FISHERIES SECTION ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year 1987 July l, 1986- June 30, 19H7 Game and Fish Division Department of Natural Resources Atlanta, Georgia June 1988 The Department of Natural Resources receives Federal Aid in fiRh and wildlife restoration. Under Title VI of 1964 Civil Rights Act and Section 501_. of the Rehabilitation Act 1973, the U. S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or1g1.n or handicap. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information please write to: The Official of Equal Opportunity U. S. Department of the Interior Washington, D.C 20240 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I. INTRODUCTION II. PRIVATE WATERS MANAGEMENT III. 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 IV. TROUT PRODUCTION v. WARMWATER HATCHERIES VI. PUBLIC FISHING AREA OPERATION VII. RESEARCH AND SURVEYS VIII. FACILITY ~~INTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION i 1 3 7 7 8 9 9 11 12 12 14 14 14 17 21 28 29 33 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Georgia is blessed with abundant and diverse freshwater fishery resources. Over 4,000 miles of trout streams are located in North Georgia, and over 12,000 miles of warmwater streams wider than 10 feet are found throughout the State. In addition, over 509,000 acres of impoundments exist. Fish populations thrive in most of this habitat. When one also considers Georgia's favorable climate, it is obvious that sport fishing in Georgia has great potential. The Fisheries Section of the Game and Fish Division is responsible for protecting this resource and developing its potential. About 1.5 of the state's 6.2 million people participate in freshwater sport fishing, making this the most popular wildlife oriented recreational activity in the state. Fishermen purchased 870,666 sport fishing licenses during the license year ending March 1987 and also purchased 38,401 permits at Public Fishing Areas (PFA) and Waters Creek (a trophy trout stream) in Fiscal Year 1987 (FY 87) generating over 4.3 million in revenue~ Resident fishermen also spent about $352 million for tackle, equipment, travel, etc., which results in about $11 million from sales tax revenue. The Fisheries Section spent about $5.7 million to manage the fishery resource, about $2.2 million of which were Federal funds ($47,044 through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and $2,112,774 through the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Program). This is an indication of the "return on investment" provided by the Section's program. The goal of the Fisheries Section is to preserve, enhance and provide for the utilization of Georgia 1 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 and stocking, research and surveys, operation of public fishing areas, and the facility maintenance and construction programs. The private waters management program, which provides technical assistance to pond owners, expended $317,500 and 1, 994 mandays. This represents 6% of the total section budget and 7% of the mandays. During FY 87, 2,161 field investigations of ponds were conducted, over 4,000 pond owners and managers received assistance by telephone or office visits, and 3,400 ponds were stocked with about 8.2 million fish. Thirty-two percent of the budget ($1,808.100) and 33% of the total manpower (9,372 mandays) went to manage public waters in FY 87. Through this program, 44 public water fish kills were investigated and 48 chemical treatments were applied to ten bodies of water where aquatic plants were a problem. Technical assistance was provided on the management of lakes on six state park facilities and numerous other public lakes and ponds. Environmental reviews or assessments were conducted. Fish attractors were constructed or maintained on 9 lakes, and fish populations on 26 bodies of water were sampled. Over 960,000 catchable (approximately nine inches in length) trout were stocked in Georgia trout streams in FY 87 (683,369 from state hatcheries and 278,505 from Federal hatcheries). The Section's trout program required 13% of the total budget ($722,000) and 14% of the total manpower (4,161 mandays). Georgia has an estimated 239,723 trout fishermen who spent $381,685 for trout stamps in license year 1986 (April 1, 1986 - March 31, 1987) which equals 53% 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 the fishery ii management needs of public waters. Over 25 million fish were distributed from the State's seven warmwater hatcheries in FY 87. Of this total, 32% went to private ponds. The remainder went to public waters and to other fisheries agencies. This program expended IS% of the total budget ($833,000) and 17% of the total manpower (5,065 mandays). Seven public fishing areas were managed by the Fisheries Se~tion in FY 87. This required 4% of the budget and 7% of the total manpower ($24~.~00 and 1,993 mandays). An average of 168 trips per acre occurred on the four areas for which trip information was available. Sixty-seven percent of the fishermen using these four areas were required by law to purchase the daily-use permit, which generated $36,317 in state revenues. Harvest from two areas showed an average 1.77 fish or 2.22 lbs. harvested per fishermen trip. 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. ln FY 87, 5,360 mandays (lRZ of total) were devoted to 30 studies at a cost of about $869,500 (15% of total budget). The statewide facility maintenance and construction programs were continued in FY 87. Seven facility maintenance projects were completed. Three new boat ramps were completed, repairs were made to four existing boat ramps, and construction continued on a new public fishing lake. The Section spent $870,100 on the operation of these programs (15% of the total budget). 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 290,187 acres of impoundments larger than 500 acres. Also, 12,338 miles of warmwater streams wider than 10 feet, 4,128 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 1.5 million fishermen, representing almost half of the state's households, spend about 29 million days fishing. Recreational fishing has considerable economic value to the state. The 870,666 sport fishing licenses sold during the license year ending March 1986 and the 38,401 permits sold at the Public Fishing Areas and Waters Creek in Fiscal Year 1987 (FY 87) generated over $4.3 mi Ilion in revenue. Resident freshwater fishermen spend about $352 million annually which results in additional state revenues of about $11 million from sales tax. In FY 87, the Fisheries Section expended $5.7 million to manage the fishery resources, $2,159,818 (or 38%) of which were Federal funds ($47,044 through the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and $2,112,774 through the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Program). This total expenditure is equal to approximately $0.20 per fishing day or $3.78 per fisherman. The statewide fisheries program is administered from a central office in Atlanta, seven regional offices, and eleven district offices (Figure 1). Services are provided primarily at the regional and district levels by 35 fishery biologists, 46 fishery technicians, 10 clerical employees and 4 construction/maintenance employees. Forty-two non-merit laborers were also employed for varying lengths of time in FY 87. Figure 1. Hap of fisheries regions and districts in Georgia and location of regional offices. Solid lines mark region boundaries, broken lines mark the district boundaries within the regions. 2 Active programs in FY 87 included: private waters management, public waters management, trout production and stocking, warmwater hatchery production and stocking, operation of public fishing areas, research and surveys, and facility maintenance and construction. Most of the FY 87 expenditures went to public waters management, research and surveys, and warmwater hatcheries (Table 1). 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 on request from the pond owner. Assistance is directed at needs or problems relating to fish population balance, aquatic vegetation, fish kills, and general management. Assistance with aquatic vegetation included examination of ponds for which grass carp were requested. Grass carp are plant eating fish that control aquatic plants in ponds but could create serious environmental problems if they escaped into rivers and streams. For this reason only sterile triploid grass carp are allowed and these only by permit from the Department of Natural Resources. Fisheries personnel conducted 2,161 field investigations during FY 87 (Table 2). This is a substantial (38%) increase over the 1,565 field investigations conducted in FY 86 and is primarily due to an increased number of ponds examined for which grass carp were requested. Additional technical assistance was provided to pond owners and managers through over 4,000 telephone and office consultations. Pond extension work required 1, 994 mandays of work (7% of Section total) a total cost (excluding the cost of producing fish for stocking) of $317,500 (6% of Section total). Owners of over 3,400 ponds received about 8.2 million fish (Table 3). 3 Table 1. Fisheries Section expenditures (thousands of dollars) by re~ion and program in FY 87.a PROGRAM Atlanta I II III IV v VI VII TOTAL Private Waters Management Public Waters Management 25.6 145.9 29.2 145.7 12.1 347.9 53.5 174.1 41.3 347 .o 28.6 278.7 92.7 248.7 34.5 120.1 317.5 1,808.1 Trout Production/Stocking 58.3 79.5 584.2 722.0 Warrnwater Hatcheries 67.2 24.6 10.7 173.6 5.4 212.0 101.3 238.2 833.0 Research/Surveys 70.1 185.5 88.9 196.2 60.5 95.2 91.7 81.4 869.5 Public Fishin~ Area Operations 19.9 66.4 60.4 51.1 5.9 42.9 246.6 -1:-- Facility Maintenance 4.4 50.3 54.7 Hatchery Renovation 3.1 35.3 38.4 Boat Ramp Construction Roat Ramp Repair New Construction Total 10.6 0.5 583.7 989.3 530.9 I ,043.8 56.9 714.7 120.5 5.4 716.8 620.4 577.3 474.2 131.1 5.') 640.6 5,667.4 arhese figures may differ somewhat from the final 6/87 fiscal Accountin~ and Control Systems (FACS) rrintout since errors in the FACS printout were corrected in this report. b Expenses of Atlanta Office were prorated as administration costs to all programs. Table 2. Field investigations on private waters in each district during FY 87. Region District Balance Aquatic Vegetation Fish Kills Pre-stocking Checks General Management Total % of Total Calhoun 35 130 8 206 2 381 17% II Gainesville 7 8 3 59 4 81 4% III Walton Thomson 148 63 5 75 56 179 44 18 14 305 14% 2 299 14% V1 IV Macon 64 46 9 100 5 224 10% Manchester 49 56 4 29 7 145 7% v Albany Cordele 31 72 2 41 42 3 8 113 5% 2 88 4% VI Waycross Metter 26 125 30 2 7 190 9% 11 149 28 5 15 208 10% VII Richmond Hi 11 20 47 28 15 17 127 6% Total 488 917 164 509 % of Total 23% 42% 8% 23% 83 2. 161 4% 100% Table 3. Total number and acres of private ponds stocked with largemouth bass, bream and channel catfish in FY 87. Region District Bass-bream J:!Onds stocked Number Acres Percent stocked at Number and s:eecies stocked Redear Largemouth Channel Bluegill sunfish bass catfish Catfish only :eonds stocked Number Acres I Calhoun 134 420.7 168,394 41,976 20 J 771 33,385 42 109.5 II Gainesville 76 255.7 102,180 25,545 12,872 27,428 42 89.5 III Walton 141 398.2 7 24.1 171,670 38,542 18,725 39,544 61 95.8 Ci' Thomson 293 1,026.1 90 184.4 453,605 113,630 58,998 129,508 169 376.5 IV Macon Manchester 186 1,139.6 124 455.9 18 124.9 478,316 116,767 54,132 37 141.6 233,272 54 J 178 27,335 75,203 31,707 61 178.9 36 84.8 v Albany Cordele 287 3,025.1 105 592.9 11 78.8 1,055,347 232,150 116,350 134,192 21 119.4 287,027 56,828 31,610 100,516 155 657.5 122 519.2 VI Waycross Metter 423 3,558.5 497 2,817.1 37 210.3 1,169,708 254,427 133,805 163,160 10 72.6 1,127,730 277,355 147,015 185,240 166 590.5 168 663.6 VII Richmond Hi 11 74 268.2 110,300 26,825 14,485 22,790 41 58.8 Total 2,340 13,958.0 231 956.1 5,357,549 1,238,223 636,098 943,173 1,063 3,424.6 PUBLIC WATERS MANAGEMENT This program includes various services and activities promoting the protection and wise use of Georgia's aquatic resources. These activities include the development and recommendation of fishing laws and regulations, pollution and fish kill investigations, fish surveys, aquatic plant surveys, boat ramp construction and maintenance, the management and development of public waters, technical coordination with other agencies, environmental reviews and assessments, employee training, special services, and general administration. Thirty-two percent of the budget ($1,808,100) and 33% of total manpower (9,732 mandays) were expended on managing public waters in FY 87. Fishing Laws and Regulations The Fisheries Section, in conjunction with the Department of Natural Resources Communications Office, printed the fishing laws and regulations for the 1987-1988 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 Fisheries Section was also involved in the development of new fishing laws and regulations. Three important changes in the law were made by the Legislature in FY 87: 1) A bill was passed that, effective April 1, 1987, revised the fees for hunting and fishing licenses. The resident combination hunting and fishing license was increased from $11.50 to $15.50 per year, the resident fishing license increased from $5.50 to $7.50 per year, the non-resident fishing license increased from $12.50 to $20.00 per year, and the five (5) day non-resident 7 trout stamp was eliminated. Similar increases occurred in the hunting licenses. The additional funds raised were to be dedicated to the acquisition of some 200,000 acres of land for wildlife mana~ement areas and public fiRhlng lakeR in Georgia. 2) A bill was passed allowing the Department of Natural Reosurces to designate up to three days each calendar year for fishing without a license. The intent was to encourage the non-fishing public to become more involved in this recreational activity. 3) A bill was passed that provided for reciprocal fishing licenses for Georgia and Florida residents more than sixty-five (65) years old. Similar legislation passed by Florida required reciprocal licenses for hunti.ng which Georgias law did not contain. Consequently, the law cannot go into effect until both states adopt a compatible position and this did not occur in FY 87. Pollution and Fish Kill Investigations Fisheries personnel investigated 44 public water fish kills in FY 87. Estimates of the number of dead fish were not obtained for all the disease kills and fish kills reported so late that the dead fish could not be found. In the remaining 34 investigations, an estimated 81,897 fish worth $33,289 were killed. The most common cause of fish kills, excluding disease, was industrial incidents. As of July 1, 1987, the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) had collected $53,180 in civil penalties from the municipal, industrial or agricultural operations that were responsible for seven of the fish kills. In addition to the fish kill investigations, 40 pollution reports were investigated and/or reported to EPD. 8 Fish Surveys The Fisheries Section continued to collect standard reservoir samples in FY 87. This activity enabled the Section to monitor the principal game and forage fish species in Georgia reservoirs, identify potential problems, and determine the research and management needs of each reservoir. The reservoir fisheries can be evaluated annually through this sampling without the need for intensive research studies. The standardized sampling plan involves seining, gillnetting, electrofishing, a general reconnaissance survey and an annual report of findings and recommendations. Standardized samples were collected in FY 87 from the following reservoirs: Allatoona, Bart l e t t s Ferry, Blue Ridge, Blackshear, Burton, Carters, Chatuge, Clarks Hill, Hartwell, High Falls, Jackson, Lanier, Nottely, Oconee, Rabun, Seminole, Sinclair, Tobesofkee, Tugaloo, Walter F. George and West Point. The Fisheries Section expanded the standardized sampling program to include five rivers in south Georgia. These were the Altamaha, Ocmulgee, Ohoopee, Satilla and St. Marys rivers. The objectives were the same as for the standardized reservoir sampling, and the techniques were modified for stream sampling. Aquatic Plant Control During FY 87 chemicals were applied by Section personnel in 48 treatments to 280.2 acres at 10 locations to control aquatic plants (Table 4). The Sloppy Floyd State Park Lakes were treated by Region I personnel. The remainder of the treatments were made as a part of the statewide Aquatic Plant Control Program administered by the Fort Valley Regional Office. This program was first expanded i.n FY 86 through a contract with the U.S. Army Corps of 9 Table 4. Herbicide treatments applied in controlling aquatic weeds statewide in FY 87. Body of Water County Target Pest Acres Affected Acres Treated Number of Treatments Percent Success of Treatments Ebenezer Creek Effingham Alligatorweed 10 10 80% Ebenezer Creek Effingham Duckweed 20 so:r. Total Reservoirs Blackshear Blackshear Blackshear Blackshear Blackshear Blackshear Crisp/Sumter Dooley Crisp/Worth Crisp/Worth Crisp/Worth Crisp Blackshear Jackson Crisp Butts/Newton Worth Dougherty Worth Dougherty Worth Dougherty Total Publically-Owned Small Lakes Flat lander Lanier Georgia State Prison Lake at Reidsville Tattnall Lake Erma Lanier Magnolia Springs Jenkins Oconee Wildlife Hgt. Area Putnam Sloppy Floydc State Park Lakes Chattooga Total GRAND TOTAL Lyngbya Parrotsfeather, Bacops, Spatterdock Najas Alligatorweed Char a Giant cutgrass, Cattails, Najas, Hilfoil, Lotua Giant cutgraso Water willow Alli@!ator weed Giant cutgrass, Hyacinth Giant cutgrass Cattails, Hyacinth Coontail, Hilfoil Hyacinth, Lilies Lyngbya Various submer~ents Smartweed Various submer~ents Various submer~ents Ludwtda Pithophora, Najas 30 100 10 500 35 50 N.A. b 10 10 40 91)3 o.s 8 20 4 20 1. 2 53.7 1,046. 7 17 41\ 15 35 2.5 20 10 10 209.5 o.s 8 20 4 20 1. 2 53.7 280.2 14 50% 90% 807. 80% 80% 1)0% 95% 8 90% 95% 507. 17 N.A.b 95% N.A.b 1)07. N.A.b 95% 8 48 &weighted means bNot available cThis treatment was not done under contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. All other treatments were under the Cooperative Agreement for Aquatic Plant Control. dWeighted means. Estimates not available are not used in calculation of the weighted means. 10 Engineers (Corps). This contract continued in FY 87 with the Corps providing 70% funding for all activities completed under an approved annual work plan developed by the Fisheries Section. These additional funds enabled the Section to achieve better control of undesirable aquatic vegetation in several bodies of water. Total cost of these treatments was $95,698 ( $4 7 ,043. 52 Federal share and $48,654.48 State funds). Of the Federal funds, a total of $28,681.22 was provided in Federal Fiscal Year 1986 and a total of $18,362.30 was provided in Federal Fiscal Year 1987. Expenditures by the Section on Aquatic Plant Control Program in FY 87 totalled $104,100 (Table 1). In addition to the Section's regular weed control program assistance was provided to the Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division (Parks) in developing plans for constructing a fish fence and stocking triploid grass carp in Little Ocmulgee State Park Lake. A total of $162,404.43 was spent by Parks on engineering and construction contracts and on the purchase of triploid grass carp to stock the lake. A total of $113,683.10 of these funds was provided through the Corps contract for aquatic weed control. Construction of the fish fence and stocking of the fish is to be completed in FY 1988. Boat Ramp Program One hundred and nine boat ramps were inspected for general condition throughout the state. Redwood boat ramp site signs were constructed and erected at 21 sites statewide. A statewide list of sites needing directional signs was developed. This list and fifty-eight (58) directional signs were furnished to the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT). DOT personnel installed these signs at the ent ranees to twenty-nine ( 29) state owned boat ramps. An additional twenty-two (22) signs were installed by Fisheries 11 Personnel. The construction and repair of boat ramps is described under the Facility Maintenance and Construction section of this report. Management and Development Management recommendations and/or assistance were provided for the lakes at the following state parks: James H. "Sloppy" Floyd, Unicoi, Gordonia-Alatamaha, George L. Smith, Kolomoki, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Assistance was also provided in managing lakes and ponds controlled by the Stone Mountain Park Authority, Georgia Southern College, Chatham County and the cities of Atlanta, Tallapoosa, and Savannah. Fish attractors were inspected, constructed and/or refurbished at the following reservoirs: Bartletts Ferry, Burton, Chatuge, Clarks Hill, Goat Rock, Jackson, Nottely, Oliver, and Walter F. George. Technical Assistance to Other Agencies Technical assistance was provided to many other federal and state agencies in FY 87. Technical assistance was provided to the U.S. Forest Service in the following areas: commenting on a draft fisheries management policy for Forest Service lands; reviewing timber sale prescriptions; providing data on trout distribution; density and standing crop for watersheds in three ranger districts, and on the distribution of brook trout in Georgia; assessing the impacts of upgrading the Forest Service road along Rock Creek on the Blue Ridge Management Area; assessing the impacts of heavy use by fishermen of the Tallulah River; and in reviewing past work and planning future activities on the Chattahoochee National Forest at the annual coordination meeting. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) was provided technical assistance by: assisting in the development of a sampling plan and 12 in the sampling to determine if American shad passed through the Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam on their way upstream to spawn; and providing consultation on the management of the sport fishery on Banks Lake. The Section also cooperated with the USFWS and other state agencies in developing and implementing plans to protect and enhance the population of striped bass in the Apalachicola River Basin. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers was assisted in: testing a new herbicide, Garlon 3A, on Eurasian milfoil on Lake Seminole; designing fish attractors for Lake Walter F. George Reservoir; and developing a standard operating procedure for maintaining water levels on impoundments in the Chattahoochee River system during fish spawning seasons. The U. S. Army resource managers at Fort Benning and at Fort Stewart were assisted with the management of fish ponds on these facilities. A proposal developed by the University of Georgia for research on the Conasauga logperch and amber darter was reviewed and commented on. Also comments were provided on the Tennessee Valley Authority's fish kill investigation guidelines and reservoir revegetation programs. The Game Management Section of the Department of Natural Resources was assisted in the construction of a timber loading ramp on Sapelo Island and a waterfowl impoundment on Rum Creek Management Area. Assistance was also provided to Game Management in collecting diseased turtles from the Gum Creek area of Lake Blackshear for analysis. Acid rain monitoring units were operated in cooperation with both the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Fish samples were also collected from several bodies of water statewide for analysis under the radiological, trend and toxic substances monitoring program of EPD and EPA. Fish samples were also collected from the 13 Savannah River for use by EPD in the oil contaminant monitoring following the large Savannah Harbor oil spill. Environmental Reviews and Assessments The Fisheries Section reviewed and commented on 55 projects impacting fisheries habitats (Table 5). The purpose of these comments is to provide for protection, enhancement, and mitigation of fisheries resources. Most of these reviews required little staff time, but others required field investigations and extensive analyses of potential problems. Information and Education Activities A wide range of information services and educational programs was provided in FY 87. A breakdown of these different type activities is provided in Table 6. Other Activities Fisheries Section biologists served on the Pollution, Trout, Warmwater Streams, Striped Bass, Reservoir and Ballot committees of the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society. Staff members gave presentations at the annual meeting of the Georgia Fisheries Workers Association. One biologist served as a technical member of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Scientific and Statistical Committee. Other biologists served on the Game and Fish Study Committee appointed by the Director. Several biologists served on a committee to study the Division's policies on grass carp and to make recommended changes. Biologists functioned as reviewers of papers submitted to the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Proceedings and the American Fisheries Society and verifiers of record fish caught throughout the state. One biologist served on a steering committee planning the formation of a Southern Appalachian Trout Disease Control 14 Table 5. Environmental reviews and assessments conducted by Fisheries Section in FY 87. Subject/Agency Number Army Corps of Engineers Permits Dredge and fill projects 5 Boat docks, piers, rip-rap, discharges, 15 weirs Army Corps Projects and Plans 5 Department of Energy Plans 1 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Licenses Fish and Wildlife Service Plans and Studies 5 Forest Service Plans 1 Georgia Department of Natural Resources Applications for Surface Mining (Sand Dredging) 11 Georgia Department of Transportation Plans 3 Local Government Proposals 2 U.S. Soil Conservation Service Plans 1 TOTAL 55 aNa small sea 1e h yd ropower pro j ects were rev i ewe d i n FY 1987 compare d to seven (7) projects in both FY 1985 and FY 1986. 15 Table 6. Information and education activities conducted in FY 87. Activity Number Persons Attending Mandays Information Public Talks or Exhibits News and Press Releases Game & Fish Public Hearings and Meetings Fish Hatchery Tours General & Technicala Information Requests Education Classes Taught 110 15 18 176 6,453 23 24,412 421 1,988 550 120.1 21.7 18.6 25.8 159.6 19.3 aVolume of requests of the Atlanta office were too numerous to record and are not included in the totals. 16 Commission. The Department of Natural Resources Communications Office was assisted in developing a film on fishing which was completed in FY 87. A considerable amount of time was also spent locating and evaluating potential sites for construction of new public fishing areas in the state. TROUT PRODUCTTON Trout stream habitat in Georgia, composed of 4,128 miles or about 7,967 acres of water, is relatively 1 imited considering the number of fishermen utilizing this resource. Approximately 239,723 resident trout fishermen made almost 4.0 million trout fishing trips in FY 87. 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 nine inches) at Burton, Summerville, and Buford hatcheries for stocking into selected public trout streams, tailwaters and impoundments. This effort utilized 13% of the Section's budget ($722,000) and 14% of the Section's manpower (4,161 mandays) in FY 87. 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 deal of which are on federally owned lands. The state's three coldwater hatcheries produced a net weight of 269,383 pounds of trout in FY 87 at an average cost of $1.94 per pound (Table 7). The average conversion ratio (pounds of feed required to produce one pound of fish) at state hatcheries in FY 87 was 1.40 (Table 7). A total of 961,874 (683,369 from state hatcheries and 278,505 from Federal hatcheries) catchable trout and 204,759 fingerlings (154,579 from state hatcheries and 50,000 from Federal hatcheries) was stocked into waters 17 Table 7. Trout production (lbs.), conversion ratios, and costs at state hatcheries in FY 87. Hatchery Brook Species Rainbow Brown Total Cost Total Per lb. Buford Net weight gain Conversion ratio 15,473 111,793 16,611 143,877 1.50 1.38 1.21 1.37 $261,551 $1.82 Burton 1-' ():) Net weight gain Conversion ratio 14,070 1.33 74,165 1.48 (165) -3.39 88,070 1.47 $205,604 $2.33 Summerville Net weight gain Conversion ratio 37,436 1.35 37,436 1.35 $55,279 $1.48 Total Net weight gain Conversion ratio 29,543 223,394 16,446 269,383 1.428 1.41a 1.25a 1.40a $522,434 $1.94a aWeighted means. Table 8. Number and weight of each species of trout stocked into Georgia's public waters from state and federal hatcheries during FY 87. Brook Rainbow Brown Total Facility Number Weight Number (lb) Weight (lb) Number Weight Number (lb) Weight (lb) State hatcheries Buford catchables 1-' \() Burton catchables fingerlings Summerville catchables fingerlings Federal hatcheries Chattahoochee catchables Walhalla catchables fingerlings Total catchables fingerlings 38,884 17,638 250,832 106,351 45,107 21,033 334,823 145,022 51,768 16,990 175,964 65,152 17,400 154,379 481 5,370 245,132 87,512 154,379 481 103,414 34,2 77 200 103,414 34.2 77 2 200 2 266,418 75,983 266,418 75,983 12,087 50,000 1,697 410 12,087 50,000 1,697 410 90,652 34,628 796,628 281,763 74,594 28,100 154,379 481 50,200 412 961,874 344,491 204,579 893 Table 9. Number and weight of catchable trout by species and habitat type stocked from all hatcheries in FY 87. Brook Rainbow Brown Total Habitat Number Weip:ht (l b) Number Wel~i~;ht ( l b) Number Weight ( l b) Number Weight (1 b) 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 3 ,8 00 2. 58 0 2,490 8. 7 38 l. 100 18 3 58 5,200 7 ,680 3 ,18 0 15.29 0 Total 68,416 I ,6 03 I ,060 l ,08 6 2,009 447 7 ,8 58 1 ,8 1 I 2. 78 6 1 333 5. 3 36 25.3 29 7. 6 35 4 ' ; 31 4. so 3 69 0 I ,08 0 15 7 00 5 I, 509 Ill , 7 19 34 , I 9 6 I, 57 5 23,500 1 3. 12 ~ 85,300 20 '5 50 11 7 50 6,9 00 3. 5 50 88. 11!2 15,6 00 46 38 2 7 6 ,6 24 9 ,906 66,540 4 00 2 5 27 I ,4 40 1; 0 1 227 350 6,611 1;. 304 6 ,4 I l 10.9 67 514 7. 9 61! 4 ,46 4 27,705 6. 5; 5 3,894 2. 9 27 l 2 18 3 2 3 28 5 ,48 3 15,982 2 2 6 59 3. 29 0 2 3 ,0 50 14 4 608,447 203,519 3. 300 1 ,4 00 1. 500 5,8 00 5,000 1 ,4 8 7 14 ,260 34 7 4 7 1 4 12 9 75 258 I ,8 4 3 I, 36 6 500 3 ,4 57 9 8 l 1 7 6) 5 4. 5)! 4. 50 3 690 1 ,08 0 22,800 51.509 18,719 )6 7 7 6 1 57 5 29,390 13,125 9 5. 5 38 20.5 50 ll 7 50 8,000 3,550 112,340 20,800 59 ,06 2 81,291 9,906 9 6,09 0 400 2 5 27 1 ,4 40 l '50 1 2 27 350 9,626 15.304 6, 4 II 12,027 514 10 ,0 29 4,464 29 9 72 6. 55 5 3 ,89 4 3. 3 7 4 1. 2 18 4 2 ,0 29 7 '29 4 20. 134 24 ,4 9 2 3 '29 0 3 1 ,8 4 3 !4 4 71!,610 238 ,6 59 Tailwatera Blue Ridge Hartwell Lanier Total 2,490 17 '7 60 20,250 9 34 6 ,8 30 7. 7 64 20 ,4 8 9 8,4 00 110,047 138,9 36 6. 7 6 5 3,128 49 7 56 59 ,6 49 1 ,600 8,600 29 ,6 47 39 ,8 4 7 255 3 ,1 06 14 ,9 58 111,319 24 '57 9 17 ,000 !57 ,4 54 199,0 33 7. 9 54 6. 2 34 71,544 85,732 Re se rvoi rs Lanier Total 2 2. 54 5 2 2. 54 5 10.5 19 10.5 19 22,545 22,545 10.5 19 10 '5 19 Small Lakes Black Rock Oocke ry Lake Conasauga Nancy town Rocit Creek Unicoi Vogel Winfield Scott Total 190 358 '10 8'10 258 28 0 4 28 !58 421 248 1 5 35 1. 100 s,ooo 1,800 4,000 2.,000 2. 4 00 5 ,4 00 26 7 00 19 4 2 ,110 I,! 69 1. 289 57 5 7 6 1 1. 578 8,076 1 ,490 8,000 3,800 4. 3 58 2,000 90 3. 29 0 5 ,6 58 28 '68 6 674 2. 3 10 I , 169 I ,1 I7 57 5 !58 1, I82 1 ,8 26 9 6 11 GRAND TOTAL '10,652 34 6 28 796,628 281,763 74,594 28 1 3 0 s 9 6 1 8 7 4 34 4 2 1 20 open to public fishing during FY 87 (Table 8). The cost of fish distributed by state personnel was $0.47 per pound. Therefore, the cost in FY 87 for rearing and distributing trout from state hatcheries to Georgia's public waters was approximately $2.20 per pound ($0. 79 per catchable fish). The production and distribution costs are 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. Administrative costs of the Atlanta Office staff are not included in these calculations. Sixty-nine (69) percent of the catchable trout were stocked into streams, 25% into tailwaters, 3% into reservoirs, and 3% into small lakes (Table 9). In addition, 154,379 fingerling rainbow trout (3-5 inches long) were stocked into public streams and small public lakes during FY 87. Also 50,000 brown trout fingerlings were stocked in the Chattahoochee River from the Federal Walhalla Hatchery. Resident trout stamp sales increased to 115,389 (110,041 in 1986) in the 1987 license year (April 1, 1986 to March 31, 1987) which generated $346,565 in revenue. Including non-resident trout stamp sales ($35,120), the total revenues generated paid 53% of the cost of the program. WARMWATER HATCHERIES The Fisheries Section produced warmwater fish at seven hatcheries in FY 87. These fish were produced for stocking newly constructed or renovated private ponds and to meet the management needs of public waters. This effort required 17% (5,065 mandays) of the Section's manpower and 15% ($833,000) of the budget in FY 87 (Table 1). 21 Bluegill, redear sunfish, and largemouth bass are generally produced at all hatcheries. Channel catfish are produced primarily at the McDuffie and Cordele hatcheries. Bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish are distributed from October to March with largemouth 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-white bass hybrids are the primary warmwater species stocked in public waters. Using intensive culture methods, fisheries personnel artificially propagate these species at Richmond Hill Hatchery from wild fish collected during their natural spawning runs. Most of the fry produced are stocked into state hatchery ponds to grow to fingerling size (one inch) before stocking. Small numbers of other warmwater species are occasionally produced to meet specific management needs. The warmwater hatcheries produced over 18 million fry (striped bass and striped-white bass hybrid) and 15.9 million fingerlings and adults in FY 87 (Table 10). The striped bass fin~erlings produced included 99,258 of the Gulf strain which were grown to fingerling size at Steve Cocke Hatchery and stocked in Lake Seminole (Table 11). The average production cost per fish varied from $0.008 for striped bass and striped-white bass hybrid fry to $1.07 for adult channel catfish. Production by species and the associated costs at each hatchery appear in Tables 11 and 12. The tables do not itemize the costs of forage species, but these costs are included in the cost of the predatory species they fed. Fish distribution information is presented in Table 13. Differences in the production totals in Table 10 and distribution totals in Table 13 result 22 Table 10. Total numbers and cost per fish of warmwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY ~7. Production Species Acres Number Avg. no. per acre Cost per fish (S)a Bluegi 11 finger lin)!: adults Redear sunftsh fingerling Largemouth bass fin)l;erling adults Striped bass fry fin)Zerlin)l; Striped-white hybrid bass fry finger 1i n)Zs Channel catfish fin~~:erlings interm:idiates adults Shoal bass fingerling Total 14.16 !l,I14,9RI 150 1,9R4,242 1,1911,341 l)R 5,8RI,OOO f.'j7,666 202,0llb NA l11l, I 7R 62,122b NA NAC 75,420 12,H75,000 2,641,524 20.8! 2.80 !.00 1,177,644 45,131 5,632 2.80 !!7,280 134.10 14,681!,729 NAc 109,815 56,590 I f., 118 '3,745 11,171 .011! f)(J:-; .05 7 .OOR .041 11 1 .127 1.073 04l~ t aCost of each production phase includes cost of previous phase. bThese are surplus brood fish stocked into pttblic waters. Costs and acres used for producinR these fish are considered as a part of the fingerling production for the appropriate species. cNot applicable, these fry are hatched in jars and then placed In ~quaria. dNo cost estimates for 1,887 channel catfish raised in a raceway at Cordele Hatchery could be provided. Cost of production of these fish was included in fingerling production cost. Acres, number per acre and cost per fish estimates are for 3,745 adults produced at McDuffie Hatchery. eWeighted means. Striped bass and striped white bass hybrid fry are not included in these figures. 23 Table 11. Number of each warmwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY 87. Species --- Bluegill fingerling harvest Stmmerville Walton 1-k:Duffie Cordele Steve Cocke Bowens Hill Richmond Hill Total 420,255 752,069 1,987,830 150 1,107,785 2,054,386 1,812,656 8,134, 981 150 Redear sunfish fingerlinp: 99,957 28,526 587,320 256,387 456,452 555,600 1, 984,242 Largemouth bass fingerling adults 206,299 489,370 111,000 138 226,592 165,080 1,198,341 138 Striped bass fry fingerling 32,475 407,175 99,258a 5,881,000 118,758 5,881,000 657,666 Striped-white N .p- hybrid bass fry fingerling 1,082,222 340,600 12,875,000 12,875,000 226,468 992,234 2,641 ,524 Channel catfish fingerling intermediates adults 16,011 231,143 3,745 652,125 45,131 1,887 157,029 121,336 1,177,644 45,131 5,632 Shoal bass fingerling 22,680 64,600 87,280 TOTAL 520,212 1,035,530 3,706,583 1,804,045 2,136,797 2,963,898 22,521,664 34,688,729 ~se fish were the Gulf strain of striped bass. All other striped bass fingerlings were the Atlantic strain. Table 12. Cost per fish (dollars) of warmwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY 87. Species Summerville Walton McDuffie Cordele Steve Cocke Bowens Mi 11 Richmond Hill Bluegill fingerling Redear sunfish fingerling Largemouth bass fingerling Striped bass fry fingerling Striped-white hybrid bass "-> fry \JI fingerlinp; Channel catfish fingerling intermediate harvestable Shoal bass fin)terling .031 .044 0 2 l .337 .014 .208 0 l7 .027 0 31 .031 .030 .053 .169 1 18 .018 .036 .137 .335 .065 l. 073 .029 I02 .327b NA .244 .024 .150 .299 .099 .032 .030 .139 .oosa .054 .008 .052 148 aThis cost does not include a $20,152 cost incurred in obtaining the Gulf strain striped bass brood fish from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River system and transporting them to and from the Richmond Hill Hatchery. This cost was absorbed under the puhllc waters program costs. bThese catfish were raised in raceways. The cost of their production could not be provided. These fish were provided as brood stock to McDuffie Hatchery. Table 13. Ntunber of warmwater fish distributed from state hatcheries in FY 87. Totals include fish provided by federal hatcheries, surplus brood stock, and fish available as by-products of other programs. Species Private Waters Reservoirs Rivers & Streams Publicly Owned Small Lakes Public Fishing Areas Other Fisheries Agencies Total Bluegill fingerling 5,357,549 8,522 320,982 ll2,344 6,400 5,805,797 Redear sunfish fingerling 1,192,022 136,400 21,836 1,600 1,351,858 Largemouth bass fingerling 636,098 78,500 11,518 1,600 727,716 Striped bass fry fin~erlings N 0' Striped-white bass hybrids fry fingerling 639,591 2,601,450 2,552,000 2,552,000a 639,591 2,655,000 2,655,000a 2,601,450 Channel catfish fingerling adult 943,173 16,470 78,971 SO, 763 1,038,614 50,763 Shoal bass fingerling 86,730 86,730 Walleye fry R,100,000 b 8, Total 8,128,842 11,349,563 622,612 162,168 139,334 5,207,000 25,609,519 ~otal does not include fry produced and distributed to other state hatcheries for fingerling production. bThese walleye fry were brought by airplane from the states of Pennsylvania and Ohio and stocked directly into Lake Nottely. Table 14. Public Fishing Areas cost and use data for FY 87. Reqion Area OWnership Number of Lakes Tota la Acreage Total Operating Cost($) Total Trips Trips/ Acre Gross Cost/Trip ( $) I III IV IV N....., v VI VII Total Arrowhead McDuffie Ra lciwi n Forest Rum Creek Williams Evans County Treutlfm County State State State GA Power State State Private 2 25.3 66,423 19,456 770.50 3.41 12 123.0 60,380 16,647b 135.34 3.63 5 51.1 38,166 ll,698b 228.03 3.215 1 3,600.0 12,962 1 48.0 5,925 3 122.0 40,709 6,2R1 75.00 6.4R 189.0 2,253 25 4,l'i8.6 226,818 54,082 168.17c 3.80c aTotal acrea~e open to public fishino. bTota1 trips for McDuffie and Ralciwin Forest were calcu1ateo basen on historic records of the ratio between paid trips and unpaici trips (actual number of pain trips was known). Trips per acre and gross cost per trip for McDuffie and Raldwin Forest were also calculated basen on the estimated total trips, cWeiohted means. from natural mortalities, handling, holding, and transporting mortalities, the use of surplus fish as forage to maintain spawning stocks, and the stocking of fish produced on Federal hatcheries. State hatcheries distributed over 8 million fish to the owners of about 3,400 ponds. Public waters received over 25 million fry, fingerling and adult warmwater fish from state and federal hatcheries. These were stocked in 19 reservoirs, 6 rivers or streams, l3 publicly owned small lakes and 5 public fishing areas. Approximately 5.2 million striped bass and striped-white bass hyhrid fry were distributed to other state fishery agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for rearing and stocking into public waters. Hatchery production and stocking of striped bass and striped-white bass hybrids continues to be quite successful in producing popular fisheries in most of the state's large impoundments. Approximately 8. 5 million striped bass and striped-white bass hybrid fingerlings were stocked by Georgia hatcheries into Georgia's public waters in FY 87. PUBLIC FISHING AREA OPERATION There are presently seven public fishing areas owned or leased by the Fisheries Section (Table 14). Six of these areas are operated by Fisheries Section personnel. The seventh, Rum Creek Public Fishing Area, leased by the Department from Georgia Power, is managerl primarily hy regulation with the Georgia Power Company maintaining the public use areas. All areas provide largemouth bass and bream fishing. Channel catfish are stocked and grown for one year before being fished at Arrowhead, Baldwin Forest, and McDuffie public fishing areas. All areas except Treutlen County, Williams and Rum Creek public fishing areas require a $1.00 daily-use permit for fishermen ages 16 to 65. 28 An estimated 54,082 fishing trips occurred in FY 87 on four of the areas for an average of 168.17 trips per acre (Table 14). Sixty-seven percent of the fishermen (those that were at least 16 years of age and did not have an honorary fishing license) that fished these five areas were required to purchase the daily-use permit. Total revenue generated from those areas requiring a permit was $36,317. Regional cost of $226,818 plus Atlanta administrative cost equaled $246,600 in total expenditures on public fishing areas. This represents 4% of the Section's budget. Also 7% of the manpower (1,993 mandays) was expended on public fishing areas. The gross cost per trip of those areas with use records was $3.80 in FY 87 (Table 14). When permit revenues were deducted, the net cost per fishing trip for those areas with use records was $3.13 in FY 87. Two areas showed a combined harvest of 45,573 fish (Table 15). Fishermen caught an average of 1.77 fish weighing 2.22 pounds per trip in FY 87. 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 the 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. Each region has a Dinge 11-Johnson project consisting of one or more studies. In addition, some 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 habitat, 29 Table 15. Harvest and catch rate data from two Public Fishing Areas (PFA) in 1987. Harvest Seecies Channel catfish Largemouth bass Sunfisha Crappie Other Total Arrowhead PFA Evans Count,t PFA Number Avg. Wgt.b Number ~~b 31,139 82 842 32,063 1. 58 1. 41 0.13 1.54C 1,067 1.83 602 1. 47 7 ,105 0. 39 4,123 0.35 613 0.97 13,510 0.57C Catch Rates Total Number Avg. Wgt.b 32,206 684 7,947 4,123 613 45,573 1. 59 1. 46 0.36 0.35 0.97 1. 25C No./Trie lb./Trie No./Trie Jb./Trie No./Trie lb./Trie 1.7 2.54 2.2 1. 22 1.77 2.22 asluegill and redear sunfish bweights in ponds cweighted means 30 and fishermen use. The research and survey process basically consists of a 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 fishin~ experiences and to maintain a cost effective fisheries program. In FY 87, the Section devoted 5,360 mandays (18% of Section Total) to 30 studies (Table 16). Total cost, including Atlanta expenses, was 15% of the Section's budget total or about $869,500 (Table 1). Federal funds from the Dingell-Johnson Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration Program provided approximately 75% of the funding for 26 of the studies. Final reports on five completed studies were printed during the year and are available to the public upon request: 1. Durniak, J. P. and R. H. England, Dynamics of Rainbow Trout Populations in Small Headwater Streams 2. Ellis, F. s., Jr. and L. w. Clark, A Survey of the Fish Population and Sport Fishery of the Upper Flint River in 1984 3. Fowler, D. L. and D. R. Holder, A Fisheries Survey of the St. Marys River 4. Keefer, L. c., Early Life History of Striped Bass in the Flint River 5. Spencer, M. D., A Survey of the Fishery Resources of the Conasauga and Coosawattee Rivers Biologists also authored the following articles for publication in scientific journals. England, R. H. 1987. Fisheries Management on Georgia National Forests. Pages 68-71 in J. G. Dickson and 0. E. Maughan, editors. Maintaining 31 Table 16. Mandays, cost, and funding source of research and survey studies in each region during FY 87. Region Study Cost Mandays Fund Source Northwest Northeast East Central West Central Southwest Southcentrsl Coastal Atlanta Office Total Evaluation of the fish populations and fisheries of Carters Reservoir Evaluation of fish populations and fisheries of Allatoona Reservoir Evaluation of the fish populations and fisheries of Blue Ridge Reservoir An evaluation of the access point and roving non-uniform probability creel surveys used ln Georgia ~l~~~~~~ao~e~!:~~i~rappie population in Evaluation of trout fingerling stocking in small headwater trout streams Black bass exploitation survey on Lake Lanier Evaluation of the walleye introductions into Lake Nottely Return of stocked trout from Lake Lanier Factors influencing year-class strength of walleye population of Lake Burton A fishery survey of the Richard B. Russell Reservoir A survey of potential PFA sites in three demand regions within the East Central Fisheries Region, Georgia Assessment of the Lake Oconee fishery, with special emphasis on the largemouth bass slot length limit regulation Use of Lake Rutledge fishery following renovation A survey of the black crappie population in Lake Oconee A fisheries survey of West Point Reservoir A fisheries survey of Jackson Lake A survey of the largemouth bass fishery on Lake Sinclair A survey of the black crappie population in Lake Sinclair Investigations into the biolo~y of the flathead catfish in the l0wer Flint River A survey of the Ichawaynochaway/Chickasawhatchee Creek system A survey of the sport fisheries of four major reservoirs in southwest Georgia An investigation into the dynamics of the largemouth bass fishery in Lake Walter F, George Piscivory of juvenile largemouth bass in Lake Walter F. George A fisheries survey of the St. Mary's River Population dynamics of American shad in the Altamah3 River A fisheries survey of the Ogeechee River Evaluation of successive year class strength ~fv~~venile American shad from the Ogeechee 9,762 48,915 14,181 24,149 ~8 ,4 52 36,160 6,800 6,200 7,000 32,748 34,602 22,462 7,193 33,741 98,166 6,559 10,248 14' 170 29,489 18,580 8,150 45,576 15,540 7,390 12,';00 59' 153 1,3,91!8 4,000 Evaluation of optimum stocking rate of strlped bass fry in hatchery rearing ponds Evaluation of triploid grass carp to control filamentous algae in fish rearing ponds at Richmond Hill Aatchery 4,500 8,900 Administrative costs and mandays 70,100 869,374a 8 Difference between this figure and Table. 1 is due to rounding. AS 220 154 17'; 429 259 42 34 52 167 291 219 72 237 479 ll 18 I 12 193 106 46 2 59 88 42 !~7 541 25 30 50 119 5,360 DJ OJ DJ OJ OJ OJ OJ OJ OJ OJ OJ OJ OJ OJ OJ OJ DJ OJ OJ DJ OJ OJ DJ DJ [)J State OJ State State State 32 Southern Forests for Wildlife and Fish. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service General Technical Report S0-65, New Orleans, LA. Mauldin, A. c. II, J. M. Grizzle, D. E. Young, and H. E. Henderson. 1986. Use of additional calcium in soft-water ponds for improved striped bass survival. Proc. 40th Ann. Conf. S. E. Fish and Wild. Agencies PP 163-168. Quinn, S. P. 1986. Effectiveness of an electrofishing system for collecting flathead catfish. Proc. 40th Ann. Conf. S.E. Fish and Wild. Agencies. PP 85-91. Quinn, S. P. 1987. The Massachusetts freshwater sportfishing award programTwenty-five years of fishing for pins. Mass. Wild. Quinn, S. P. 1987. The status and usefulness of angler recognition programs in the United States Fisheries. 12(2). Cooperative projects were continued with three major universities. Auburn University provided diagnostic services to fisheries personnel in the identification and control of fish diseases. Auburn University also provided a training course for the fisheries staff as part of a continuing education project. 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 of Georgia. FACILITY MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION Including the administrative costs of the Atlanta Office the section expended a total of $54,700 on the Facility Maintenance program, $38,400 on 33 the Hatchery Renovation program, $5,900 on the Boat Ramp Repair program, $131,100 on the Boat Ramp Construction Program, and $640,000 on New Construction in FY 87 (Table 1). All capital outlay funds, except the boat ramp construction and new construction funds, were budgeted through the Consolidated Maintenance Program. These capital outlay funds are therefore not included in the Section expenditures in Table 1. The Consolidated Maintenance Program is operated by the Maintenance and Construction Section of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division and has a separate budget from the Fisheries Section. Under this program, most of the facility maintenance needs of both the Game and Fish Division and the Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division are handled. Manpower is, however, provided on many of the Fisheries Section projects by Section personnel (Table 17). Table 17 shows the cost to the Department of Natural Resources of the facility maintenance and construction projects excluding administrative costs and mandays for the Atlanta office. The Fort Valley Regional office supervised and provided manpower, when necessary, for the seven facility maintenance and one hatchery renovation projects completed in FY 87. A total of 45 mandays was expended in FY 87 on the Boat Ramp Repair Program which is administered by the Fort Valley Office (Table 17). Repairs were made to the Red Top Mountain State Park Ramp on Lake Allatoona, the Hamburg State Park Ramp on Hamburg State Park Lake, the Highway 49 Ramp on the Flint River, and the Morgan Falls Ramp on the Chattahoochee River. In addition, concrete logs were provided for boat ramp repairs in Thomas county. Construction was begun on five boat ramps in FY 87: Odum Creek Boat Ramp on Lake Andrews, Millwood Ramp on the Satilla River, Uvalda Bridge Ramp on the Altamaha River, Shady Field Boat Ramp on the Oconee River and the Big Lazer 34 TABLE 17. Facility maintenance and new construction projects in FY 1987 Location Project Personal Services Opera tin,; Expenses Capital a Outlay Funds Total Handays Facility Maintenance Statewide Administration 39,758 Arrowhead Public Fishing Area Rebuild roof on checking station Install control heat/air in residence No. 2 Buford Hatchery Stained and painted various building Install central heat/air Administration Building Cordele Hatchery Construct a 20' x 60' equipment sheltPr Steve Cocke Hatchery Install central heat/air/insulation in residences Summerville Hatchery Install central heat/air w in Administration Building V1 Statewide Emer~ency Repairs 7,607 Hatchery Renovation Statewide Administration 31,184 Boat Ramp Repair Statewide 5,440 Boat Ramp Construction Statewide 21,477 New Construction Public Fishing Area Constructinn Bi~ Lazer Wildlife Mana~~ment Area TOTAL McDuffie Hatchery and and Public Fishin~ Area Residence J(i5,"'466 2,908 4,127 7,035 2,6!13 3,475 1,314 7,853 9,650 6,228 3,9!2 9,985 9,300 99,053 531,962 56,qoo 744,115 42,666 352 2,683 3,475 3,314 7,853 9,650 6,228 3,912 17,592 61 35,311 276 14,740 45 120,530 421 531,962 56,900 856,816 l,T55 8 All capital outlay funds except for boat ramp construction and new construction were budgeted through the Consolidated MatntPnance Pro,;ratn and are not included in thP Section Exp~ndttures. Ramp on the Big Lazer Public Fishing Area. Construction of the Millwood, Uvalda Bridge and Shady Field ramps was completed on FY 87. Work on the Big Lazer Wildlife Puhlic Fishing Area continued in FY 87 at a cost of $531,962. Approximately 75% of the funds expended were Wallop-Breaux funds. The $531,962 represented a little over half the cost of the lake with the remaining funds being expended in the FY 86 budget. Construction on the dam was completed on FY 87, the filling of the lake was begun, and fish were stocked in the lake. The lake should be open for fishing sometime in FY 89. A new residence was constructed on the McDuffie Hatchery and Public Fishing Area in FY 87. Cost of the residence was $56, 900. A tot a 1 cost of a 11 new construction in FY 87 was $540,600 including Atlanta Office expenses (Table 1.) 36