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 <