-5 inches long) were stocked into public streams during FY 81. These streams included the Toccoa River, Chestatee River, Towns Creek, and Cooper's Creek.
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 to 100,468 in 1980. The sale of resident and non-resident trout stamps in license year 1980 (April 1, 1980 - March 31, 1981) generated a revenue of $218,052. Trout stamps, therefore, paid 44% of the State's cost of the trout program. Trout stamp revenues totaled $186,513 in 1980 and $171,382 in.1979.
WARMWATER HATCHERIES The Fisheries Section produced warmwater fish at seven hatcheries in FY 81 (Figure 1). Five warmwater hatcheries produced the majority of the fish, with Summerville Trout Hatchery and Walton Hatchery contributing to a lesser degree. 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 qenerally produced at all hatcheries. Channel catfish are produced primarily 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
20

Table 9. Number and weight of catchable trout by species and habitat type stocked from all hatcheries 1n FY 81.

Habitat

Brook Humber We1ght[1b)

Rainbow

Brown

Number Weiglitl11i) Nun>er We~glit[16}

Total N11111iir lilelglit{11i}

StNQIIIB biJ Gbunty

Bartow

catoosa

Chattooga

Dade

Dawson

Fannin

Floyd

Gilmer

Gordon

Habersham

Haralson

lumpkin

"-trray

Paulding

Pickens

Polk

Rabun

.... / '

Stephens

Towns

Union

Walker

White

Whitfield

3,911
1,600 9,.00 19,957
1,000 21,885 6,600 16,100 8,800 24,000

1,452
520 3,420 6,378
405 7,272 2,118 5,405 2,547 8,562

2,200 3,000 6,200 2,600 14,200 53,100 17,500 64,590 5,100 30,620 13,100 105,854 15,930 12,100 6,500 7,800 139,816 23,853 49,638 98,148 17,000 79,096
685

584 969 1,758 822 3,527 16,291 5,742 14,357 1,527 6,350 4,078 27,306 4,859 3,563 1,861 2,375 32,631 6,456 11,964 27,266 5,261 17,357 203

3,070
4,800 800
2,100
1,200 7,400 2,600 2,800 4,300

709
1,111 121 415
276 1,342
272 634
886

2,200 3,000 6,200 2,600 21,181 53,100 17,500 70,990 5.100 40,820 13,100 127,911 15,930 12,100 8,700 7,800 169,101 29,453 68,338 109,748 17,000 107,396
685

584 969 1,758 822 5,688 16,291 5,742 15,988 1,527 9,891 4,078 34,099 4,859 3,563 2,542 2,375 41,245 8,574 17,641 30,447 5,261 26,795 203

Total

112,253 38,079

768,630 197,106 29,070 5,756

909,953 240,942 t/'

Tailwate:re
Lanier Hartwell Blue Ridge Total

75,538 13,824 3,600 92,962

27,306 4,999 1.188 33,493

52,453 40,705 34,478 127.636

16,017 7,517 4,850 28.384

5,152 1,600 6.752

1,050 256
1,306

127.991 59,681 39,678 227,350

43,323 12,566 6.294 63,183

Rese:l"'JJi:re
Burton Chatuge Clarks Hill Lanier Tallulah Falls Total
&rzt.t. La1uul
Black Rock Conasauga Dockery Edmondson Nancy Town Rock Creek Vogel Winfield Scott Total Grand Total

5,000 5,000 8.282 99,095 3.010 120,387

1,537 1,910 2,125 31.850
870 38,292

10,606 10.606

3,335 3.335

5,000 5,000 8,282 109.701 3,010 130,993

1.537 1.910 2,125 35,185
870 41,627

600

203

1,500 3,000 5,100 210,315

528 1,140 1,871 73,443

900 4,000 8,300
800 2,000 4,000 5,300 6,900 32.200 1,048,853

277 1,192 2,374
247 623 1,273 1,476 1,904 9,366 273,152

400
400 46.828

90
90 10,487

1,500 4,000 8,300
800
2,000 4,000 7,200 9,900
37,700
1,305,996

480 1,192 2,374
247 623 1,273 2,094 3,044 11,327 357,079

21

that have applied for fish. Bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish are distributed from October to March with bass issued the following spring. These species, when stocked in combination, have been proven through years of research to provide the best possible fishing in lakes of small to moderate size.
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 Hi 11 Hatchery from wi 1d fish co 11 ected during their natura1 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 fingerling size (3/4-1 inch) before stocking. Small numbers of other warmwater species are occasionally produced to meet specific management needs.
In FY 81, the hatcheries produced over 27.3 million fry and 12.7 million fingerlings (Table 10). This represents a 27% increase over FY 80. Average production. cost per fish varied from $0.003 for striped bass and striped-white bass hybrid fry to $11.02 for sub-adult largemouth bass, which were produced in limited numbers at Steve Cocke Hatchery. Fingerling fish cost an average of $0.031 per fish. Production by species and associated costs at each hatchery appear in Tables 11 and 12. The tables do not include forage species, but their costs were included in the cost ofpredatory fish which they fed. Seventy-one percent of the fish produced in FY 81 were distributed (Table 10). The difference in the production and distribution totals results from natural mortalities, handling, holding and transporting mortalities, and use of surplus fish as forage to maintain spawning stocks.
Twenty-eight percent of all fish distributed went to private pond owners in FY 81 (Table 13). Bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, and largemouth
22

Table 10. Total numbers and cost per fish of warmwater species produced at and distributed from state hatcheries in FY 81.

Production

Distribution

Species

Acres

Number

Avg. no per acre

Cost per fish {$)a

Number

Cost per fish {$)

Bluegi 11 finyerling adu t

36.g9 NA

6,218,226 17,700

168,g61 NA

0.0~7
NA

5,829,839 15,440

0.0~8
NA

Redear sunfish fingerling adult

12.22 1.95

1,505,798 200

123,224 103

0.027 5.550

1,285,369 200

0.030 5.500

Largemouth bass

fingerling

32.06

1,000,808

31,217

0.088

823,190

0.107

w N

sub-adult

1.02

420

412

11.015

330

14.018

Striped bass

fry

NAC

7,876,000

NAC

0.003

3,707,000

0.003

fingerling

11.75

1,046,285

89,046

0.024

970,835

0.026

Striped-white hybrid bass fry fingerling

NAc 20.62

19,451,000 1,915,215

NAc 92,881

0.003 0.018

12,912,000 1,908,464

0.003 0.018

Channel catfish fingerling adult

12.57 4.30

1,016,634 14,120

80,878 3,283

0.084 0.757

891,948 14,120

0.096 0.757

Shoal bass

fingerling

3.53

5,182

1,468

2.888

5,182

2.888

Brown bull head

adult

1.12

2,673

2,387

1.175

2,673

1.175

Total

138.03

40,070,261

28,366,590

gcost of each production phase includes cost of previous phase. Not available CNot applicable, these fry are hatched in jars and then placed in aquaria.

Table 11. Number of each warmwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY 81.

Species

Summerville Walton McDuffie

Cordele

Steve Cocke

Bowens Mill

Richmond t~i 11

Total

Bluegill fingerling adult
Redear sunfish fingerling adult
Largemouth bass fingerling sub-adult

68,613 121,971

125,800 1,637,200 1,200
457,455 200
16,500 215,994

133,255 16,500

592,163 3,124,460

122,643

598,286

108,171 420

505,143

536.735 205,443 155,!l00

6, 218,226 17,700
1,505,798 200
1,000,808 420

Striped bass

N

fry

_.:::..

fingerling

4,660

92,g27 287,816

7,876,000 660,882

7,876,000 1,046,285

Striped-white hybrid bass fry fingerling

608,581

213,621

19,451 ,000 lg,451,000

330,307

762,706 1915,215

Channel catfish fingerling harvestable

325,519 14,120

691 '115

1,016,634 14,120

Shoal bass fingerling
Brown bullhead harvestable

2,673

4,070

1,112

5,182 2,673

Total

195,244

235,227 2,942,177 1,453,521 1,038,130 4, 558,196 . 29,647,766 40,070,261

Table 12. Cost per fish {dollars) of warmwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY 81. Cost of each production phase includes cost of previous phase.

Species

SuiTillerville lla1ton

McDuffie

Cordele

Steve Cocke

Bowens Mill

Richmond Hill

Bluegill fingerling brood
Redear sunfish fingerling brood
largemouth bass fingerling sub-adult

0.040 0.030

0.069 0.564

0.008 2.800
0.014 5.550
0.031

0.020

0.041 0.072 0.328 11.015

0.009 0.019 0.052

0.049 0.048 0.069

Striped bass

N
Ui

fry

fingerling

0.766

0.087

0.013

0.003 0.014

Striped-white hybrid bass fry fingerling

0.020

0.020

0.014

0.003 0.017

Channel catfish fingerling harvestable

0.068 0.757

0.092

Shoal bass fingerling
Brown bullhead fingerling

1.175

1.903

6.471

Table 13. Numbers of wanmwater fish distributed from state hatcheries in FY 81. 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

Bl uegi 11 fingerling adult

5,398,332

45,760 14,240

164,800

130,000

5,738,892 14,240

Redear sunfish fingerling

1,124,244

41,200

17,500

1,182,944

Largemouth bass fingerling sub-adult adult

660,663

99,142

22,532 210 41

44,850

3,900

831,087 210 41

Striped bass

N
0)

fry

fingerling

182,000 403,386

850,000 567,449

2,675,000

3,707,000 970,835

Striped-white hybrid fry fingerling

1,905,574

2,890

12,912,000 12,912,000 1,908,464

Channel catfish fingerling

718,817

102,000

17,057

169,489

1.007,363

Shoal bass fingerling
Brown bullhead adult
Total

7,902,056 2,490,960

5,182 1,683,773

248,730

2,673 364,512

5,182

15,590,900

2~673
28,280,931

bass were stocked in 2,535 ponds. In FY 80, thirty-one percent of the fish distributed went to stock 1,997 private ponds. Public waters received about 4.8 million fish from state and federal hatcheries that included over .1 million fry, 3.7 million fingerlings, and 17.1 thousand sub-adults or adults. These were stocked into 21 reservoirs, 10 rivers or streams, 5 public fishing areas, and 12 publicly owned small lakes. Striped bass and striped x white bass hybrids made up 82% of the warmwater fish stocked in public waters in FY 81. Approximately 15.6 million striped and striped x white bass fry were distributed to other state 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 continues to be quite successful in.producing popular fisheries in most of the state's large impoundments. Approximately 2.9 million striper and hybrid fingerlings were stocked by the Section into Georgia's public waters in FY 81, up from the 1.54 million stocked in FY 80. Over 1.03 million striper fry also were stocked into public waters in FY 81. Striped bass are present in Lakes Sinclair, Oconee, Burton, Nottely, Juliette, Jackson, Hartwell, Allatoona, Lanier and Clark's Hill. Striped x white bass hybrids are established in LakesClark's Hill, Hartwell, W.F. George, Chatuge, West Point, Blackshear, Worth, Bartlett's Ferry, Juliette, Andrews, Seminole, Sinclair, Allatoona, Jackson, Oliver, Goat Rock, Rutledge and Reed Bingham. These fisheries are being maintained by periodic stockings.
PUBLIC FISHING AREAS The Fisheries Section managed 6 public fishing areas with 24 lakes totaling 478.6 acres in FY 81 (Table 14). Four areas are owned by the DNR, one by the Georgia Forestry Commission, and the other is leased from a private owner.
27

Table 14. Public Fishing Areas cost and use data for FY 81.

Region

Area

Number Total a Ownership of lakes acreage

Total OperatinQ cost ($)

Total trips

ross

cost/trip

Trips/acre

($)

Arrowhead

State

2

25.3

59,071

11 ,564

457

5.11

III

McDuffie

State

13

112.0

40,159

15,639

140

2.57

IV

Baldwin Forest

State

5

51.3

40,073

16,990

331

2.36

N

o:>

v

Williams

State &

1

31.0

5,053 closed due to restocking after fish kill

Private

VI

Evans County

State

2

84.0

25,257

5,010

60

5.04

VI

Treutlen County

Private

1

175.0

4,327 closed for renovation and repair

TOTAL

24

478.6

173,940b 49,203

180. 5c

3.54c

aTotal acreage open to public fishing. bfhis total does not include $13,100 Atlanta expense charged to this program on Table 1. cweighted mean.

Treutlen County PFA and Williams PFA were closed during FY 81 for renovation and repairs. A11 areas except Arrowhead provide some 1argemouth bass and bream fishing. Channel catfish are stocked and grown for one year at Arrow~ head, 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 49,203 fishing trips occurred in FY 81 on the 4 areas requiring daily-use permits for an average of 180 trips per acre (Table 14). In FY 80, 47,793 trips were taken to these 4 PFAs for an average of 166 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 $30,697 in state revenues. A total of $29,961 was generated by this program FY 80. The total operating cost of all public fishtrig areas was $173,940 or approximately $187,000 when Atlanta office overhead is included. The operating cost for this program in FY 79 and 80 was $158,680 and $166,700, respectively, or $165,580 and $176,600 when Atlanta expenses are included. The gross cost per trip of those areas with use records was $3.54 in FY 81. When permit revenues are deducted the net cost per fishing trip was $2.93 in FY 81, $2.83 in FY 80, and $2.49 in FY 79. When Atlanta expenses are included the net cost per trip was $3.80 on FY 81, $3.69 in FY 80, and $3.12 in FY 79.
Records available for four areas show a total harvest of 94,044 fish averaging 0.62 pounds each (Table 15). This was down from 107,175 fish at 0.64 pounds each in FY 80because harvest data were not available from the period July through October from McDuffie PFA. Fishermen caught an average of 1.91 fish weighing 1.19 pounds per trip in FY 81 down from 2.24 fish weighing 1.44 pounds in FY 80.
29

Table 15. Harvest an:d catch rate data from Public Fishing Areas in FY 81.

Harvest

Channel catfish
Avgb No Wgt

Largemouth bass Avg
No Wgt

Breama

Avg

No

Ugt

Other

Avg

No

Wgt

Total No. Wgt

Catch rate No/trip Lb/trip

Arrowhead

18,557 .99

177 1.04

- 779 0.25

-

19,513 18,660

1.69

1.62

w

Baldwin Forest 28,938 . 91

- 119 1.33 22,984 .16

-

52,041 30,062

3.06

1.77

0

Evans County

187 0.61

723 1.93

9,799 0.32 4,070c 0.35 14,779 6,048

2.95

1.21

McDuff fed Total

1,101 1.06

607 1.36

48,783 .94e 1,626 1.58e

5,592 0.29

411

39,154 .zze 4,481

0.43 7,711 3,786 .36e 94,044 58,556

1.81 1.91e

0.89 1.19e

galuegi11, redear sunfish, and other panfish species. Pounds. CMainly black crappie. dThese data are for July-October 1980 only. eweighted mean.

RESEARCH AND SURVEYS The Fisheries Section has a comprehensive research and survey program which provides factual information about Georgia's fishery 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 (OJ) Federal Aid Coordination Project. Each region has one or more OJ projects consisting of one or more studies. In addition, some short term studies are financed with state funds. 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 81, the section devoted 6,121 man-days to 31 studies at a cost of $524,125. Toward this cost went $433,000 from the Dingell-Johnson Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration Program. In FY 80, 4,984 man-days were expended on .35 studies at a cost of $430,028 and in FY 79, 5,273 man-days were spent at a cost of $446,042. The man-days and costs of all studies conducted in each region in FY 81 appear in Table 16. Fifteen studies dealt with reservoir fisheries, eight with warmwater streams, two with ponds and lakes, four with coldwater streams, one with fish culture, and one with commercial eel fishing.
31

Table 16. Man-days, cost, and funding source of research and survey studies in each region during FY 81. Cost does not include Y.A.C.C. labor.

Region Northwest Northeast
Eastcentral Wes tcentra 1 Southwest

Man-days

Cost

Study

Fund Source

97 $ 9,794 Trout stream survey

DJa

41

6,635 Evaluation of the fish populations

OJ

and fishery of Blue Ridge Reser-

voir

143

15,165 Evaluation of the fish population

OJ

and fishery of Allatoona Reservoir

290

11,000 Creel survey of stocked trout

OJ

streams

158

15,800 Evaluation of predatory fish popu-

OJ

lation of Lake Burton

292

26,108 Dynamics of rainbow trout popula-

OJ

tions in small headwater streams

605

41,120 Evaluation of the sport fish popu-

DJ

lations of Lake Lanier

92

12,556 Georgia reservoir fish population

OJ

statistics

104

7,384 Trout stream development

OJ

240

33,023 Analyses of the fish populations

OJ

of Lake Oconee.

130

10,300 Hybrid bass growth and survival

OJ

in Clarks Hill Reservoir

18

2,200 Evaluation of some important river

State

systems in thewalton District

88

22,185 Sport fishery survey of Lake

DJ

Jackson

40

3,500 Fishery survey of the Oconee River

State

378

11,900 Sport fishery survey of Lake

Sinclair

State

3

220 The effect of threadfin shad intro-

State

duction in small impoundments

96

9,054 Creel survey on the Flint River

OJ

between Lakes Blackshear and Worth

112

9,883 Creel survey of three Chattahoochee

OJ

River Reservoirs

489

54,478 Black crappie population dynamics

OJ

in Goat Rock Reservoir

125

10,661 A survey of the Lake Seminole fish-

OJ

ery with emphasis on the effects of

stocking fok>rone spp.

22

1,800 Literature review of stocking

Micropterus sp.

State

58

6,550 Fish popuhtion survey of Lake

Seminole

State

32

Table 16. Continued.

Region

Man-days

Cost

Study

Fund Source

Southcentral Coastal Total

174 690 200 150 160
180 784 72
90 6,121

$ 17,500 58,073 16,720 11,800 13,800
22,961 44,680 8,900
8,375 $524,125

Routine sampling of southwest Georgia reservoirs A fisheries survey of the Altamaha River An evaluation of techniques for capturing channel catfish Population dynamics of redbreast sunfish in the Satilla River Selected aspects of the life history of six major sport fishes of the Altamaha River Pond stocking evaluation survey A fisheries survey of the Savannah River Effects of light intensity on fryto-fingerling survival of Morone spp. in rearing ponds - - Evaluation of three types of eel traps

State
DJ DJ DJ
DJ
State OJ OJ
State

aDJ projects are 75% funded by Oingell-Johnson Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration.

33

Final reports, available as public information, were completed on seven studies during the year and are listed below:
{1) Evaluation of Some Important River Systems Within the Walton District of the East Central Region - Sweetwater and Anneewakee Creek Basins;
(2) The Effect of Winterkill of Threadfin Shad in Lake Jackson; (3) The Largemouth Bass Fishery of Lake Tobesofkee; (4) A Survey of the Lake Walter F. George Fishery; (5) Largemouth Bas.s Exploitation in the Ocmulgee River; {6) Fish Communities of Public Lakes in Southeast Georgia, and; (7) Impact of Supplemental Stocking of Striped Bass Fingerlings
in the Ogeechee River. Cooperative projects were continued with three major universities as part of the research and surveys program. Auburn University provided educational and diagnostic services to fisheries personnel in the identification and control of fish diseases. Technical assistance was provided by North Carolina State University 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 81 which provided continuing education workshops to our staff. Also in FY 81, a contract study was continued with the University of Georgia to study tag loss and mortality in the Par Pond largemouth bass population (DJ Project F-37).
HATCHERY RENOVATION AND FACILITY IMPORVEMENTS Seven projects were completed on Fisheries Section facilities in FY 81. Hatchery renovation personnel completed four of these and pri:vate contractors the other three. Table 17 provides a listing of these projects with associated costs.
34

Table 17. Hatchery renovation, boat ramp repair, new construction and facility maintenance projects in FY 81.

Expenses ($)

Location

Project

Personal Operating Services Expense Capital Outlay Funds Total Mandays

Facility Maint.

Statewide

Administration

30,800

0

0

30,800 355a

Burtonb

Siding installed on offices and

0

0

4,500

4,500

0

hatchery building

Walton

Office renovation, parking area 16,293

3,013

10,990

30,296 249

Richmond Hi 11

Roofing of shop and storage shed

755

0

1,862

2.617

12

w

Richmond Hi 11

Replace pump and repair well

685

0

8,250

8,935

9

(J1

Hatchery Renovation

Statewide

Administration

53,200

0

0

53,200

NAc

Cordele

Repair residence, warehouse and

5,688

0

6,987

12,675

77

holding house

New Construction

Statewide

Administration

1,600

0

Gainesvi lleb

Addition to storage building

0

0

Arrowhead PFAb Construction of restrooms

0

0

Boat Ramp Repair Statewide

28,500

0 16,268 5,552 38,900

1,600

NAc

16,268

0

5,552

0

67,400 315a

Total

137,521

3,013

93,309

233,843 1,017

aThese figures do not include mandays of Atlanta. off1ce spent on these projects'.. bcontracts were let for these projects, therefore there were no personal services or operating expenses of mandays expended. cNot available.

REPORT APPROVED:

' /

36