Fisheries Section annual report, fiscal year 1989

FISHERIES SECTION AHHOAL REPORT
Fiscal Year 1989
July 1, 1988 - June 30, 1989
Game and Fish Division Department of Natural Resources
Atlanta, Georqia

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources receives Federal Aid in Sport Fish and 'Wildlife Restoration. Under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Ar:.t of 1973, the Age Discrimination Ar:.t of 1975, am Title lX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, na:ional
origin, age, sex, or handicap. If you believe that you have been discriminated ag&inst in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you
desire further information please write to:
The Office for Human Resources
u.s. Fish am 'Wildlife Service u.s. Depa:-tment of the Interior
Washington, D.C. 20240

Table of Contents

SUBJECT

PAGE

Overview of Fisheries Section Activities

1

Map of Fisheries Section region and district boundaries

2

Striped bass and striped x white bass hybrids stocked since 1983

4

A. Facts about fishing in Georgia, fisheries related revenues

5

earned and Fisheries Section expenditures

B. Private waters management

9

c. Public waters management

13

D. Trout production

25

E. Warmwater hatchery production

29

F. Public fishing area operation

34

G. Research and survey

37

H. Maintenance and Construction

40

Fisheries section Activities

Fishing is the most popular wildlife related activity in

Georgia, enjoyed by every age group. The State's diverse

freshwater fishery resources include over 4, 000 miles of trout

streams, 12,000 miles of warmwater streams and half a million acres

of impoundments. They are used by more than 1. 2 million fishermen.

Anglers spend approximately $1 billion yearly on fishing in

Georgia, a major contribution to the State's economy. The ongoing

programs of DNR's Fisheries Section to protect these resources and

further develop freshwater fishing during fiscal year 1989

included:

developing and managing public fishing areas and

private and public waters; constructing boat ramps; producing and

stocking trout and warmwater fish; and conducting research and

surveys to benefit these resources. Detailed information on the

Section's activities and program costs is listed in the tables in

Appendices A-H. The statewide fisheries program is administered

from a central office in Atlanta, seven regional offices and eleven

district offices (Figure 1).

The Department's Five-Year Strategy calls for the construction or renovation of at least one public fishing lake each year for the next five years, to meet increasing demands for recreational fishing. In June 1989, the 195-acre Big Lazer Creek public fishing lake was opened for public use, the first new lake completed under the plan to expand public fishing areas and put fishing within easy access of every Georgian. Over 800 fishermen landed 11,720 bluegill, channel catfish and redear sunfish during Big Lazer's first three days of operation. Total weight of fish caught exceeded 5,000 lbs. This new public fishing area will provide excellent freshwater fishing year round.

During fiscal 1989, the Fisheries Section assisted the owners of private ponds by conducting 1,724 pond investigations and by providing over 5.6 million fish for stocking over 2,800 ponds from the State's seven warmwater hatcheries. Fisheries continued sampling Georgia's major reservoirs and added several major streams in southeast Georgia to the sampling program, including the Altamaha, Ocmulgee, Ohoopee, Satilla and Saint Marys. Scientific sampling enables the Fisheries Section to detect potential problems and recognize effective management practices. To improve fishing access, DNR built one new boat ramp and purchased two additional ramp sites.

About 100,000 fishermen in Georgia make more than 3.8 million trout fishing trips each year. Limitations in habitat prevent naturally produced trout populations from supporting this demand without the trout stocked by State hatcheries. Accordingly, the Fisheries Section raised more than 800,000 trout to catchable size and stocked them into suitable waters, in addition to the 269,000 catchable trout raised and stocked by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Fisheries produced about 1. 3 million striped bass and 2. 2 million hybrids at the State's warmwater hatcheries and stocked
them into Georgia waters, primarily reservoirs in which these fish

- Gainesville Region Ill - Walton

Grady Tham.8S
Region V Albany

Region VI - Waycross

Region VII Richmond Hill

Figure l. Mop of fisheries regions and districts In Georgia and location of regional offices. Broken lines mark district boundaries within regions.
2

do not reproduce naturally. The demand for these species, and consequentlytheir production by Georgia hatcheries, has steadily increased since 1983 (Figure 2).
While the stocked striped bass fisheries are prosperous, native striped bass populations are declining in several areas, from causes not yet fully understood. Under the Five-Year Strategy, the Department is committed to protecting native stripedbass habitat and increasing research into the fish's decline. Preliminary research on the Savannah striper populations have prompted DNR to close the Savannah River downstream of Clarks Hill Reservoir to striped bass fishing.
DNR' s Fisheries Research and Survey Program continued to assess the condition of certain fisheries, identify management needs and evaluate program effectiveness during the fiscal year. Projects included surveys of fish populations, stocking evaluations, hatchery production studies and others.
3

4,000,000

3,500,000 3,000,000

-o QJ ~
u..-...
-V.0_1lc1:o1:

2,500,000 2,000,000

.E8~-

..t::'

z:::J

1,500,000

1,000,000

500,000

0

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

Year Stocked

1988

1989

Figure 2. Total striped bass and striped x white bass hybrids stocked annually since 1983.

Appendix A:

Tables showing important facts about fishing in Georgia, information on revenue earned, and expenditures for FY1989.

5

Table A-1.

Important facts about fishing and fishermen in Georgia.

Activity
Total resident Georgia fishermen over 16 years old. Total annual fishing trips by Georgia fishermen. Total days spent fishing each year.
Average days spent fishing each year.
Average one-way distance traveled on each fishing trip. Total annual expenditure by all resident and non-resident fishermen in Georgia (16 years old and older). Economic impact of sport fishing on Georgia's economy Estimated number of jobs generated.
Estimated sales tax generated from sale of sport fishing related items.

Number
1.2 million
19.9 million
26.8 million
22.3 days
22.6 miles
$948.6 million
$1.4 billion
27.7 thousand
$35.7 million

Source a a a a a
b
b b b

a

Source is the "1985 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and

Wildlife-Associated Recreation" published by the U.S.
Department of the Interior, u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service in

March 1989. This is the most accurate data currently

available.

b Source is the "The Economic Impact of Sport Fishing in the State of Georgia" published by the Sport Fishing Institute in 1989. The calculations are based on data from the 11 1985 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife -Associated Recreation."

6

Table A-2.

Revenue generated by the Fisheries Section from license sales in license year1988-89 (April 1,1988
to March 30, 1989) and revenue generated from the sale of permits to use public fishing areas. 8

License Sales License Year 1988 - 1989 (April 1, 1988 to March 30, 1989)

Type of License

No. Sold

Combination Hunting-Fishing

72,647

Resident Fishing

589,188

Resident Trout

110,654

Non-resident Season Fishing

10,409

Non-resident 5-day Fishing

43,357

Non-resident Season Trout

4,329

Total

830,584

Revenue 541,566b
4,067,046 321,345 201,991 212,696 42,891
5,387,535

Arrowhead McDuffie Baldwin Forest Evans County Waters Creek
Total

PUblic Fishing Areas No Permits Sold 6,987 6,734 3,832 3,500 609 21,662

Revenue 10,882 12,384 4,330 5,537 609 33,742

a

Effective 2/22/89 a new regulation went into effect which

provided fishermen the option of either paying a $3.00 daily

fee ($1.00 per day was the old fee) or having a valid wildlife

area management stamp in their possession when fishing on

public fishing areas. As of the date of this report no

decision has been made as to what portion of wildlife

management area stamps will be credited to the Fisheries

Section so no informtion on the sale of these permits is

included. Also some of the permits listed as sold are for

$1.00 while others are $3.00 permits.

b

This is only one half the revenue generated. The rema1n1ng

funds are considered as being generated by hunting.

7

a
Table A-3. Fisheries Section expenditures (thousands of dollars) and mandays by region and program in FY1989.

PROGRAM

b ATLANTA

TOTAL TOTAL

II

Ill

IV

v

VI

VII COST MANDAYS

Private Waters Management

27.5 47.2

18.0

49.6

41.0 29.0

82.8 30.3

325.4

2,182

Public Waters Management

153.8 208.4

322.5 261.0 196.7 181.8

334.1 161.0 1,819.3

9,903

Aquatic Plant Control

13.8

149.3

163.1

618

Trout Production/Stocking

70.7 104.9

660.8

836.4

3,793

00

Warmwater Hatcheries

87.2 34.6

9.1 216.3

8.8 291.4

127.3 256.8 1,031.5

5,709

Public Fishing Areas

34.0 79.9

70.2

68.2 108.3

41.6

402.2

2,770

Research/Surveys

72.9 123.8

98.7 217.5

76.2 147.1

61.2 64.6

862.0

6,339

Facility Maintenance and New Construction

236.4

68.2 185.9 410.8

72.0

4.9

978.2

1,205

Total

696.3 598.8 1,1n.3 1,000.5 951.0 757.6

719.0 517.6 6,418.1

32,519

a
These figures may differ somewhat from the final 6/89 Accounting and Control System (FACS) printout since errors in
the FACS printout were corrected in this project. b Expenses of Atlanta Office, with the exception of capital outlay expenses, were prorated as administrative costs to
all programs. Mandays for the Atlanta Office were also prorated based on expenditures.

Appendix B: Tables showing information onthe Fisheries Section Private Waters Management Program in FY1989.
9

Table B-1. Field investigations on private waters in each district FY1989.

Region

District

Aquatic Grass Carp Fish Pre-stocking General

Balance Vegetation Evaluations Kills

Checks Management

Total

%of Total

Calhoun

37

1

88

5

170

301

18

II

Gainesville

13

7

6

3

47

3

79

5

Ill Thomson Walton

84

103

51

44

22

59

4

29

5

6

31

335

20

6

109

6

IV Macon

46

34

3

19

8

110

6

Manchester

72

10

3

30

7

122

7

I-'

0

v Albany

38

10

36

2

2

4

92

5

Cordele

82

9

1

8

100

6

VI Metter

29

22

78

48

2

15

194

11

Waycross

27

16

13

35

5

10

106

6

VII Richmond Hill

35

34

40

19

19

29

176

10

Total

522

241

350 168

322

%of Total

30

14

20

10

19

121

1,724 100

7

Table B-2. Office technical services for private water management in each district in FY1989.

Region

District

Aquatic Balance Vegetation

Fish Fish Applications General Kills Reviewed Management

Total

%of Total

Calhoun

157

376

24

189

77

823

7

II

Gainesville

67

133

24

129

91

444

4

Ill Walton Thomson

302

474

42

400

1,095

2,313

20

129

348

56

486

755

1,774

16

IV Macon

94

142

45

225

148

654

6

1-'

Manchester

47

140

32

250

300

769

7

1-'

v Albany
Cordele

41

173

41

322

53

56

31

195

115

692

6

95

430

4

VI Waycross Metter

79

395 127

613

93

255 122

518

351

1,565

14

266

1,254

11

VII Richmond Hill

18

81

30

150

302

581

5

Total %of Total

1,080 9

2,573 574

23

5

3,477 31

3,595 11,299 100 32

Table B-3. Total number and acres of private ponds stocked with largemouth bass, bream and channel catfish in FY1989.

Region District

Bass-bream ponds stocked
Number Acres

Percent stocked at fertilized rate
Number Acres

Number and species stocked

Bluegill

Redear Largemouth Channel

sunfish

bass

catfish

Catfish only ponds stocked
Number Acres

Calhoun

87 312

II Gainesville

80 222

Ill Walton Thomson

1-'

N

IV Macon

Manchester

v Albany
Cordele

165 561 287 1,012
126 545 110 626
149 766 58 349

VI Waycross Metter

289 1,796 392 2,184

VII Richmond Hill

78 316

Total

1,821 8,687

0

0

100,330

0

0

88,552

10

9

8

3

241,180 391,176

5

9

52

32

213,102 331,288

5

4

5

3

334,040 168,460

0

0

2

1

728,049 827,070

3

5

142,360

7

5

3,565,607

24,535

10,098 20,288

22,138

11,070 23,375

62,875 97,244

29,343 50.533

37,894 120,007

52,823 82,822

28,554 41,109

30,375 41,894

79,485 43,865

39,061 19,995

81,907 60,748

166,831 203,780

87,329 92,029

144,654 186,914

35,590

16,570 35,150

871,988 425,691 783,206

46

54

37

54

35

46

175

285

27

89

30

63

118

466

87

548

179

485

201

686

55

133

990 2,911

Appendix c:

Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Public Waters Management Program in FY1989.

13

Table C-1.

Summary of important law changes made in FY1989 that affect the Fisheries Section Program.

Description
1. A combination limit was created for striped bass, white bass, and striped-white bass hybrids. No more than a total of 15 striped bass, white bass andfor striped-white bass hybrids, only two of which may be 22 inches or more in length, may be possessed except that on the Oconee River downstream of Sinclair Dam, the Ocmulgee River downstream of Juliette Dam, and the Ogeechee, Altamaha and satilla rivers a combination of 15 white bass and/or striped-white bass hybrids and 2 striped bass 22 inches or more in length may be possessed.
2. The possession limit on black and white crappie was changed to thirty of any one species or a combination of both species. The previous limit was fifty of any one species or a combination of both species.
3. A 12 inch length limit was placed on trout taken from Richard B. Russell Reservoir. The 14 inch seasonal limit on trout from Lanier, Hartwell, Clarks Hill, Burton, Rabun, Seed, Tallulah Falls and Blue Ridge lakes (or their tributaries for three miles upstream) was repealed.
4. The law on operating boats on public fishing areas was changed to make it unlawful to operate any vessel except fishing boats being propelled by paddles, oars or electric motors on any public fishing area owned or operated by the Department of Natural Resources. However, sailboats or fishing boats propelled by a motor of 20 horsepower or less on Rum Creek Public Fishing Area are legal. Also, on any public fishing lake over 99 acres in size (except at Rum Creek), any fishing boat propelled by a motor less than 10 horsepower, or a motor 10 horsepower or greater that is operated only at idle speed, may legally operate.
5. The law on wild animal licenses was changed so that no permit is required for persons buying triploid grass carp from properly licensed wild animal dealers for stocking a private pond. The bill of sale must be retained by the buyer as proof of the sale.
6. No person may fish more than five baskets in Sinclair and Oconee lakes. Also, no person may fish the baskets of other persons unless accompanied by such persons at the time of fishing.
14

7. The law on reciprocal agreements was changed to authorize the Commissioner of Natural Resources to enter into reciprocal agreements with adjoining states. Existing reciprocal agreements, which were in the law, were deleted and new agreements between adjoining states and the Commissioner of Natural Resources were established.
8. Food fish were defined in the law as trout and channel catfish which are commercially produced and sold only as food for human consumption and are produced, hatched and raised in a privately owned pond, raceway, fish hatchery or other impoundment of water. Any legal entity engaged in commercially producing, hatching, raising, harvesting and selling food fish was declared to be engaged in an agricultural pursuit and, to the extent that these activities relate solely to food fish, they are exempt from the Department of Natural Resources' laws, rules and regulations and instead are regulated by the Department of Agriculture.
15

Table C-2.

summary of important regulation changes made in FY1989 that affect the Fisheries Section Program.

Description
1. Striped bass fishing on the Savannah River downstream of Clarks Hill (Strom Thurmond) Reservoir was prohibited.
2. A minimum length limit of 14 inches was established on largemouth bass that can be taken and possessed from public fishing lakes except that the limit does not apply to channel catfish lakes posted as such.
3. The special stream section in Moccasin Creek for persons under twelve (12) years old and for honorary fishing licenses holders was defined as the portion of Moccasin Creek from the Lake Burton Hatchery water intake downstream to a sign marking the approximate normal pool level of Lake Burton.
4. The number of legal days to fish Waters Creek on the Chestatee Wildlife Management Area was increased to Wednesdays, Saturdays and sundays between thirty (30) minutes before sunrise and 6:30p.m. EST (7:30p.m. EDT) during the trout season. The area was originally open only on Saturdays and Sundays.
5. The number of trout that can be taken from Waters Creek in a season by one person was limited to three (3) trout.
6. Any person who fishes Waters Creek must now have in their possession a valid Wildlife Management Area Stamp. Formerly a $1.00 fee was charged for each trip.
7. All fishermen 16 years of age and older, except holders of an honorary fishing license, must have a valid Wildlife Management Area Stamp in addition to their regular sport fishing licenses in order to fish on a public fishing area. This stamp is not required on the Williams, Treutlen County or Rum Creek public fishing areas. Also, on the Arrowhead, McDuffie, Baldwin Forest and Evans County public fishing areas a $3.00 daily permit may be purchased in lieu of the Wildlife Management Area Stamp.
a. Specific regulations regarding camping at McDuffie Public
Fishing Area were developed and approved.

16

Table C-3.

Management and development activities of the Fisheries Section in FY1989.

Type of Activity Fish attractor construction and maintenance
Assistance to DNR Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division
Assistance to Jekyll Island Authority; Chatham County, Georgia; the cities of Atlanta, Tallapoosa and Savannah; Ft. stewart Military Reservation; Kings Bay Naval Base

Description
Fish attractors were inspected, constructed andjor refurbished at the following reservoirs: Bartletts Ferry, Burton, Chatuge, Clarks Hill, Goat Rock, Jackson, Nottely, Oliver and Walter F. George.
Management recommendations and assistance were provided for the lakes at Fort Mountain and James H. "Sloppy" Floyd state parks.
Assistance was provided in managing lakes and ponds controlled by these agencies.

17

Table C-4.

Fish Kills Investigated by the Fisheries Section in FY1989.

Type of fish Kill

Number of Incidents

fish Killed

No.

Value

Fines Collectedc

Municipal Pollution

8

37,398

17,142.92

12,100

Industrial Pollution

15

32,170

9,833.87

19,500

Agricultural Pollution
Disease
1-' (X)
Undetermined

7

13,050

4,462.52

11

15, 6438

b

20

58,717

12,471.67

4,250

Total

61

156,978

43,910.98

35,850

8 Estimates of the number of fish killed by disease are not normally calculated using accepted fish kill counting guidelines, so these values are less accurate than those obtained during more exhaustive investigations.
b Values for fish killed by disease are normally not calculated, so no values are included here.
c Fines collected as of August 1, 1989 by the Environmental Protection Division for the FY1989 fish kills.

Table C-5.

Fish surveys conducted by the Fisheries Section in FY1989.

Type of survey

Sam.plinq Method

Body of water

Standardized Sampling

Seining, gill netting, electrofishing and a general reconnaissance survey

Allatoona, Bartletts 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 reservoirs

Stream Sport Fish Monitoring

Electrofishing and a

Altamaha, Ocmulgee, Ohoopee,

general reconnaissance Satilla and st. Marys rivers

survey

survey to assess current Electrofishing

status of trout

1--'

population

\0

Survey to assess impact

Electro fishing

of a severe draw down

Survey to assess status of current fishery

Electrofishing

Tickanetly Creek, Gilmer County
Fort Yargo State Park Lake
Worth, Oliver, George w. Andrews
and Goat Rock reservoirs

Pre-impoundment fish sample to gather data on species composition and abundance for preparation of 404 Permit Application

Seining

Unnamed intermittent stream on Dodge County Public Fishing Area site

Fish population status

Electro fishing

assessed following summer

drought of 1988

Okefenokee Swamp above Suwannee River Sill and in Billy's Lake

Table C-6. Herbicide treatments applied in controling aquatic weeds statewide in FY1989.

Body of Water treams Ebenezer Creek Total Reservoirs Blackshear Blackshear

Counties Yt'hefe Treatmen1B Made
Effingham
Crisp/Sumter Dooley

Blackshear
Blackshear Blackshear Blackshear

Crisp/Sumter WorthfDooly Lee
Crisp/Worth Sumter
CrispfWorth
Crisp

Blackshear

Crisp

Goat Rock Jackson

Harris Butts/Newton

Jackson Juliette

Newton Monroe

Worth

Dougherty

Worth

Dougherty

Total

Publicly-Owned Small Lakes

Sloppy Aoydc State Park Lakes (lower lakes)

Chattooga

Total

GRAND TOTAL

Target Pest
Alligatorweed
Lyngbya Parrotfeather. Bacopa, Spatterdock Giant cutgrass
Alligatorweed
Chara Ludwigia, Water willow, Alligatorweed Giant cutgrass, Milfoil, Lotus Giant cutgrass Alligatorweed, Giant cutgrass Pithophora Eurasian watermilfoil Giant cutgrass, Water Hyacinth Lvngbya
Pithophora, Najas

Aaes Affected
15 15
300 10
50
6 35 6
4 12 35 20 4 N.A 160 642
3
3
660

Aaes Treated
11.3 11.3
100.0 5.0
25.3
2.0 20.0 5.3
4.0 11.9 25.3 20.0 2.0 38.0 29.5 288.3
3.0
3.0 302.6

Number of Treatmen1B

'I. Success of
Trealments

95 95

5

95

4

80

4

95

4

90

3

95

80

2

98

2

95

5

95

95
95

5

95

4

75

41

92"

100

100

43

92.6"

Not available Weighted means c This 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.

20

Table C-7.

Environmental reviews and assessments commented on by the "Fisheries Section in FY1989.

Agency

Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Plans and Permits

DNR Regional Water Supply Plan

1

Environmental Protection Division Permits

11

Environmental Protection Division Reports and

2

Plans

u.s. Government Agency Permits, Projects and Plans

Army Corps of Engineers Permits

43

Water supply lakes, recreational lakes, dredge and fill projects, stream channelization, wetlands, discharge and pre-discharge notification, flood control projects, dikes, road and bridge construction permits, and raw water intakes.

Army Corps Projects and Plans

6

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Licenses

3

Fish and Wildlife Service Plans

1

Forest Service Plans

1

National Park Service Plans

1

Total

69

a

Each project, plan or permit is counted only once, even though the

Section may have provided comments more than one time.

21

Table C-8.

Cooperative projects between the Fisheries Section and other agencies.

Cooperating Agency

Description of Project

cost

Auburn University

Diagnostic services in the identification and control of fish diseases was provided.

$5,000

N.C. State University University of Georgia

Technical assistance was provided by the university in designing research and survey studies and in computer processing of data.
The Fisheries Section is a cooperator with the University of Georgia in
supporting the u.s. Fish and
Wildlife Services Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit located at the University of Georgia.

$9,4008 $12,000

a

This is a joint project within the Game and Fish Division.

The $9,400 is the Section's share of the total contract cost

of $18,800.

22

Table C-9.

Technical assistance provided to other government agencies by theFisheries Section in FY1989.

Agency Assisted
u.s. Forest Service
u.s. Fish and Wildlife
Service
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
u.s. Environmental
Protection Agency and DNR Environmental Protection Division

Description of Assistance
Assisted by reviewing the recreational management alternatives on the Chattahoochee River watershed, evaluating a land trade proposal involving a major trout stream, selection of appropriate projects for trout stream enhancement work to be conducted by cooperative agreements between the USFS and Trout Unlimited, design and placement of fish attractors in Lake Russell, review of the Wilderness Society's report on the USFWS timber management program on southern national forests, a stream basin habitat survey on the West Fork of the Chattooga River, and an evaluation of erosion control measures in effect in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Assisted in collecting American shad below the Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam and moving the fish to above the dam to enhance their spawning success; and providing assistance in collecting fish samples below ITT Rayonier on the Altamaha River as part of the national bioaccumulation dioxin study. Collected fish from the Savannah River for the National Contaminants Survey.
Assisted in determining what trees should be removed from Clarks Hill to reduce navigation hazards and which should be left as fish shelters. Assisted the Savannah Harbor Environmental (salinity) Study Task Force.
Operated acid rain monitoring units in cooperation with these agencies, and collected fish samples from several bodies of water statewide for analysis under the radiological, trend and toxic substances monitoring programs of both agencies.

23

Table c-10.

Other activities of the Fisheries Section in FY1989.

Type of Activity Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries commission
DNR, Game and Fish Study Committee
DNR, Game and Fish Division, Fisheries Section, Grass carp Committee
Publication Review
Southern Appalachian Trout Disease Control Commission
Survey of Potential Public Fishing Lake Sites

Description
A Fisheries Section biologist served on the Division's Pollution, Trout, Warmwater Streams, Striped Bass, Reservoir and Ballot committees.
one biologist served as a technical member of the Commission's Scientific and Statistical Committee.
Several biologists served on this committee which was set up to advise the Director on Game and Fish Division matters.
Several biologists served on a committee to study the Division's policies on grass carp and to make recommended changes.
Biologists function as reviewers of papers submitted to the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Proceedings.
One biologist served on the steering committee to form this commission.
Fisheries Section biologists located and evaluated potential public fishing area sites statewide.

24

Appendix D:

Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Trout Production Program in FY1989.

25

Table D-1. Trout production (lbs.) conversion ratios and costs at state hatcheries in FY1989. Species

Cost

Hatchery

Brook Rainbow Brown

Total

Total

Per lb.

Buford

Net weight gain

4,164 109,031

5,747 118,942

a

$282,211

$2.37

Burton

Conversion ratio Net weight gain

2.33

1.67 77,482

1.77

1.70

1 77,483

a

$201,038

$2.59

Summerville

Conversion ratio Net weight gain

1.47 39,926

100.00

1.47 39,926

a

$68,183

$1.71

N

Conversion ratio

1.59

1.59

0'1

Total

Net weight gain
b Conversion ratio

4,164 2.33

226,439 1.59

5,748 236,351

1.79

1.61

$551,432

$2.33

State's cost per pound to stock trout:

$0.46

Total production and distribution costs per pound:

$2.79

a Does not include cost of distribution, major capital improvements, or administrative cost of Atlanta office.
b Weighted means.

Table D-2. Number and weight (lbs.) of each species of trout stocked into Georgia's public waters from state and federal hatcheries during FY1989.

Brook

Rainbow

Brown

Total

Facility

Number Weight

Number Weight

Number Weight

Number Weight

State hatcheries Buford catchables

Burton

catchables

fingerlings

N

""-'

Summerville

catchables

Federal hatcheries Chattahoochee catchables

Walhalla fingerlings

Total catchables fingerlings

8,747

3,570

376,536 147,427

29,087 12,896

286,891 100

92,281 3

13,936 1,730

123,059 42,095

414,370 163,893

300,827 100

94,011 3

123,059 42,095

269,254 63,339

269,254 63,339

249,462 2,080

249,462

2,080

8,747

3,570

1,055,740 345,142

100

3

43,023 14,626 249,462 2,080

1,107,510 363,338

249,562

2,083

Table D-3. Number and weight (lbs.) of catchable trout by species and habitat type stocked from all hatcheries in FY1989.

BROOK

RAINBOW

BROWN

TOTAL

Streams by Bartow Catoosa Chattooga Cherokee Dade Dawson Fannin Floyd Gilmer Gordon Habersham Haralson Lumpkin Murray Paulding Pickens Polk Rabun Stephens Towns Union Walker White Whitfield
Total
Tailwaters Blue Ridge Hartwell Lanier
Total
Reservoirs Russell

Number Weight Number Weight Number Weight Number Weight

1,200 352 4,219 1,577
2,625 827 88 213 87 212
400 117 8,619 3,298

8,775 4,025 4,950
725 1,340 20,200 71,000 17,112 44,297 1,725 29,350 14,825 113,004 16,100 7,900 7,400 3,350 128,497 24,529 71,564 98,064 11,985 105,967
600

3,053 1,354 1,699
252 443 6,589 16,627 5,988 12,835 574 9,690 5,044 31,649 5,443 2,708 2,447 1,162 42,612 7,947 23,667 24,901 4,062 34,705 198

807,284 245,649

1,850 2,850 1,150
5,936 600 900 500
1,400
15,186

225 798 143
743 74
111 61
174
2,329

8,775 4,025 4,950
725 1,340 20,200 71,000 17,112 46,147 1,725 33,400 14,825 118,373 16,100 7,900 7,400 3,350 137,058 25,129 72,552 98,651 11,985 107,767
600

3,053 1,354 1,699
252 443 6,589 16,627 5,988 13,060 574 10,840 5,044 33,369 5,443 2,708 2,447 1,162 44,182 8,021 23,991 25,174 4,062 34,996 198

831,089 251,276

128 272 128 272

30,870 13,400 126,768
171,038

7,971 4,916 59,282
72,169

100

50

27,287 12,191 27,387 12,241

30,970 13,400 154,183
198,553

8,021 4,916 71,745
84,682

45,368 17,924

45,368 17,924

Total

45,368 17,924

45,368 17,924

Small Lakes
Black Rock
Conasauga
Dockery
Nancytown Rock Creek
Vogel Winfield Scott

2,050

689

150

19

4,000 1,362

10,000 2,618

6,400 2,000

2,033 444

2,200

707

300

37

5,400 1,547

2,200
4,000
10,000
6,400 2,000
2,500 5,400

708
1,362
2,618
2,033 444
744 1,547

Total GRAND TOTAL

8,747 3,570

32,050 9,400 1,055,740 345,142

450

56

43,023 14,626

32,500 9,456 1,107,510 363,338

28

Appendix E:

Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Warmwater Hatchery Production Program in FY1989.

29

Table E-1 .. Total numbers and cost per fish of warmwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY1989.

Species

Acres

Number

Avg. no. per acre

a Cost per fish($)

Channel catfish fingerling intermediate harvestable

17.51 8.20 3.01

1,368,921 119,473 26,510

78,179 14,570
8,807

0.112 0.568 0.322

Bluegill fingerling

36.81

6,307,221

171,345

0.036

Redear sunfish fingerling

12.46

2,416,398

193,932

0.039

Largemouth bass fingerling

16.85

1,168,999

69,377

0.111

Shoal bass fingerling

2.30

75,067

32,638

0.494

Striped bass fry fingerling

b
9.65

7,007,000 1,347,732

b
139,661

0.008 0.036

Striped-white hybrid bass fry fingerling

b
15.60

9,215,000 1,958,802

b
125,564

0.008 0.041

White-striped hybrid bass fry fingerling

b
8.40

4,827,000 603,711

b
71,870

Total

130.79

c
36,441,834

d 117,691

a Cost of each production phase includes cost of previous phase.

0.008 0.061
d 0.024

b
Not applicable, these fry are hatched in jars and then placed in aquaria.
c Differences between the production totals in this table and the distribution totals in Table E-4 result from 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.

d
Weighted means. Striped bass and hybrid fry are not included in these figures.

30

Table E-2. Number of each warmwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY1989.

Species

Summerville Walton

McDuffie Cordele

Steve Cocke

Bowens Mill

Richmond Hill

Total

Channel catfish fingerling intermediate harvestable

119,298 415,173 26,510

273,950 101,450

357,755 18,023

202,745

1,368,921 119,473 26,510

Bluegill fingerling

271,226

520,803 1,596,496

880,219 1,301,076 1,737,401 6,307,221

Redear sunfish fingerling

114,731

286,807 629,809

245,982 598,000

541,069 2,416,398

w

Largemouth bass

I-'

fingerling

Shoal bass fingerling

192,066 373,412

129,000

75,067

24,558 354,000

95,963 1,168,999 75,067

Striped bass fry fingerling

918,279

7,007,000 7,007,000 429,453 1,347,732

Striped-white bass hybrid fry fingerling

120,500

308,838

400,786

9,215,000 9,215,000

548,154

580,524 1,958,802

White-striped bass hybrid fry fingerling

260,820

131,152

4,827,000 4,827,000

211,739

603,711

Total

385,957 1,239,474 3,959,679 1,149,125 2,058,475 2,801,230 24,847,894 36,441,834

Table E-3. Cost per fish (dollars) of warmwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY1989.

Species

Summerville Walton McDuffie Cordele

Steve Cocke

Bowens Mill

Richmond Hill

Channel catfish fingerling intermediate harvest able

0.161

0.085 0.322

0.167 0.554

0.083 0.647

0.111

Bluegill fingerling

0.071

0.032

0.027

0.049

0.034

0.037

Redear sunfish fingerling

0.060

0.065

0.020

0.080

0.034

0.030

Largemouth bass

w

fingerling

""

Shoal bass

fingerling

0.105

0.046

0.096 0.494

0.322

0.127

0.285

Striped bass fry fingerling

0.023

0.008 0.064

Striped-white bass hybrid fry fingerling

0.037

0.036

0.048

0.044

0.008 0.038

White-striped bass bybrid fry fingerling

0.058

0.102

0.008 0.040

Table E-4. Number of warmwater fish distributed from state hatcheries in FY1989. 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

a
Total

White amur adult

235

235

Channel catfish fingerling
intermediate harvestable

784,991

108,375 2,000

28,105 49,312

65,000 67,500 26,510

986,471 118,812
26,510

Bluegill fingerling

3,560,707

388,233

615,352 293,840

4,858,132

Redear sunfish fingerling

870,763

122,493

88,110 333,710

1,415,076

Largemouth bass fingerling

425,076

13,333

167,000 117,505

6,500

729,414

Shoal bass

w

fingerling

w

Striped bass

fry

fingerling

74,067

1,021,919

163,549

2,505,000 155,114

74,067
2,505,000 1,340,582

Striped-white bass hybrid fry fingerling

1,571,621

3,225,000

3,225,000 1,571,621

White-striped bass hybrid fingerling

603,711

603,711

Walleye fry Total

8,300,000 5,641,537 12,021,310 1,218,453 822,707

165,510

5,885,114

8,300,000 b
25,754,631

a
Totals do not include fry produced and distributed to other state hatcheries for later production phases.
b Differences between the distribution totals in this table and the production totals in Table 10 result from handling, holding and transporting mortalities, the use of surplus fish as forage to maitain spawning stocks, and the stocking of fish produced on federal hatcheries.

Appendix F:

Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Public Fishing Area Operation Program in FY1989.

34

Table F-1. Operational cost and public use information for public fishing areas in FY1989.

Region

Area

Ownership

Number of Lakes

Total
a
Acreage

Total Operating Cost($)

Total Trips

Trips/ Acre

Gross Cost/Trip
($)

Arrowhead

State

Ill McDuffie

State

IV Baldwin Forest State

2

25.2

79,898 11,912

472.7

b

12

123.0

70,237 11 ,139

90.6

b

5

51.3

60,889

6,930

135.1

6.71 6.31 8.79

IV Rum Creek

v

Williams

v

Big Lazer

GA Power State State

1

3,600.0

1

48.0

1

195.0

7,347 19,176 89,092

c
d 869

VI Evans County

State

w
V1

VII Treutlen County Private

Total

3

122.0

1

189.0

4,353.5

39,459 2,182
368,280

5,299 36,149

43.4
e
109.7

7.45
e
7.10

a
Total acreage open to public fishing.
b Total trips for McDuffie and Baldwin Forest were calculated based on historic records of the ratio between paid and unpaid trips (actual number of paid trips was known). Trips per acre and gross cost per trip for McDuffie and Baldwin Forest were also calculated based on the estimated total trips.
c Lake closed for renovation.
d Big Lazer Creek opened to public fishing on June 28, 1989 which resulted in three open days in FY1989. Trips/acre and gross cost/trip were not calculated since this would not be meaningful.
e
Total trips and costs for Big Lazer were not used in developing these values.

Table F-2. Harvest and catch rate of fish caught from three public fishing areas in FY1989.

Species

Arrowhead
-
b Number Avg. Wgt

a Big Lazer Creek
Number Avg. Wgt.

Evans County Number Avg. Wgt.

Channel catfish c
Sunfish

14,417 2,840

1.51 0.23

2,576 9,134

1.13 0.26

363 10,383

2.14 0.36

Largemouth bass

42

2.14

10

0.79

376

1.69

Crappie

1,190

0.45

Other

w

""

Total

17,299

1.30

11,720

0.45

2,853 15,165

0.54 0.48

Number of Fish Caught I Trip
d Weight of Fish Caught I Trip

1.45 1.89

13.49 6.09

2.86 1.36

a This represented only the first three (3) days this new Public Fishing Area was open.

b Weights in pounds.
c Primarily bluegill and redear sunfish.
d Weighted means.

Appendix G:

Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Research and Survey Program in FY1989.

37

Table G-1. Mandays, cost and funding source for research and survey studies in each region during FY1989.

Region Northwest
Northeast
East Central
West Central Southwest South Central Coastal Atlanta Office Total

.
Sludy
An evaluation of the access point and roving non-uniform probability creel surveys used in Georgia.
Angler harvest of stocked trout in the Blue Ridge tailwater.
A survey of the black crappie population in Allatoona Reservoir.
Evaluation of the fish populations and sport fishing of Allatoona Reservoir.
Evaluation of the fish populations and sport fishing of Blue Ridge Reservoir.
A fisheries survey of the upper Chattooga River. Experimental addition of calcium chloride to increase water hardness and fish production at Buford Hatchery.
Evaluation of the walleye introductions into Lake Nottely.
Evaluation of trout fingerling stocking in small headwater trout streams.
Factors influencing year class strength of the walleye population of Lake Burton.
A fishery survey of the Richard Russell Reservoir.
A survey of the black crappie population in Lake Oconee.
Creel census of the Richard Russell Dam tailwaters.
The effect of three stocking rates on growth, survival, and angler success and harvest of brown trout in the lower 27 km of the Chattahoochee River.
A fish population and sport fishery survey of the Oc:mulgee River.
A survey of the black crappie population of Lake Sinclair.
A survey of the largemouth bass fishery on Lake Sinclair.
Dynamics of largemouth bass fishery in Lake George. Food habits of juvenile largemouth bass in Lake George.
Changes in the sport fishery, population structure and growth of largemouth bass in an upper coastal plain stream under a 14-inch minimum length limit.
Population dynamics of American shad in the Altamaha River.
Umited life history comparison of selected sport fishes of the Savannah and Ogeechee rivers.
Reproductive success of striped bass in the Ogeechee River.
Savannah River creel survey.
Administrative

Cost($) 12,165
42,941 43,792
12,164
12,n3
13,708 8,828
32,000 17,600
26,600
68,802 53,593 13,190 28,346 53,528
37,945
22,591 15,698 119,730 27,400 8,430
52,n5
11,983
15,248 37,400 72,900 862,130.

Difference between this figure and Table A-3 is due to rounding.
38

Mandays 47
274 648
78
14
94 60
340 80
160
471 367
90 474 366

_;;JI
OJ
OJ OJ
OJ
OJ
OJ OJ
OJ OJ
OJ
OJ OJ OJ COE OJ

364

OJ

264

OJ

92

OJ

766

OJ

175

OJ

56

OJ

251
48
58 368 334 6,339

State
OJ
OJ OJ OJ & State

Table G-2.

Final reports and publications completed by the Fisheries Section in FY1989.

Author
Ager, L. M.
Ellis, F. s., Jr.
Evans, J.
Keefer, L. c. Quinn, s. P.
Rees, R. A.
Schmitt, D. N. Van Den Avyle, M. and
Evans, J. w.
Weaver, 0. R.
Larson, S., Van Den Avyle, M. and Bozeman, E.
Quinn, s. P.

Publication
FINAL REPORTS
Effects of an increased size limit for largemouth bass on fish population in West Point reservoir
The effect of nutrient inflow reduction on the fish population and fishery of Lake Jackson
Objectives and guidelines for aquatic plant management in Georgia
A survey of the sport fisheries of four major reservoirs in southwest Georgia
Investigations into the biology and potential fishery for the flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) in the lower Flint River
Evaluation of optimum stocking rate of striped bass fry in hatchery rearing ponds
A fisheries survey of the Ogeechee river
Temperature selection of striped bass in a Gulf of Mexico coastal river system
A black bass exploitation survey on Lake Lanier
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
Species Profiles: Life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (South
Atlantic) - brown shrimp. u.s. Fish
and Wildlife Service Biological Report 82 (11.80). PUblished in 1989.
Recapture rates of voluntarily released largemouth bass. No. Am. J. Fish Mgmt. 9:86-91. Published in 1989.

39

Appendix H:

Table showing the Fisheries section maintenance and construction projects in FY1989.

40

Table H-1. Facility maintenance and construction projects in FY1989.

Project

Project Description

Non-capital" Outlay Costs

~ital OUtla)! Costs Fisheries CMP"

Total
...........r->

Facility Maintenance and Repair

Summerville Hatchery

The interior of the hatchery manager's residence was repaired.

3,000

Calhoun Office

Interior storage and boat storage were added.

28,845

McDuffie Hatchery

Hatchery production ponds were repaired.

24 244

76 202

221

Cordele Hatchery

The catfish spawning areas were repaired.

19,546

21,928

178

Richmond Hill Hatchery

Supplies and materials to be used to repair the hatchery production ponds in FY1990 were purchased.

4,854

Big Lazer Public Fishing The check-in station, dam, earthen fishing pier, outlet stream

30,597

203

Area

channel and service road of the public fishing area were

repaired or improved.

Statewide Emergency Repairs

Some renovation work was done on Burton Hatchery residence.

10,145

New Construction

Buford Hatchery Residence A screened in porch on new residence (funded in FY1988) at

.f:'-

Buford Hatchery was constructed.

1--'

Buford Hatchery Shop/Storage
Building

A new shop and storage building were constructed.

4,032 59,686

Buford Hatchery CaCL, Project

Two raceways were modified and additional pumps and piping added so that CaCl could be added on an experimental basis.

4,502

Walton Office Additions

Three additional offices, a conference room, and a lab room
were added and other modifications and improvements were made to the Walton Regional Office.

63,467

Walton Office Storage Building

A new storage building was constructed at the Walton Office.

28,350

McDuffie PFA and Hatchery A new storage building was constructed at the McDuffie PFA and

Storage Building

Hatchery.

94,094

Bowens Mill Storage Building

A new storage building was funded for Bowens Mill Hatchery.

71,996

Richmond Hill Residence

A porch and some additional block work were added to the new Richmond Hill residence (funded in FY1988).

4,932

Dodge County Public Fishing Area

Ebasco Services, Inc. was contracted to design, surpervise, and inspect construction of the public fishing area.

167,900

Project Fort Valley Office Boat Ramp Construction
Sub - Total Fort Valley Administrative Costs
Atlanta Administrative Costs Total Expenditures

Project Description
A new office facility was purchased for the Region IV Fisheries staff in Fort Valley, Georgia.
The Old River Road Boat Ramp on the Coosa River in Floyd County was constructed ($13,773), two backhoes needed for future construction were purchased ($52,696), land was acquired for boat ramps in Fulton and Atkinson counties ($32,000), and $33,586 was spent on appraisals, repairs to equipment, and supplies that could not be attributed to a single site or specific project.
Costs and mandays associated with operation and administration of the statewide facility maintenance and repair and boatramp construction programs that are not directly applicable to a specific project are listed.
Calculated prorate share of non-capital outlay expenses applied to management of capital outlay projects.

lon-Capitat OUtlay Costs
74,387 117,344 68,500 260,231

C!(!ital OUtl~ Costs
Fisheries CfiP5
87,000 132,055
718,014 144,974
718,014 144,974

Total
IWdays
80
682 448
75 1,205

Non-capital outlay expenditures of the Fisheries Section assigned to specific projects as well as the administrative costs of both the Fort Valley and ~ Atlanta offices.
~
b The capital outlay funding for these projects was provided through the Consolidated Maintenance Program funded through the Game and Fish Division budget. Those funds are not included in the Section expenditures.