Fisheries Section annual report, fiscal year 1991

FISHERIES SECTION ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year 1991
July 1, 1990 - June 30, 1991
Game and Fish Division Department of Natural Resources
Atlanta, Georgia

Your purchase
and dmoftioshribncgia~ellipsrnsenut ~
Sport Fish Restoration .and "boatiftS actftS facilities
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources receives Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Aae Discrimination
Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the u.s.
Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national ori~in, age, sex 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 Office of Human Resources
U. s. Fish and Wildlife Service U. s. Department of the Interior Washington, D. c. 20240

Table of Contents

PAGE

Overview of Fisheries Section Activities

1

Map of Fisheries Section region and district boundaries

2

A. Facts about fishing in Georgia, fisheries related revenues

4

earned and Fisheries Section expenditures

B. Private waters management

8

c. Public waters management

12

D. Trout production

21

E. Warmwater hatchery production

25

F. Public fishing area operation

30

G. Research and survey

33

H. Maintenance and construction

36

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 offer over 4,000 miles of trout streams, 12,000 miles of warmwater streams and half a million acres of impoundments, used by more than 1.2 million resident fishermen. Anglers spend approximately $1 billion yearly on fishing in Georgia, a major cont ri but ion to the State's economy. The ongoing programs of the Georgi a Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Fisheries Section during fiscal year 1991 included developing and managing public fishing areas and private and public waters; constructing boat ramps; producing and stocking trout and warmwater fish; producing aquatic education materials and services; and conducting research and surveys to benefit these resources. Detai 1ed i nformat1on 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 Fisheries Section continued developing public fishing areas in FY1991. The Paradise Public Fishing Area was opened to public fishing on September 22, 1990. The opening was a big success with 904 fishermen catching 5,884 fish weighing 3,514 pounds during the first two days. Also, construction was completed on the Dodge County Public Fishing Area. If the fish population develops as planned, the Dodge County lake will open for fishing in the summer of 1992.
As Georgia's population grows and use of natural resources increases, it is increasingly important that resource managers have the best information available on which to base resource decisions. It is therefore critical that the data needed to make informed decisions be collected, analyzed and integrated accurately and in a timely manner. To help insure that this occurs, the Fisheries Section in FY1991 established a biometrics program to improve the statistical design and analysis of fisheries research and monitoring projects and staffed the program with one biologist. This program will greatly enhance the Section's ability to deal with future resource issues.
An Aquaculture Program was also begun in FY1991 and staffed with one biologist. Aquaculture has experienced remarkable growth both in Georgia and across the United States during the past decade. Aquaculturists often want to produce exotic or non-native fish species. Some exotics can be destructive if released into the natural environment. This program was established to help develop a better relationship between the Department of Natural Resources and aquaculturists and to help prevent the introduction of exotics into the natural environment.
The expanded Aquatic Education Program had a busy first year. The program formerly included Aquatic Project WILD only, but is now composed of five components: Classroom Education of Children; Kids Fishing; Adult Aquatic Resource Education; Evaluation; and Administration. Aquatic Project WILD (APW) continues to be a part of the program. During FY1991, 957 educators were trained to use APW. Only 16 of Georgia's 183 school districts remain to be exposed to APW. A "Lake Ecosystem" poster was deve1oped for teachers to use to educate children about Georgia's aquatic resources. An accompanying activity guide that introduces teachers to topics, APW activities and state mandated teaching

Region I - Calhoun

Region Ill - Walton

Region V - Albany
Figure 1. Fisheries regions and districts in Georgia and location of regional offices. Broken lines mark district boundaries within regions.
2

objectives that can be met while using the poster was also developed. Teacher response has been very positive.
Approximately 7,300 children were provided the opportunity to fish at 73 Kids Fishing Events in FY1991. The majority of these events took place on June 8 and 9 which were designated as Free Fishing Days for all Georgia residents. The Department co-sponsored 93% of the events, providing fish (trout and channel catfish), printed materials and staff assistance. These events are designed to introduce children to fishing and to develop their interest in the sport. About 20% of the participating children had never fished before.
A film which shows fishing as a fun, lifelong, family activity that can be enjoyed year round and throughout the state was also begun by the Aquatic Education Program. The objective for the film is to interest Georgians, both young and not so young, in fishing. Two Public Service Announcements (PSA), "Reporting Fish Kills" and "Passing on the Fishing Tradition to Your Children," were produced and distributed to radio stations statewide. Each PSA was aired approximately 100,000 - 150,000 times and reached thousands of Georgians.
The Fisheries Section also continued to provide public service in other areas. Over 7.3 million fish produced at the Section's seven warmwater hatcheries were stocked into more than 3, 300 ponds. Samp1i ng continued on Georgia's major reservoirs and streams to detect potential problems and monitor fish populations. Four new boat ramps were built to provide more public access. Over 840,000 catchable size trout were produced and stocked by Georgia hatcheries into trout waters, in addition to over 366,000 stocked by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The striped bass and hybrid bass reservoir fisheries were continued with over 940,000 Atlantic strain striped bass and over 3.1 million hybrid bass stocked into Georgia's reservoirs. More than 102,000 tagged, advanced sized striped bass were stocked into the Savannah and Altamaha rivers to study and restore the native populations of these rivers. Research projects to identify management needs, assess fish populations, and evaluate ongoing programs were also continued.
3

Appendix A: Tables showing important facts about fishing in Georgia, information on revenue earned, and expenditures for FY1991. 4

Table A-1. Important facts about freshwater fishing and fishermen in Georgia.

Item
Total resident Georgia anglers 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
1,205,000
19,895,700 26,824,100
22.3 days 22.6 miles $948.6 mill ion
$1.4 bill ion
27.7 thousand
$35.7 million

Source a a a a a
b
b b b

a 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 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 "1985 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation."

5

Table A-2.

Revenue (to the nearest dollar) generated by the
Fisheries Section from license sales in license year 1990-91 (April 1,1990 to March 31, 1991) and revenue generated from the sale of permits to use Public Fishing Areas. 8

License Sales License Year 1990-1991 (April 1, 1990 to March 31, 1991)

Type of License

No. Sold

Combination Hunting-Fishing

73,679

Resident Fishing

578,217

Resident Trout

110,694

Non-resident Season Fishing

10,813

Non-resident 5-day Fishing

44,985

Non-resident Season Trout

4.534

Total

822,922

Revenue 549, 232b
3,991,274 321,394 209,812 220,683 44.915
5,337,310

Arrowhead McDuffie Baldwin Forest Evans County
Total

PUblic Fishing Areas No Permits Sold 3,762 3,186 1,682 1.904 10,534

Revenue 11,286 9,532 5,046 5.583 31,447

8

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

provided fishermen the option of either paying a $3.00 daily

fee or having a valid wildlife management area stamp in their

possession when fishing on certain 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 information on the

sale of these permits is included.

b

This is only one half the revenue generated. The remaining

funds are considered as being generated by hunters.

6

a
Table A-3. Fisheries Section expenditures (thousands of dollars) and mandays by region and program In FY1991.

PROGRAM

b ATLANTA

TOTAL TOTAL

II

Ill

IV

v

VI

VII COST MANOAYS

Private Waters Management

19.3 55.1

13.6

39.6

41.3 37.2

75.4 21.7

303.2

2,091

Public Waters Management

129.0 250.0

384.7 323.9

336.9 208.7

211.2 179.5 2,023.9

10,219

Aquatic Plant Control

5.6

0.0

0.0

0.0

82.5

0.0

0.0

0.0

88.1

635

Trout Production/Stocking

45.1 81.0

581.8

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

707.9

3,719

Warmwater Hatcheries

64.3 43.6

24.3 163.1

14.5 287.5

113.7 298.3 1,009.3

5,n1

Aquatic Education
""-!
Public Fishing Areas

122.3 39.8

0.0 78.3

0.0

0.0

0.0

74.1

0.0 55.7

0.0 52.7

0.0

0.0

122.3

323.3

0.0

623.9

276 4,470

Research/Surveys

60.4 92.2

89.4 235.6

54.3 174.0

172.6 68.4

946.9

7,251

Facility Maintenance and New Construction

461.8

0.0

0.0

0.0

296.3

0.0

0.0

0.5

758.6

1,283

Total

947.6 600.2 1,093.8 836.3

881.5 760.1

896.2 568.4 6,584.1

35,714

a These figures may differ somewhat from the final 6/91 Fiscal 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 regional effort.

Appendix B: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Private Waters Management Program in FY1991. 8

Table B-1. Field investigations on private waters in each district in FY1991.

Region

District

Balance

Aquatic Vegetation

Fish Pre-stocking

General

Kills

Checks Management

District %of Totals Total

Calhoun

34

23

9

128

2

196

15

II Gainesville

22

10

4

20

3

59

4

Ill Walton Thomson

95

13

7

41

17

173

13

82

61

17

4

23

187

14

IV Macon

23

Manchester

38

9

4

19

9

4

19

2

57

4

7

n

6

\0

v Albany

53

4

1

3

18

79

6

Cordele

70

3

1

2

76

6

VI Waycross

35

25

32

34

25

151

12

Metter

46

52

46

4

46

194

15

VII Richmond Hill

31

11

8

2

10

62

5

Statewide Totals

529

220 133

274

155

1,311 100

%of Total

40

17

10

21

12

Table B-2. Office technical services for private water management in each district in FY1991.

Region

District

Aquatic Balance Vegetation

Fish Fish Applications General Kills Reviewed Management

District Totals

%of Total

Calhoun

123

217 37

547

58

982

9

II Gainesville

66

148 28

104

143

489

4

Ill Walton Thomson

323

505 40

194

1,173

2,235 20

179

294 56

822

287

1,638 15

IV Macon

92

100 53

149

134

528

5

Manchester

41

58 9

115

254

477

4

.......

0

v Albany

42

47 32

274

104

499

5

Cordele

47

44 23

185

73

372

3

VI Waycross

98

179 238

907

Metter

200

228 160

471

485

1,907 17

272

1,331

12

VII Richmond Hill

28

61 32

158

329

608

6

Statewide Totals %of Total

1,239 11

1,881 708 17 7

3,926 35

3,312 30

11,066 100

Table B-3. Total number and acres of private ponds stocked with fingerling largemouth bass, bream and channel catfish In FY1991. These fish are provided to pond owners to establish fishable populations In newly constructed of renovated ponds.

Region District

Bass-bream ponds stocked
Number Acres

Percent stocked at fertilized rate
Number Acres

Number and species stocked

Bluegill

Redear sunfish

Largemouth Channel

bass

catfish

Catfish only ponds stocked
Number Acres

Calhoun

II Gainesville

Ill Walton

1-'

Thomson

1-'

IV Macon Manchester

V Albany Cordele

VI Waycross Metter

VII Richmond Hill

Statewide Totals

82 325

71

224

125

466'

263 1.492

83 314 78 351

220 1,670

90

545

479 3,248 539 3,213

90

270

2,120 12,118

0

0

0

0

3

2

3

7

10

14

42

34

2

2

9

8

0

0

3

2

2

12

4

4

126,252
79,660
188,044 562,892
126,080 175,740
676,923 254,540
1,322,190 1,170,920
122,140
4,805,381

31,563

14,472 22,687

19,915

11,305 25,030

46,636 140,723

23,410 77,065

34,672 180,108

28,520 40,935

16,196 23,995

28,581 27,258

43,960 24,910

72,678 28,486

110,982 65,181

337,110 293,325

150,550 139,428

211,215 236,228

30,535

11,900 31,1 OS

1,038,132 569,485 973,047

39

39

27

26

so

89

258

462

38

126

34

111

123

370

88

477

250

546

223

734

55

164

1,185 3,144

Appendix C: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Public Waters Management Program in FY1991. 12

Table C-1. Management and development activities of the Fisheries Section in FY1991.

Type of Activity Fish attractor construction and maintenance
Assistance to DNR Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division Assistance to cities of Tallapoosa and Savannah; Chatham, Glynn and Newton counties; Stone Mountain Park Authority; and Fort Stewart Military Reservation Assistance to the DNR Game Management Section Repair of trout stream improvement structures

Description Fish attractors were inspected, constructed and/or refurbished at the following reservoirs: Bartletts Ferry, Burton, Clarks Hill, Walter F. George, Goat Rock, Jackson, Lanier, Nottely, Oliver, Rabun, Sinclair and Tobesofkee. Management recommendations and assistance were provided for the lakes at James H. "Sloppy" Floyd, Fort Mountain State and Fort Vargo parks. Assistance was provided in managing lakes and ponds controlled by these agencies.
Assistance was provided in managing Goldmine Lake on the Paulding County Wildlife Management Area. Approximately 54 trout stream improvement structures were repaired and additional ones installed in several Northeast Georgia streams. This work was done in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and Trout Unlimited volunteers.

13

Table C-2. Fish kills Investigated by the Fisheries Section in FY1991.

Type of Fish Kill

Number of Incidents

Fish Killed

Number

Value

a Fines Collected by DNA

Municipal Pollution

9

3,768

$4,932.52

$496.98

Industrial Pollution

10

92,359 $13,544.63

$75,366.75

Agricultural Pollution

9

43,911 $20,367.31

$10,300.00

Entrainment/Impingement b
Disease/Natural

.....
.1::'-

Undetermined

Others

1

357,178 $144,578.94

5

535

$40.00

9

1,568

$722.54

1

50

Total

44

499,369 $184,185.94

$86,163.73

a Fines collected as of June 30, 1991 by the Environmental Protection Division for the FY1991 fish kills.

b Estimates of the number and values of fish killed by disease or natural causes are not normally calculated using accepted fish kill counting guidelines, so these values are less accurate than those obtained during more exhaustive investigations.

Table C-3. Fish surveys conducted by the Fisheries Section in FY1991.

Type of Survey Standardized sampling of reservoirs

Sampling Method Seining, gill netting, electrofishing and a general reconnaissance survey

Stream sport fish monitoring

Electrofishing and a general reconnaissance survey

Striped bass population monitoring

Electrofishing

1-'

Inventory and distributional

Electrofishing

Ln

survey of fish in vicinity of

proposed West Georgia Regional

Reservoir.

Sampling as part of cooperative Electrofishing management program with the U.S. Forest Service and South Carolina.

Fish population sampling in

Electrofishing

cooperation with the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service

Inventory striped bass use of SCUBA springs as summer refuges

Body of Water

I

Allatoona, Bartletts Ferry, Blue Ridge, Blackshear, Burton, Carters, Chatuge, Clarks Hill, Hartwell, High Falls, Jackson, Juliette, Lanier, Nottely, Oconee, Rabun, Richard B. Russell, Seminole, Sinclair, Tobesofkee, Tugaloo, Walter F. George and West Point reservoirs.

Altamaha, Ocmulgee, Oconee, Satilla and St. Marys rivers. Preliminary data was also collected on the Suwannee River.

Savannah River estuary

Tallapoosa River and tributaries to be impacted by proposed West Georgia Regional Reservoir.

Chattooga River

Okefenokee Swamp Flint and Ogeechee rivers

Table C-4. Herbicide treatments applied to control aquatic weeds statewide in FY1991.

Bodl of Water
~
Ebenezer Creek

Countx Effingham

Target Pest Alligatorweed

Control Method

Acres

No. of

Treated Treatments

Rodeo 0.6 gal/acre

12

1

Nalcotrol II 0.2 gal/acre

36-F 0.2 gal/acre

Management Objectives; Cost Treatment Effectiveness
$2,317 Improve user access and navigability of the stream; good

Reservoirs Blackshear

Crisp, Sumter ~

Cutrine + 60 lbs/acre

102

Blackshear

Crisp, Sumter, Giant cutgrass, Rodeo, 0.6 gal/acre

13

Worth, Dooly, W. hyacinth,

Nalcotrol II 0.2 gal/acre

Lee

Alligatorweed

36-F 0.2 gal/acre

5

$47,736 Control surface mats;

good

2

$2' 166 Stop invasion and

improve access; good

Blackshear

Crisp, Worth Q!w

Cutrine + 3.6 gal/acre

30

Worth

1-'

0\

Worth

Dougherty

~

Cutrine + 60 lbs/acre

20

Dougherty

Giant Cutgrass, Rodeo, 0.6 gal/acre

50

W. hyacinth,

Nalcotrol II 0.2 gal/acre

All igatorweed

36-F 0.2 gal/acre

1

$2,164 Improve access; good

1

$1,795 Control surface mats;

good

4

$7,306 Stop invasion, improve

access; good

Worth

Dougherty

Water mi lfoil ,

Aquakleen (2,4-D)

Coontail and

125 1bs/acre

other submergents

6

1

$1,297 Stop invasion, improve

access; good

Jackson Juliette

Butts, Newton
Monroe

Reservoir Total Grand Total

Alli gatorweed,

Rodeo, 0.6 gal/acre

21

Giant cutgrass

Nalcotrol II 0.2 gal/acre

36-F 0.2 gal/acre

Eurasian

Aquakleen (2,4-D)

12

mi lfoil

200 lbs/acre

254 266

2

$3,016 Stop invasion, improve

access; good

3

$6,206 Stop spread within lake

and downstream; good with

minimum impact to non-

target plants

19

$71,706

20

$74,025

Table C-5. Environmental reviews and assessments commented on by the Fisheries Section in FY1991.

Agency

Number

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Plans and Permits

DNR Regional Water Supply Reservoir

1

Environmental Protection Division Permits and

27

Variances

U.S. Government Agency Permits, Projects and Plans

Army Corps of Engineers Permits

7

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 Issues

12

Fish and Wildlife Service Plans

4

Interstate Commerce Commission

1

Local Governments, Commissions and Technical Committees

Cherokee County Water and Sewerage

1

Northeast Georgia Regional Development Commission

1

Savannah River Basin Technical Advisory Commission

1

Total

61

a Each project, plan or permit is counted only once, even though the Section may have provided comments on more than one occasion. Only those projects that the Section prepared comments on are included in these numbers. Numerous other documents were reviewed but not commented on.

17

Table C-6. Cooperative projects between the Fisheries Section and other agencies in FY1991.

Cooperating Agency

Description of Project

Cost

Auburn University

Diagnostic services in the identification and control of fish diseases were provided (Project F-16).

$8,000

Auburn University

Taxonomist services in the identification of fish collections from the Ocmulgee River.

$9,996

Auburn University

The Fisheries Section in agreement with the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies have established at the Auburn University Experiment Station a cooperative project for the purpose of studying genetics and breeding of fishes in the Southeast (Project F-42}.

$10,000

Auburn University

Technical assistance was provided by the University in determining toxicity and/or efficacy of certain chemicals used in striped bass husbandry and assistance in getting these chemicals cleared by IR-4, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

$5,000

N.C. State University

Technical assistance was provided by the University in designing research and survey studies and in computer processing of data (Project FW-1).

$8,3488

University of Georgia

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.

$12,0008

University of Georgia

The University of Georgia, in cooperation with the Fisheries Section, performed striped bass research and restoration on the Savannah River (Project F-52).

$149,643

a These are joint projects within the Game and Fish Division. The amounts shown are the Section's share of the total contract cost.

18

Table C-7. Technical assistance provided to other government agencies by the Fisheries Section in FY1991.

Agency Assisted

Description of Assistance

u.s. Forest Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CORPS) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and DNR Environmental Protection Division (EPD)

Conducted balance checks and population surveys on Murray, Peeples and Conasauga lakes located in the Chattahoochee National Forest; conducted population survey on Rock Creek Lake. Collected Gulf Coast striped bass brood stock to be spawned by the USFWS to produce fingerlings for stocking public waters. Collected water temperature data on Lake Lanier to assist in defining the largemouth bass spawning season to enable the CORPS to stabilize water levels during that period. Assisted in preparation of an environmental assessment to remove the tide gate from the lower Savannah River. 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. Provided minimum flow data to maintain fish reproduction and growth for incorporation in the Savannah River Basin Flow Model. Reviewed several variance requests for EPD.

19

Table C-8. Other activities of the Fisheries Section in FY1991.

Type of Activity Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Interagency Savannah Harbor Environmental (Salinity) Study Task Group
Inter-Agency Hazard Mitigation Team

Description Fisheries Section biologists served on the Division's Pollution, Trout, Warmwater Streams, Striped Bass, Aquaculture, and Reservoir committees. One biologist served as a technical member of the Commission's Scientific and Statistical Committee. One regional supervisor continued to serve as technical advisor/study leader and coordinated a sediment screen/bioassay evaluation of Savannah Harbor river bottoms. One regional supervisor participated in inter-agency hazard mitigation team to assess impacts of the March 1991 floods in southcentral Georgia.

20

Appendix 0: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Trout Production Program in FY1991. 21

Table 0-1. Trout production (lbs), conversion ratios, and costs at state hatcheries in FY1991. Species

a
Cost

Hatchery

Brook Rainbow Brown

Total

Total

Perlb

Buford

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

3,690 1.66

79,928 1.60

5,843 1.51

89,461 1.60

$254,914

$2.85

Burton

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

N N

Summerville

Net weight gain

Conversion ratio

106,557 1.60
24,955 2.03

1,493 108,050

1.74

1.60

1,133 1.40

26,088 2.01

$203,481

$1.88

$50,348

$1.93

Total

Net weight gain b
Conversion ratio

3,690 211,440

1.66

1.65

8,469 223,599

1.54

1.65

$508,743

$2.28

Cost per pound to stock trout from state hatcheries:

$0.44

Total production and distribution costs per pound:

$2.72

a Does not include 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 FY1991 .

Brook

Rainbow

Brown

Total

Facility

Number Weight

Number Weight

Number Weight

Number Weight

State hatcheries Buford catchables fingerlings

Burton catchables fingerlings

N w

Summerville

catchables

fingerlings

Federal hatcheries Chattahoochee catchables fingerlings

Walhalla catchables fingerlings

Total catchables fingerlings

8,145

4,414

288,614 107,441 394,788 139,134

38,982 16,674 74,994 1,478
9,493 2,764

335,741 128,529

74,994

1,478

404,281 141,898

104,578 8,500

31,673 120

23,217 1,602

104,578 31,717

31,673 1,722

352,698 109,017

265,801

3,929

13,930

1,750

352,698 109,017

265,801

3,929

13,930

1,750

8,145

4,414

1,154,608 389,015

274,301

4,049

48,475 19,438 98,211 3,080

1,211,228 412,867

372,512

7,129

Table D-3. Number and weight (lbs) of catchable trout by species and habitat type stocked from all hatcheries in FY1991 .

BROOK Number Weight

Streams by County

Bartow

Catoosa

Chattooga

Cherokee

Dade

Dawson

200

77

Fannin

Floyd

Gilmer

Gordon

Habersham

800 307

Haralson

Lumpkin

50

85

Murray

Paulding

Pickens

420 189

Polk

Rabun

800 306

Stephens

1,300 498

Towns

Union

Walker

White

950 364

Whitfield

Total

4,520 1,826

Tailwaters Blue Ridge Hartwell Lanier

3,625 2,588

Total

3,625 2,588

Reservoirs Russell

Total

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

Total

GRAND TOTAL

8,145 4,414

RAINBOW

BROWN

Number Weight Number Weight

TOTAL Number Weight

7,869

2,490

5,425

1,655

5,050

1,471

525

160

900

239

20,600

7,214 2.000 598

68,663 20,502 1,500 385

17,413

5,221

51,171 16,402

1,975

636

34,125 12,287 2,000 690

15,675

4,538

109,585 34,470 1,250 584

18,150

5,594

6,200

1,847

8,080

2,855

400 131

4,400

1,351

142,840 50,440 2,498 691

38,675 13,345

70,405 24,428

500 128

71,966 22,138 1,000 256

13,096

3,970

114,230 39,594 1,995 614

600

180

827,618 273,027 13,143 4,077

7,869 5,425 5,050
525 900 22,800 70,163 17,413 51,171 1,975 36,925 15,675 110,885 18,150 6,200 8,900 4,400 146,138 39,975 70,905 72,966 13,096 117,175 600

2,490 1,655 1,471
160 239 7,889 20,887 5,221 16,402 636 13,284 4,538 35,139 5,594 1,847 3,175 1,351 51,437 13,843 24,556 22,394 3,970 40,572 180

845,281 278,930

20,070 9,600
135,294
164,964

5,024 3,967 49,846

35,332 15,361

58,837 35,332 15,361

20,070 9,600
174,251
203,921

5,024 3,967 67,795
76,786

100,005 100,005

37,276 37,276

100,005 100,005

37,276 37,276

3,800 4,000 10,600 8,100 11,500 3,421 18,600

1,257 1,289 3,204 2,966 3,514 1,166 5,867

3,800 4,000 10,600 8,100 11,500 3,421 18,600

1,257 1,289 3,204 2,966 3,514 1,166 5,867

60,021 19,263

60,021 19,263

1,152,608 388,403 48,475 19,438 1,209,228 412,255

24

Appendix E: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Warmwater Hatchery Production Program in FY1991.
25

Table E-1. Total numbers and cost per fish of warmwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY1991 .

Species

Acres

Number

Number per acre

a Cosl per
fish($)

Channel catfish fry fingerling intermediate harvestable

7.10 17.35 10.50
6.20

3,182,000 1,807,306
281,779 23,038

448,169 104,167
26,836 3,716

0.019 0.088 0.282 0.800

Bluegill fingerling

33.93

7,106,234

209,438

0.030

Redear sunfish fingerling

9.31

2,014,932

216,427

0.039

Largemouth bass fingerling

15.59

1,120,126

71,849

0.105

Shoal bass fingerling

3.90

66,818

17,133

0.462

Striped bass fry fingerling advanced fingerling

b 5.61 1.80

5,356,500 1,082,478
34,461

b 192,955
19,145

0.011 0.025 0.293

Striped-white bass hybrid

fry

b

550,000

b

0.011

White-striped bass hybrid fry fingerling

b 27.86

Total

139.15

16,838,000
3,185,050 c
39,466,722

b
114,323 d
119,926

0.011
0.064 d
0.024

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

26

Table E-2. Number of each warmwater fish species produced at state hatcheries in FY1991.

Species
--
Channel catfish fry fingerling intermediate harvestable

Summerville Walton McDuffie Cordele

Steve Cocke

Bowens Mill

Richmond
Hill

Total

44,977

687,000 688,387
16,988

2,495,000 661,300 173,940 6,050

200,500 98,987

212,142 8,852

3,182,000 1,807,306
281,779 23,038

Bluegill fingerling

288,281

869,042 1,113,469

1,044,200 2,019,750 1,771,492 7,106,234

Redear sunfish fingerling

113,110

263,303 399,409

87,650 555,000

596,460 2,014,932

N

Largemouth bass

-.....!

fingerling

186,042 366,628

81,756 371,000

114,700 1,120,126

Shoal bass fingerling

25,665

41,153

66,818

Striped bass fry fingerling advanced fingerling

902,645

5,356,500 179,833 34,461

5,356,500 1,082,478
34,461

Striped-white bass hybrid fry fingerling

550,000

550,000

White-striped bass hybrid fry fingerling

82,140

616,084

850,221

16,838,000 16,838,000 631,184 1,005,421 3,185,050

Total

401,391 1,445,504 4,174,526 3,978,039 2,404,467 3,576,934 26,667,861 42,648,722

Table E-3. Cost per fish (dollars) of warmwater fish species produced at state hatcheries in FY1991.

Species
--
Channel catfish fry fingerling intermediate harvestable

Summerville Walton

McDuffie Cordele

0.357

0.009 0.062
0.653

0.021 0.076 0.316 1.213

Steve Cocke

Bowens Mill

Richmond Hill

0.117 0.171

0.129 0.849

Bluegill fingerling

0.075

0.020

0.025

0.039

0.022

0.033

Redear sunfish fingerling

0.059

0.056

0.029

0.096

0.035

0.029

Largemouth bass
fingerling
N 00
Shoal bass
fingerling

0.073

0.028

0.629

0.299 0.357

0.115

0.237

Striped bass fry fingerling advanced fingerling

0.014

0.011 0.079 0.293

Striped-white hybrid bass fry fingerling
White-striped hybrid bass fry fingerling

0.098

0.011

0.099

0.043

0.043

0.011 0.071

Table E-4. Number of warmwater fish distributed from state hatcheries In FY1991. 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

Channel catfish fingerling Intermediate harvestable

956,879 800

145,000

90,363 13,987

93,029 114,888
404

82,969 138,140
22,642

3,600

1,371,840 267,815 23,046

Bluegill
fingerlln~
harvests le

4,805,381

17,187

212,000 99,200

97,710 1,000

5,231,478 1,000

Redear sunfish fingerling

1,038,132

11,488

161,000 69,800

24,610

1,305,030

Largemouth bass fingerling

569,485

20,000

41,000 43,433

19,380

693,298

Shoat bass

N

fingerling

\0

Striped bass fry fingerling advanced fingerling

66,518

962,362

102,626

2,678,500 136,216 130

66,518
2,678,500 1,098,578
102,756

Striped-white bass hybrid fry fingerling

550,000

550,000

White-striped bass hybrid fry fingerling

3,166,697

1,000,000 225

1,000,000 3,166,922

Walleye fry

8,777,000

8,777,000

Total

7,370,677 13,099,734

687,494 420,754 386,451

4,368,671

a Totals do not include fry produced and distributed to other state hatcheries for later production phases.

26,333,781

Appendix F: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Public Fishing Area Operation Program in FY1991. 30

Table F-1. Public Fishing Areas cost and use data for FY1991.

Region

Area

Ownership

Number of lakes

Total a
Acreage

Total Operating
Cost($)

Total Trips

Trips/ Acre

I Arrowhead

State

Ill McDuffie

State

IV Baldwin Forest State

2

25.2

78,341 10,334

13

126.0

74,111

5

51.3

55,678

9,937

410.1 193.7

IV Rum Creek
v Williams v Big lazer
VI Paradise

GA Power State State State

1

3,600.0

1

48.0

1

195.0

76

325.0

2,762 14,574 38,084 193,927

b 19,004

b 58.5

w
t-'

VI Evans County

State

3

122.0

52,060

5,053

41.4

VI
Total

Treutlen County

Private

1

189.0

4,681.5

1,934 511,471

c 44,328

c 51.0

a Total acreage open to public fishing.
b Estimate Is based on 9.3 month creel survey and does not represent a whole year.
c Totals are based on the areas for which this information is available.

Table F-2. Harvest and catch rate of fish caught from three Public Fishing Areas in FY1991 for which information was available.

Arrowhead

Evans County

Paradise

Species

a
Number Avg. Wgt

Number Avg. Wgt.

b Number Avg. Wgt.

Channel catfish
c
Sunfish

13,486 6,810

1.31 0.17

535 11,361

0.82 0.36

6,074

1.21

35,024

0.22

Largemouth bass

71

1.75

422

2.07

2,538

2.21

Crappie

1,133

0.61

4,532

0.62

Other
w
N
Total

20,367

0.93

1,426 14,877

1.05 0.51

4,988 53,156

0.77 0.51

Fish caught per trip

Numberd

1.97

2.94

2.80

Weight

1.83

1.51

1.41

a
Weights in pounds.
b Numbers are based on a 9.3 month creel and do not represent a whole year.
c
Primarily bluegill and redear sunfish.
d Weighted means.

Appendix G: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Research and Survey Program in FY1991.
33

Table G-1. Mandays, cost and funding source for research and survey studies in each region during FY1991.

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

Study
A survey of the black crappie population In Allatoona Reservoir.
Angler harvest of stocked trout in the Blue Ridge tailwater.
Development of a stream classification system for evaluating trout stocking In Georgia.
The effect of sample Size on the precision of creel estimates generated by a non-uniform probability access survey.
Evaluation of walleye introductions Into Lake Nottely. Evaluation of walleye Introductions into Burton and Seed lakes.
Trout stream easement program for private lands in Georgia. Standardized sampling of wild trout streams.
The effect of three stocking rates on growth, survival, angler success and harvest of brown trout in the lower 27 km of the Chattahoochee river.
Creel census of the Richard Russell dam tailwaters (survey).
Evaluation of hybrid bass stocking in Lake Oconee.
Evaluation of rainbow trout stocking in Richard Russell Lake.
Dynamics of the largemouth bass fishery in Strom Thurmond and Richard B. Russell lakes.
An assessment of the fish population in the Chattahoochee River downstream of Atlanta, Georgia.
Efficiency of sedation for suppressing the stress response in transported striped bass.
A fish population and sport fishery survey of the Upper Ocmulgee River.
Effects of watershed use on stream fish communities.
Dynamics of the 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.
Stream Sport Fish Monitoring Program.
Population dynamics of American shad In the Altamaha River.
Reproductive success of striped bass In the Ogeechee River.
Savannah and Ogeechee river creel surveys.
Administrative

Cost($) 8,600
3,100 35,570
44,898
14,600 30,600
6,000 38,156 17,284
9,518 32,265 18,294 49,257 93,n9
11,870
3,375
14,063
40,255 136,282 37,740
3,920
106,311 62,407
21,751 46,648 60,359 946,902

Mandays 69
25 287
363
62 253
25 275 138
76 548 146 394 750
95
15
120
486 843 233
40
694 273
112 451 478 7,251

Fund Source
DJ
DJ DJ
OJ
OJ DJ
OJ DJ DJ
DJ
CORPS
DJ OJ OJ
DJ
STATE
DJ
OJ DJ DJ DJ
OJ
STATE
DJ DJ

34

Table G-2. Final reports and publications completed by the Fisheries Section in FY1991.

Author FINAL REPORTS Beisser, G.
Beisser, G. Beisser, G. Bettross, E. Couch, B.
Durniak, J. and R. Ruddell Norgren, K., et.al. 8 Schleiger, S. Schmitt, D.

Publication
Evaluation of trout stream designations within the Amicalola Creek watershed, Dawson and Pickens counties. Angler harvest of stocked trout in the Blue Ridge tailwater. The fish populations and sport fishery of Allatoona Reservoir, 1981-1988. An indexed bibliography of striped bass literature. Experimental addition of calcium chloride to increase water hardness and fish production at Buford Trout Hatchery. Evaluation of trout fingerling stocking in small headwater trout streams. Identification of brown trout populations in Georgia. A survey of the black crappie population in Lake Sinclair. Some life history comparisons of three sport fishes from the Ogeechee and Savannah rivers.

8 Tim Hess and Jeff Durniak were two of the co-authors of this publication.

35

Appendix H: Table showing the Fisheries Section maintenance and construction projects in FYI991.
36

Table H-1. Facility maintenance and construction projects in FY1991.

Project

Project Description

Non-Capital outlay COSts

~ital outlalf Costs

Total

Fisheries

CMPb Mandays

Facility Maintenance and Repair

Summerville Hatchery

Repair and improvements were made to the Summerville hatchery residence. These included replacing the ceiling, painting the
interior, refinishing the kitchen cabinets, building additional closet space, replacing and painting rotted exterior entrance door and frame/sill.

6,000

Statewide Emergency Repair

Minor repairs were made to facilities at Big Lazer Public
Fishing Area (PFA) and at Cordele, Summerville and Richmond Hill hatcheries. At Big Laser PFA, drainage problems were corrected below the dam. At Summerville Hatchery, pipe was installed in an open ditch and a concrete cistern was
constructed to consolidate hatchery wastewater and surface water. At Richmond Hill Hatchery, pipes were installed in
ditches to carry surface runoff and hatchery pond water. Repairs and maintenance work were performed on 8 boat ramps.

24,145

24,149

188

Dodge County Public Fishing Additional funds were amended into this capital outlay

11,345

34,432

244

Area

construction project (originally funded in FY 1990) to cover

higher than expected costs of dam and parking lot

construction. The noncapital outlay costs are expenses of

the Fort Valley construction crew which worked on wetland

mitigation activities and minor earth moving on the entrance

w

road to the Public Fishing Area.

-....J

Paradise Public Fishing Area An engineering firm was contracted to do the survey and design

176,727

Renovation

work for renovation of the public fishing areas ponds and

related facilities.

Sub Total

35 490

211,159

30 149

432

New Construction

Paradise Public Fishing Area Construction

Three small lakes were renovated, a waterline installed, and bids awarded for construction of a preengineered metal building, service/office building, and a fertilizer storage building. Construction of the buildings will be completed in
FY1992.

202,278

Boat Ramp Construction

Construction was completed on boat ramps in the following

53,751

99,589

319

locations: Clarks Hill Reservoir in McDuffie Co., Satilla

River in Atkinson Co., Oconee River in Greene Co., and Lake

Nottely in Macon Co. Construction on a ramp in the

Intercoastal Waterways in Chatham Co. was initiated but not

completed.

Richmond Hill Hatchery

Reproduction of warehouse and barracks plans for contractor

470

bids.

SlbTotal

53,751

302,337

319

Fort Valley Administrative

These are the costs and mandays associated with operation and

107,421

447

Costs

administration of the statewide facility maintenance and

repair and boat ramp construction programs that are not

directly applicable to a specific project are listed.

Atlanta Administrative Costs These are the calculated prorated share of noncapital outlay

48,344

85

expenses and mandays applied to management of capital outlay

projects by the Atlanta Office.

Total Expenditures

245,006

513,496

30,149

1283

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 (CMP) funded through the Game and Fish Division budget. Those funds are not included in the Section expenditures.

w
<