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.