Fisheries Section annual report, fiscal year 1992

FISHERIES SECTION ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year 1992
July 1, 1991- June 30, 1992
Game and Fish Division Depanment of Natural Resources
Atlanta, Georgia

The Georgla Departaent of Ratural Retlourcea receivea Federal Aid in Sport Fish all! WUcU1fe lntoratioD. Uader Title Vl of the 1964 Civil IJ3hta Act, Section 504 of the l.ehabilitation Aet of 1973, the Age Diacriai:natioD Aet of
1975, all! Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the u.s. Departaent of
the la.terior prohU:d.ta diacrtmiDation on the baala of race, color, uational or~in, ap, sex, or halllicap. U you believe that you have been diacr:lm.inated
apiut in arry progra, activity, or facility as described above, or if you
dedn further information pleue write to:
The Office for Buman leaourcea
u.s. Fish aDd Wildlife Service u.s. Departaent of the la.teriOr
Waahingtaa., D.C. 20240

Table of Contents

SUBJECT

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

11

D. Trout production

22

E. Warmwater hatchery production

27

F. Public fishing area operation

32

G. Research and survey

35

H. Maintenance and construction

38

FISheries Section Activities
Fishing is the most popular wildlife related activity in Georgia, enjoyed by every age group. Over 1.2 million resident fishermen use the State's diverse freshwater fishery resources which offer over 4,000 miles of trout streams, 12,000 miles of warmwater streams and half a million acres of impoundments. Anglers spend approximately $1 billion yearly on fishing in Georgia, a major contribution to the State's economy. The ongoing programs of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Fisheries Section during fiscal year 1992 included the management of public waters; development and management of public fishing areas; technical guidance in private waters; construction of boat ramps; production and stocking of trout and warmwater fish; production of aquatic education materials and services; and research and survey projects designed 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).
Public fishing areas (PFA) development continued in FY1992. The Dodge County PFA opened on June 26, 1992. The 100 acre lake is located near Eastman, Georgia and is providing excellent fishing for bass, bluegill, redear sunfish (shellcrackers) and channel catfish. The addition of this PFA brings the total statewide to eleven (11 ).
The Paradise PFA, which opened in FY1991, had an excellent first year. Anglers spent 90,949 hours fishing and harvested 57,302 fish weighing 28,964 pounds. Bluegill was the most frequently caught fish, although channel catfish provided the highest total weight of fish harvested. The 56% of anglers fishing only for largemouth bass also did well, with over 22% of the weight harvested belonging to largemouth bass. Over 78% of the anglers surveyed rated their fishing trip as fair, good or excellent. Construction at the Paradise PFA continued in FY1992, with the construction of a new combination office and visitors center and two new storage buildings. Additional work is planned to further improve this facility and provide better fishing in future years.
Eighty Aquatic Project WILD workshops were conducted in which 1,467 youth leaders were trained. Two facilitator workshops were conducted at which 33 new facilitators were trained. Approximately 10,000 Lake Ecosystem posters and activity guides were distributed to educators during FY1992. This poster has received high praise from educators and requests are received weekly. The States of Kentucky, Arkansas, and New York have adopted this poster into their Aquatic Education Programs.
Approximately 9,200 children were given the opportunity to fish at 86 Kids Fishing Events statewide during FY1992. This is a 26% increase in the number of children attending and an 18% increase in the number of events over FY1991. Approximately 22% were beginners and 80% caught at least one fish making the events very successful. Almost all of the sponsors have indicated they will sponsor an event in 1993! The Department cosponsored 100% of these events through providing fish (trout and channel catfish), staff guidance, and/or printed materials. This year the Department provided "Fishing is Funtastic" a kids fishing book, at no cost, to sponsors so that each child attending their event would receive one. This book contains information about how to fish and was customized so the reader can find out where to fish in Georgia. Kids Fishing Events were held on six of the Department's PFAs. Approximately 1,161 children attended, and 80% caught at least one fish.

Calhoun

Region Ill Walton

Region V - Albany
Figure 1. Fisheries regions and dstrlcls In Georgia and location of regional offices.
Broken lines mart dstrlct boundaries within regions.
2

A film titled The Pleasures of Fishing was produced and will be available to the public in fall 1992. Also, five 30-second radio Public Service Announcements were produced and aired approximately 100,000-150,000 times each across Georgia.
An unusual occurrence in FY1992 was the collection of a very rare sucker species during a survey of the Oconee River. The sucker had previously only been collected from the Savannah River, Georgia in 1980 (one specimen) and the Pee Dee River, North Carolina in 1985 (one specimen). Over 50 specimens have already been collected from the Oconee River, and the new species is expected to be officially named in FY1993.
The Fisheries Section had a highly successful season of producing and stocking striped bass and white bass x striped bass hybrids (hybrids) in FY1992. All goals were met or exceeded. Over 1,144,000 Atlantic strain striped bass fingerlings were stocked in seven (7) reservoirs and two rivers, and over 2,928,000 hybrids were stocked in sixteen (16) reservoirs. In addition, 28,750 Phase II (8-11 inches) striped bass were raised atthe Bo Ginn National Fish Hatchery from fingerlings provided by Georgia, and stocked into the Savannah River as part of a project to restore striped bass in that river system.
The Fisheries Section also continued to provide public service in other areas. Over 5.3 million fish produced at the Section's seven warmwater hatcheries were stocked into more than 2,650 ponds. Sampling continued on Georgia's major reservoirs and streams to detect potential problems and monitor fish populations. Two new boat ramps were built to provide more public access. Over 952,000 catchable size trout were produced and stocked by Georgia hatcheries into trout waters, in addition to over 418,000 stocked by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. 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 FY1992.
4

Table A-1. lmportam facts about freshwater fiShing and fishermen in Georgia.

Item

Number

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.

1,205,000a
19,895,70Q8
26,824,100a
22.3a days
22.6a miles
$948.6b million
$1.4b billion
27.7b thousand
$35.7b million

a

1985 National Survey of Fishina. 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 jn the State of Georgia published by the Sport Fishing

Institute in 1989. The calculations are based on data from the 1955 National Survey of

Fashing. Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.

5

Table A2.

Revenue (to the nearest dollar) generated by the Fisheries Section from license sales in license year 199192 (April1 I 1991 to March 31 I 1992) and revenue generated from the sale of permits to use Public Fishing Areas.a

Ucense Sales Ucense Year 19911992 IAprU 1, 1991 to March 311 1992)

Type ot Ucenu

No. Sold

Combination HuntingFishingb

76,651

Resident Fishing

572,385

Resident Trout

109,086

Non-resident Season Fishing

10,735

Non-resident 5-day Fishing

46,531

Non-resident Season Trout

4.771

Total

820,159

Revenue 1,127,952 3,9511120
3161736 208,312 228,251
47.266 5,879,637

.tWnl
Arrowhead McDuffie Baldwin Forest Evans County
Total

Public Fishing Area Permits No. Sold 1,886 3,582 718 3.519 9,705

Revenue 51658
10,746 2,154
10.557 29,115

a

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 FY1992.

PROGRAM

--------~---------------------- COST -------------------------------

TOTAL

ATLANTA

II

Ill

IV

v

VI

VII TOTAL MANDAYS

Private Waters Management

28.7 30.2

12.2 54.4 25.7 29.1 72.2 24.4

276.9

1,848

Public Waters Management

221.0 234.7 353.4 422.5 293.7 124.0 343.7 140.7 2,133.7

10,465

Aquatic Plant Control

0.4

111.7

112.1

528

Trout Production/Stocking
-..,!
Warmwater Hatcheries

80.6 122.0

75.9 34.8

622.0 20.6 190.5

13.1 342.6 144.5 310.1

778.5 1t 178.2

3,580 5,204

Aquatic Education

98.2

98.2

267

Public Fishing Areas

66.1 74.2

64.0 55.3 33.3 345.1

638.0

4,179

Research/Surveys

92.1 112.1

51.4 171.0 115.9 233.2 53.9 60.1

889.7

4,675

Facility Maintenance and New Construction

1,445.7

5.9 255.0

13.8

1,720.4

776

Total

2,154.8 561.9 1,059.6 908.3 870.4 762.2 973.2 535.3 7,825.7

31,521

a These figures may differ somewhat from the final 6/92 Fiscal Accounting and Control System (FAGS) 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 FY1992.
8

Table B-1. Number of field Investigations on private waters In each district In FY1992.

Region District

Balance

Aquatic Plant
Control

Fish Prestocking

General

Kill

Checks Management

County Total

%of Total

Calhoun

II

Gainesville

Ill

Walton

Ill

Thomson

IV

Macon

IV

Manchester

\D

v

Albany

v

Cordele

VI

Waycross

VI

Metter

VII

Richmond Hill

Statewide Totals o/o of Total

28
15
129 69
51 49
46 90
33
33
17
560 43%

35
7
22 52
9 4
0 0
18
82
11
240 18%

9
3
6 51
5 0
0 0
34
46
19
173 13%

132
29
29 6
7 14
0 0
2
6
4
229 18%

0
4
11 28
2 1
7 2
17
24
7
103 8%

204
58
197 206
74 68
53 92
104
191
58
1,305

16%
4%
15% 16%
6% 5% 4% 7%
8%
15%
4%
100%

Table B-2. Total number and acres of private ponds stocked with fingerling largemouth bass, bream and channel catfish In FY1992. These fish are provided to pond owners to establish fishable populations In newly constructed or renovat~d ponds.

Region District

Bass-bream ponds stocked
Number Acres

Percent stockBd at fertilized rate

Number

Acres

Number and species stocked

Bluegill

Redear Largemouth Channel

sunfish

bass catfish

Catfish only ponds stocked

Number

Acres

Calhoun

83

251

0

0

98,176 24,449

11,015 21,580

44

53

II Gainesville

54

124

0

0

48,720 12,180

6,231 19,256

38

42

Ill Walton Thomson

118

404

224 1,139

3

3

164,220 40,610

19,781 45,301

4

4

422,292 105,573

57,346 132,176

77

169

214

409

....

IV Macon

91

401

3

6

171,900 42,975

18,653 30,403

0

Manchester

70

293

14

13

131,980 32,995

15,288 21,345

30

76

23

111

v Albany
Cordele

203 1,185

78

390

1

2

484,715 118,335

63,133 97,114

9

8

179,136 44,159

22,381 67,860

122

295

106

661

VI Waycross Metter

335 1,900 323 1,999

2

2

780,080 186,070

91,370 148,230

1

2

759,610 188,965

88,968 149,493

163

436

151

342

VII Richmond Hill

63

225

3

6

87,200 21,800

16,155 21,530

46

61

Statewide Totals

1,642 8,311

3

3

3,328,029 818,111 410,321 754,288

1,014

2,654

Appendix C: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Public Waters Management Program in FY1992.
11

Table C-1. Management and Development activities of the FISheries Section in FY1992.

Type of Activity

Description/Body of Water

Public waters management recommendatioMimpoundments

Management recommendatioM were developed for the following small impoundments: Goldmine Lake, Upper and Lower Sloppy Floyd State Park Lakes, Fon Mountain State Park Lake, Lake Conasauga, Peeples Lake, Murray Lake, City of Tallapoosa Lake, City of Canersville Lake, Comish Creek Reservoir, six Fon Stewan Military Reservation lakes, City of Albany drainage ponds, City of Manchester water supply reservoir, and Berry College ponds.

Trout stream management and development

Management recommendations based on fish surveys were developed for Johns Creek and Jacks River; development and interpretive plans for Unicoi State Park/Smith Creek and Amicalola State Park/Amicalola Creek were completed; cooperative helicopter stocking and fisheries sampling of Chattooga River was accomplished.

Fish attractor construction and maintenance Fish attractors were refurbished in Lake Lanier and Lake Sinclair.

Forage fish management

Stock threadfin shad in Knickerbocker, Comish Creek and Tribble Mill reservoirs to establish population.

Preservation 2000 site evaluatioM with PFA site evaluations as adjuncts.

Potential Public Fishing Area sites were evaluated for the Preservation 2000 program as follows: Alapaha Plantation in Lowndes County, lake site in Bacon County, Banks Lake in Lanier County, Brushy Creek ponds in Irwin County, Canoe Pond in Candler County, Dunn's lake in Long County, lake site in Jeff-Davis County, Kirkland's Lake in Pearson County, land along the Flint River in Pike and Meriwether, McKinney's Pond in Emanuel County, Morgan Lake in Long County, Riddle's Pond in Berrien County, and propeny in Jasper County.

Assistance to DNR Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division

Management recommendations on aquatic plant control were provided for lakes at Magnolia Springs, George L. Smith, Little Ocmulgee state parks, A. H. Stephens State Park and East Georgia College pond.

12

Table C-2. Fish kills Investigated by the Fisheries Section In FY1992.

TyPe of Fish Kill

Number of Incidents

Fish Killed

Number

Value

a Rnes Collected by DNA

Municipal Pollution

10

26,519

$17,966

$37,391

Industrial Pollution

6

10,727

$3,654

$10,000

Agricultural Pollution

1

124

$93

$600

Entrainment/Impingement

Disease/Natural

tw-'

Undetermined

Others

Total

1

1,143

$1,492

b

10

750

NA

15

14,628

$9,702

6

159,694

$22,682

49

213,785

$55,589

$473 $48,464

a Fines collected as of June 30, 1992 by the Environmental Protection Division for the FY1992 fish kills.

b Estimates of the number 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. Ash Surveys and Collections conducted by the Fisheries Section In FY1992.

Purpose Standardized sampling of reservoirs
Standardized sampling of streams

Sampling Method
Electrofishlng Gillnetting General reconnaissance surveys
Electrofishing General reconnaissance surveys

General fish population surveys and monitoring on publicly owned waters

Seines Electrofishlng Gillnetting

~
tCio

Trout stream classification Fish health assessment Brook trout genetics samples

Elactrofishing Electro fishing Electrofishing

Fish Identification nature trail Electrofishing project

Body of Water
Allatoona, Blue Ridge, Carters, Richard B. Russell, Clarks Hill,
Oconee, Burton, Rabun, Tugalo, Hartwell, Lanier, Chatuge &
Nottely, Sinclair, Tobesofkae, Jackson, Wast Point, High Falls, Julietta, Barttatts Farry, Walter F. George, Seminole and Blackshear.
Altamaha, Ocmulgea, Oconee, Satilla, St. Marys, Suwannee and Chattahoochee rivers, Stonewall Creak, Noontootla Creak, Jonas Creak, Ridley Creak, Haddan Creak, Dicks Creek, Cooper Creak, Hoods Creek, Moccasin Creek, Bear Den Creek, Dover Creak, Bear Camp Creek, Dukes Creek, Charlias Creek, Metcalf Creak, Totterypole Creak.
Goldmine lake, Upper and lower Sloppy Royd State Park lakes, Fort Mountain State Park lake, lake Conasauga, Peeples lake, Murray lake, City of Tallapoosa lake, City of Cartersville lake, Carlan Creek, Mud Creak, little Amicalola Creak, Chattooga River, West Fork Chattooga River, Holcomb Creek, Overflow Creek, Okefenokee Swamp and Banks lake, Johns Creak, Jacks River, Cherrylog Creak, Gunstock Creek, Rodgers Creek and an unnamed tributary of the Coosawattaa River.
Deep Creak, Robarts Branch, liberty Branch
lake Hartwell
Holcomb Creek, Reed Creek, High Shoals Creek, Dover Creek, logan Creek, little Rock Creek, Darnall Creek, Moccasin Creek, Jacks River, Keener Creek.
Zan's Branch - Clarks Hill WMA

Table C-3. Continued.

Purpose

Sampling Method

Fish Identification at Yuchl PFA site, fish survey at potential PFA sites In Macon County and heavy metal analysis at proposed PFA in Effingham County

Electrofishlng

Determine presence of undescribed sucker

Electrofishing

River redhorse population assessment

Electro fishing

Flathead catfish monitoring

Electro fishing

....

Pollution from landfill; public complaint

Electrofishing

U'l

Monitor bluegill recruitment in Electrofishlng low pH waters

Taste experiment of gamefish to address complaint about bad fish flavor

Electrofishing

Monitor status of striped bass Electrofishing broodfish population

Body of Water

I

High Head Branch (Burke County), Piney Creek (Macon County) and Lochner Creek watershed (Effingham County).

Ogeechee River Oconee River

Flint River - Albany Cox Creek, Ware County Laura S. Walker State Park Lake Altamaha River, Wayne County
Savannah River

Teble C-4. Aquatic plant control treatments applied to control aquatic plants etatewlda In FY1992.

Body of Water

Couty

Target PMt

ContJal Method

Acraa

No. of

Coat of

Truted Treatments Treatment

M~~n~~gement ObJectfvaa: Treatment Effectlvenaaa

Rervoh and LakM

Blackshear

Crisp/Sumter

Lyngbya

Cutrine Plus 80 !be/acre

102

4

$32,408 Control surface mate; good

Blackshear

Crisp/Sumter

Najaa, mllfoH,

Aquathol, 180 lbs/acra

4

lotus, and

spatterdock

Worth

Dougherty

Giant cutgraaa,

Rodeo, 0.8 gal/acre,

32

waterhyaclnth

Nalcotrol II, 0.2 gal/acre,

and Driftgon, 0.2 gal/acre

1

t788 Improve access: good

I

3

$4,318 Stop invasion, Improve

'

acceaa: good

Worth

Dougherty

WatermllfoH,

Sonar lASt, 1 qt/acre

8

coontall, and other

eubmargents

.....

Worth

Dougherty

Same as above

Sonar (SRPJ, 40 lba/acre

8

Ch

Jackson

Butts/Newton Alflgatorweed,

Rodeo, 0.8 gal/acre,

26

Giant cutgraaa

Nalcotrol II, 0.2 gal/acre 6

Drlftgon, 0.2 gal/acre

1

$1,600 Improve accns; fair

I

1

$2,866 Improve eccess; fair

3

$3,928 Stop Invasion, Improve

acceaa; good

Juliette

Monroe

Eurasian

Aquaklean 12,4-DJ, 200

64

watarmllfoll

lbs/acre

3

$14,862 Stop spread within lake

and downstream; good

with minimum impact to

non-targeted plants

Evana Co. Public Flahlng Area

Evana

Hydrilla

Komaen, 12 gala/acre

4

1

$840 Significantly reduce within

lake to minimize

downstream epread while

reducing user conflict In

lake; good

Grand Total

233.0

17

$81,486

Table C-5. Environmental reviews and assessments commented on by the Fisheries Section in FY1 992.

Agency

Numbe..S

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Plans and Permits

Environmental Protection Division Permits and Variances

43

Georgia Department of Transportation Projects

5

Georgia, Alabama, Florida and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

1

Joint studies on Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoose and Apalachicola Chattahoochee Basins

U.S. Government Agency Permits, Projects and Plans

Army Corps of Engineers Permits

4

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 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Licenses Issues

,,3

Fish and Wildlife Service Plans

1

Local Governments

Fulton County

4

Total

72

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 FY1992.

Cooperating Agency

Description of Project

Cost

Auburn University

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

$8,000

Auburn University

Taxonomist services were provided by the University in the identification of fish collections from the Ocmulgee River.

$4,458

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

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 ).

$1,000a

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.

$12,000a

University of Georgia

The University of Georgia, in cooperation with the Fisheries Section, performed striped bass research and restoration on the Savannah River {Project F52).

$192,126

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 FY1992.

Agency Assisted U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and DNR Environmental Protection Division CEPD)
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW$)
Soil Conservation Service

Description of Assistance
Operated acid rain monitoring units in cooperation with EPA and EPD. Collected fish samples from several bodies of water statewide for radiological, trend and toxic substances monitoring in cooperation with EPD. Reviewed variance requests for land disturbing activities in trout stream buffer zones CEPD). Assisted EPD in the design and evaluation of mitigation measures for impoundments on trout streams. Provided information and comments to EPD on impoundments on trout streams, effects of dyes on fish, NPDES permits for private trout hatcheries, biotic data on West Georgia streams, fish populations in Piscola Creek, Brooks Co. (for SCS study), and possible West Point Reservoir impacts. Worked with EPD on Ebenezer Creek surveys and Savannah Harbor water quality regulations.
Reviewed and commented on Blue Ridge Reservoir shoreline and boat ramp management, fish health and water quality report and environmental assessment.
Assisted USFWS with collection of biotic data on Cabin Creek. Collected Gulf Coast striped bass brood stock to be spawned by the USFWS to produce fingerlings for stocking public waters. Coordinated with USFWS in development of plans for American shad restoration in the upper Savannah River basin and anadromous fish management plans between Augusta and Clarks Hill Dam.
Provided advice as part of an interdisciplinary work team to develop management plan for Uttle Tallapoosa drainage.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CORPS)
U.S. Forest Service
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Assisted with development of a new West Point lakeshore management plan. Provided technical assistance regarding aquatic plant management at Lake Seminole. Advised on feasibility of creating 10-15 acre public fishing lake from a small enbayment on Lake W. F. George.
Reviewed and commented on upper Chattahoochee watershed plan, proposed land acquisition, timber prescriptions and Ellicott Wilderness Area. Provided consultation regarding waterfowl area at Oyar Pasture.
Provided water quality data and fish management recommendations on Lake Nottely tailwaters.
Section personnel assisted with the implementation of the Georgia-Florida National Water Quality Assessment Study.

19

Table C-7. Continued.
Agency Assisted University of Georgia (UGA)
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service from Panama City, Florida DNR Coastal Resources Division

Description of Assistance
Assisted UGA personnel on rotenone study on Richard B. Russell Reservoir (RBR) rotenone study as part of RBR pumpback studies funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Section biologists participated in cooperative meetings to develop plans for sampling fish populations in Okefenokee Swamp and Banks Lake.
Information was provided on boathouse locations in the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers.

'
20

Table C-8. Other activities of the Fisheries Section in FY1992.

Type of Activity Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

Description
Fisheries Section personnel served on the Trout, Small Impoundment, Reservoir, Striped Bass, Aquaculture, and Warmwater Technical commitees.
One biologist served as a technical member of the Commission's Scientific and Statistical Committee.

21

Appendix 0: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Trout Production Program in FY1992.
22

a
Table D-1. Trout production (lbs), conversion ratios, and costs at state hatcheries In FY1992.

Hatchery Buford

Net Weight Gain Conversion ratio

Species

BROOK RAINBOW BROWN

5,731 1.64

128,948 1.43

28,534 1.28

Total 183,211
1.41

Burton

Net Weight Gain Conversion ratio

N
w

Summerville Net Weight Gain

Conversion ratio

144,723 1.54

3,490 1.19

148,213
1.54

32,953 1.55

32,953 1.55

Total

Net Weight Gain Conversion ratio

5,731 1.84

308,822 1.50

32,024 1.27

344,3n 1.48

Cost per pound to stock trout from state hatcheries:
Total production and distrlbutio!l costs per pound:
a
Conversion ratios used In totals are weighted means. b
Costs do not Include administrative costs of the Atlanta staff.

b Cost Total Perlb $264,852 $1.82
$208,425 $1.41
$47,151 $1.43
$520,428 $1.51
$0.44 $1.95

Table D-2. Number and weight (lbs) of each species of trout stocked Into Georgia's public waters from state and federal hatcheries during FY1992.

Facility

BROOK

Number

Weight

RAINBOW

Number

Weight

BROWN

Number

Weight

TOTAL

Number

Weight

STATE HATCHERIES Buford catchables fingerlings

12,495

5,435

284,102

121,654

38,883 102,380

13,392 2,862

335,480 102,380

140,481 2,862

Burton catchables fingerlings

474,306 203,717

168,575 4,150

14,599

5,264

488,905 203,717

173,839 4,150

Summerville

catchables

.....,

fingerlings

FEDERAL HATCHERIES

Chattahoochee

catchable&

fingerlings

128,057 31,965

45,816 1,858

398,486 117,723

128,057 31,965

45,816 1,858

398,486 117,723

Walhalla catchables fingerlings

11,500

3,169

8,376

1,602

19,876

4,n1

Others catchables fingerlings

TOTAL catchables fingerlings

12,495

5,435 1,296,451 235,682

456,937 6,008

61,858 102,380

20,258 1,370,804 2,862 338,062

482,630 8,870

Table D-3. Number and weight (lbs) of catchable trout by species and habitat type stocked from all hatcheries in FY1ee2.

Facility

BROOK Number Weight

RAINBOW

BROWN

Number Weight Number Weight

TOTAL Number Weight

STREAMS BY COUNTY

Bartow

Catoosa

Chattooga

Cherokee

Dade

Dawson

1,340

Fannin

Floyd

Gilmer

Gordon

Habersham

Haralson

Lumpkin

80

Murray

Paulding

Pickens

520

Polk

Rabun

2,700

Stephens

1,300

Towns

1,050

Union

500

Walker

White

1,950

Whitfield

Total

e,440

556
205
210 940 453 366 174 n5 3,679

9,704 2,5eo 5,721
2,100 1,4eO
23,625
94,786 20,650 46,628
2,881 34,586 18,646 102,6e8 22,421
7,e31 8,401 4,4e1 150,458 46,460 85,322 88,e65 18,545 11e,553
580

3,386
e55 1,eee
822 474 7,e30
28,448 7,381
15,381
en
11,735 6,62e
33,263 8,218 2,861 3,266 1,633
53,227 15,224 2e,142 28,220 6,5e7 42,045
167

919,232 30e,e8o

1,000 e18
1,eoo 1,500
670 7,164 1,000 1,400 2,117 2,991
20,660

315 142 78e 625
252 2,638
415 563 326 516
6,581

e,704 2,5eo
5,721
2,100 1,4eO
25,e65 e5,704 20,650 48,528 2,881 36,086 18,646 102,n8 22,421
7,e31 e,5e1 4,4e1 160,322 48,760 87,n2 91,582 18,545 124,494
580

3,386
e55 1,99e
822 474
8,801 28,5eO
7,381 16,170
en
12,360 6,62e
33,468 8,218 2,861
3,728 1,633 56,805 16,0e2 30,071 28,720 6,597 43,336
167

94e,332 320,240

TAILWATERS Blue Ridge Hartwell Lanier
Total

2,305 2,305

1,494 1,4e4

2e,736 13,000 1e2,e3e
235,675

8,431 4,000 4,523 84,455 _]_,198
97,409 16,198

872 33,736 9,303 13,000 4,523
4,125 __!E7,442 _J0.07~
4,e97 254,178 103,900

RESERVOIRS Russell
Total

74,815 27,224 25,000 __8,680 74,815 27,224 25,000 8,680

e9,815 ~901 99,815 35,e04

SMALL LAKES Black Rock Conasauga Dockery Nancytown Rock Creek Vogel Winfield Scott
Total
GRAND TOTAL

500
250 750 12,4e5

175
87 262 5,435

2,500

827

5,013 1,709

13,515 4,251

9,eoo 3,328

12,517 4,234

3,100 1,179

20,184 _!796

66,729 22,324

1,296,451 456,937

61,858

20,258

3,000 5,013 13,515 9,900 12,517 3,350 20,184
67,47!

1,002 1,70e 4,251 3,328 4,234 1,266 6,796
22,586

1,370,804 482,630

25

Table D-4. Number and weight (lbs) of fingerling trout by species and habitat type stocked from all hatcheries in FY1992.

Facility

RAINBOW

Number

Weight

BROWN

Number

Weight

TOTAL

Number

Weight

STREAMS BY COUNTY

Banow

1,800

Catoosa

300

Chattooga

4,694

Cherokee

2,894

Dade

900

Dawson

Fannin

3,000

Floyd

2,195

Gilmer

25,900

Gordon

2,894

Habersham

22,072

Haralson

2,100

Lumpkin

11,000

Murray

1,800

Paulding

600

Pickens

3,300

Polk

1,200

Rabun

33,500

Stephens

50,045

Towns

7,000

Union

12,000

Walker

4,094

White

42,394

Total

235,682

105 17
273 168
52
19 128 210 168 631 122 389 105
35 192
70 686 810 413 488 238 689
6,008

4,947
22,433 27,380

300
1,189 1,489

1,800 300
4,694 2,894
900 4,947 3,000 2,195 25,900 2,894 22,072 2,100 11,000 1,800
600 3,300 1,200 55,933 50,045 7,000 12,000 4,094 42,394
263,062

105 17
273 168
52 300
19 128 210 168 631 122 389 105
35 192
70 1,875
810 413 488 238 689
7,497

TAILWATERS Lanier

75,000

Total

75,000

GRAND TOTAL

235,682

6,008 102,380

Note - No fingerling brook trout were stocked.

1,373 1,373 2,862

75,000

1,373

- - - 75,000

1,373

338,062

8,870

26

Appendix E: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Warmwater Hatchery Production Program in FY1992.
27

Table E-1. Total numbers and cost per fish of warrnwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY1992.

a

Species

Acres

Number

Number Per Acre

Cost Per Fish($)

Bluegill Fingerling

32.02 5,724,833

178,789

Redear sunfish Fingerling

10.11 1,523,719

150,714

Largemouth Bass Fingerling

19.50 1,118,253

57,346

Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable

9.60 12.34 19.50 3.25

3,357,000 1,366,913
406,628 27,293

349,687 110,771
20,853 8,398

Striped bass Fry Fingerling Advanced Fingerlings

b 7.31 2.00

7,044,000 1,416,644
62,823

b 193,795
31,412

Hybrid striped-white bass Fry Fingerling

b 7.50

3,350,000 577,337

b 76,978

Hybrid white-striped bass Fry Fingerling

b 11,410,000 17.65 3,001,207

b 170,040

White Bass Fry Fingerling

b 1,500,000

1.20

33,982

b 28,318

Shoal Bass Fingerling
Totals (all sizes)

2.90 144.88

63,251 c
41,983,883

21,811 d
177,553

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.

0.037
0.054
0.114
0.018 0.082 0.336 0.586
0.009 0.036 0.306
0.009 0.074
0.009 0.037
0.009 0.310
0.405 d
0.030

28

Tabla E-2. Number of each warmwatar fish species produced at state hatcheries In FY1992.

Species

Summerville Walton McDuffie Cordele

Stave Cocke

Bowens Richmond

Mill

Hill

Total

Bluegill Fingerling

236,799 868,411 1'171,580

892,177 1,233,585 1,322,281 5,724,833

Radear sunfish Fingerling

61,679 287,271 301,057

214,800 322,500 336,412 1,523,719

Largemouth Bass Fingerling

45,000 164,000

214,253 602,000

93,000 1,118,253

Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Intermediate Harvastabla

250,194

636,000 475,860
25,761

2,721,000 276,910 216,300 1,532

132,282 157,048

231,667 33,280

3,357,000 1,366,913
406,628 27,293

N

Striped bass

\0

Fry

Fingerling

Advanced Fingerling

1,230,810

7,044,000 185,834 62,823

7,044,000 1,416,644
62,823

Hybrid striped-white bass Fry Fingerling

72,975 504,362

3,350,000 3,350,000 5n,337

Hybrid white-striped bass Fry Fingerling

284,945

756,709

11,410,000 11,410,000 813,071 1,146,482 3,001,207

White Bass Fry Fingerling

1,500,000 1,500,000

33,982

33,982

Shoal Bass Fingerling

19,3n 43,874

63,251

Totals (all sizes)

298,478 1,735,821 4,005,068 4,064,803 2,158,796 2,971,156 26,749,761 41,983,883

Table E-3. Cost per fish (dollars) warmwater fish species produced at state hatcheries In FY1992.

-Species
Bluegill Fingerling

Summerville 0.059

Walton McDuffie

Cordele

0.027

0.022

Steve Cocke

Bowens Richmond

Mill

Hill

0.053

0.042

0.037

Redear sunfish Fingerling

0.068

0.042

0.035

0.064

0.075

0.051

largemouth Bass Fingerling

0.268

0.038

0.141

0.082

0.321

Channel catfish

Fry

Fingerling

Intermediate

Harvestable

w

0

Striped bass

Fry

Fingerling

Advanced Fingerling

0.092

0.030 0.054
0.406

0.015 0.100 0.376 3.606

0.113 0.237

0.024

0.087 0.548
0.009 0.117 0.306

Hybrid striped-white bass Fry Fingerling

0.499

0.013

0.009

Hybrid white-striped bass Fry Fingerling

0.027

0.035

0.035

0.009 0.043

White Bass Fry Fingerling

0.009 0.310

Shoal Bass Fingerling

0.614

0.313

Table E-4. Number of warmwater fish distributed from state hatcheries In FY1992. 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

Kid's Rshlng Events

Other Fisheries Agencies

a
Total

Bluegill flngerlln3t lnterme late

3,328,029

301,440

300,000 18,400

237,787 4,167,256 18,400

Redear sunfish fingerling

818,111

47,860

62,400

928,371

Largemouth bass fingerling

410,321

85,262

71,100

22,000 1,500

590,183

Channel catfish

fry

fingerling

w

Intermediate

......

harvestable

754,288

13,000

166,742 50,938

150,000
95,900 25,761

2,000 168,400
9,032

140,000 15,500 49,300

290,000 938,530 3n,538
34,793

Striped bass fry fingerling
advanced fingerling

1,253,785

201,435 156,508

2,976,000 102,142

2,976,000 1,557,362
156,508

Striped-white bass hybrid fry fingerling

2,175,000 2,175,000

117,387

117,387

White-striped bass hybrid fry fingerling

2,810,687

500,000

500,000

491,868 3,302,555

White bass fry fingerling

1,800,000 15,743

Shoal bass fingerling

62,851

Walleye fry

5,000,000

Total

5,310,749 10,978,477 420,794 638,080 612,061 180,932

a

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

6,867,384

1,800,000 15,743 62,851
20,008,4n

Appendix F: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Public Fishing Area Operation Program in FY1992.
32

Table F-1. Public Rshlng Areas cost data for FY1992.

Region Area

Ownership

Number of lakes

Acreage Open to Fishing

Total Operating Cost($)

Arrowhead

State

2

25.2

74,161

Ill

McDuffie

State

13

126.0

64,029

IV

Baldwin Forest

State

5

51.3

41,395

IV

Rum Creek

GA Power

1

3,600.0

2,204

w w

v

Williams

State

1

31.0

6,062

v

Big Lazer

State

1

195.0

.

27,205

VI

Paradise

State

76

325.0

162,738

VI

Evans County

State

3

94.0

48,669

VI

Dodge County

State

1

104.0

130,127

VI
Total

Treutlen County
!1' j flo """"A~::/.c

Private

1

189.0

4,740.5

3,567 560,157

Table F-2. Harvest and catch rate of fish caught from two public fishing areas in FY1992 for which information was available.

Arrowhead

a Evans County

Species
Catfish b
Sunfish Largemouth bass Crappie Other Total

Number
1,344 1,375
377

Avg. Wgt (pounds)
1.32 0.20
2.07

3,096

0.91

Number
927 8,380
624 1,101
448 11,480

Avg. Wgt. (pounds)
1.82 0.39 2.44 0.48 0.35 0.62

Fish caught oer trip

Number

0.66

3.62

Weight (weighted means)

0.60

2.25

a
This is harvest for only 1/2 year (7/1/91 through 10/31192 and 3/1/92 through 5/30/92).

b Sunfish are primarily bluegill and redear sunfish.

34

Appendix G: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Research and Survey Program in FY1992.
35

Table G-1. Mandays and Cost for research and survey studies in each region during FY1992.

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

Study Title
A survey of the black crappie population in Allatoona Reservoir
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 the walleye introductions into Lake Nottely
Evaluation of the walleye introductions into Lakes Burton and Seed
Trout stream easement program for private lands in Georgia
Evaluation of brown trout stocking rates in lower Chattahoochee River
Evaluation of hybrid bass stockings in Lake Oconee
Evaluation of rainbow trout stockings in Richard B. Russell Reservoir
Largemouth bass dynamics in Strom Thurmond and Richard B. Russell reservoirs
Assessment of fish population in Chattahoochee River below Atlanta, GA
Creel of Richard B. Russell Reservoir tailwaters
Effects of watershed use on stream fish communities
A fish population survey of the Oconee River below Sinclair Dam
An investigation into the dynamics of the largemouth bass fishery in Lake Walter F. George.
Piscivory of juvenile largemouth bass in Lake Walter F. George.
Effects of water withdrawals on the Spring Creek fishery and associated aquatic resources.
Population dynamics of American shad
Reproduction of striped bass in the Ogeechee River
Savannah and Ogeechee river creel surveys
Administrative

Cost($) Mandays

5,292

39

90,432

278

16,356

14

6,600

32

38,580

150

6,200

24

11,534

61

18,367 !

97

14,017

74

93,258

491

7,842

41

25,974

453

68,349

265

47,530

516

98,970

509

67,640
66,631
53,872 17,900
42,175 92,142 889,661

348
343
191 75
330 344 4,675

36

Final reports and publications completed by the Fisheries Section in FY1992.

Author Larson, S.C., B. Saul and S. Schleiger A. C. Mauldin 11/J. McCollum
Jimmy Evans
Michael R. Geihsler and Daniel R. Holder
Edward Bettross

Publication
Exploitation and survival of black crappie in three Georgia
Reservoirs. NAJFM 11 14,: 604-613
Status of the Chattahoochee River fish population downstream of Atlanta, GA
A fish population and sport fishery survey of the upper Ocmulgee River
Changes in the sport fishery, population structure, and growth of largemouth bass in a coastal plain stream under a 356 mm (14 inch, mimumum length limit
Reproductive success of striped bass in the Ogeechee River

37

Appendix H: Table showing the Fisheries Section maintenance and construction projects in FY1992.
38

:entral R81

.....

....-

Protect

ProJect O.orfptlon

Non-Capite..
Oudlly ea.ts

~IIDIUII g.m-1 ~
F..hedee CMP

Tobll Mlllldeye

Facility Maintenance end Repair

Welton Fisheries Office

Renovated existing office space to provide more work apace.

&,88&

Emergency Repeirll to Boat Rempe, Hatcheries, end PFA'I

Installed etorm drains at Richmond HiH Hatchery, built eigne, repaired boat dock, end landscaped Dodge PFA, repaired pond drain structure at Baldwin Foreet PFA, end repaired boat rempe at various eltea statewide.

84,246

18,338

203

Arrowhead PFA

Tied drinking water aystem to county system.

8,380

Bunon Hatchery

Replaced roof on meln garage, shop end edminlltretlon building.

39,44&

Bunon Hatchery

Made eddltlona to end remodeled hatchery residence 12.

&7,200

SUb Total

84,24&

&,88& 121,381

203

w

New Construction

\0

Boat Ramp Construction

Acquired lend for e boat ramp on the Altemehe River in Wayne

18,&38

84,&99

118

County end a ramp on Chattahoochee River In Heard County.

Completed archaeological survey for boat ramp conatructlon on

the Ocmulgee River. Completed landscaping end conatructlon of

boat ramp at Slcidewey Narrows in Chatham County. Extended

new ramp built In FY1991 on Jack's Creek In Union County. Built

11 boat ramp on St. Merv's River In Cheriton County end e ramp

on the Savannah River In Burke County. Bought materiels for

conatructlon next veer for ramp on Coosa River in Floyd County.

Completed road work end iendsceping on ramp at Jerico River

(Richmond HiH WMAI.

Burke County Public Fishing Area
---

Contracted with engineering firm to prepare drawings, plena, end speclflcetiona for construction of Burke County Public Fiahlng Area.

180,32&

Table H1. Continued.

'"""' Improvements et Paradise PFA.

'"""' Doorlpdon
Three buildings were constructed end Included en office/service building, e fertilizer building, end e shop/warehouse building. JonH end Jones Construction Co. wee the contractor for the flrat two buHdings. McCook Construction Co. wee the original contractor for the ehop/werehouee building. Pinnacle Insurance Co. eaeumed construction after McCook defaulted. Fleherlea personnel did alta plennlng,ravlewed plena, end performed on-site Inspection.

Non-ell. . . Outlay COda
13,788

CHibiiQudw~
Flah_... CMP
1,087,338

Total Mandllya

Sub-Total

33,308 1,362,282

0

118

Fort Valley Admlnletrettve

These we the coste end mendeya associated with operation end

88,828

19,948

400

Coate end Mendeya

administration of the statewide facility maintenance end repair

end boat ramp construction programs that ere not directly

eppltceble to llpeclflc project.

~

Atlanta Admlniltrettve Coste This le the calculated prorated ehere of non-capital outlay

178,186

0

expenses end mendeya applied to management of capital outley

67

projects by the Atlanta Office.

Total ExpendlturH

342,384 1,378,073 121,381

778

1 Non-capital outlay expenditures of the Flaherlee Section eeelgned to specific projects wei the edmlnlltrattve coats of both the Fort Valley end Atlanta offices.

b The capital outlay funding for these projects was provided through the Consolidated Maintenance Program (CMPI funded through the Game end Fish Division budget. Tho funds ere not Included In the Section expenditures.