. FISHERIES SECTION ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year 1996 July 1, 1995- June 30, 1996 Wildlife Resources Division Department of Natural Resources Social Circle, Georgia Table of Contents SUBJECT PAGE Overview of Fisheries Section Activities 1 Map of Fisheries Section region boundaries 2 Appendices: A. Facts about fishing in Georgia, fisheries related revenues earned 4 and Fisheries Section expenditures B. Private waters management 8 C. Public waters management 11 D. Trout production 16 E. Warmwater hatchery production 21 F. Public fishing area operation 26 G. Resource studies 28 H. Maintenance and construction 31 I. Fisheries Section program descriptions 34 Fisheries Sect.ion Activities Fishing is the most popular wildlife-related activity in Georgia, enjoyed by every age group. More than 1.15 million resident anglers use the State's diverse freshwater fishery resources that offer more than 4,000 miles of trout streams, 12,000 miles of warmwater streams wider than ten feet, and 500,000 acres of impoundments. Anglers spend more than $448 million yearly on fishing in Georgia. The ongoing programs of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Fisheries Section (Section) during fiscal year 1996 (FY1996) included the management of public waters, development and management of public fishing areas, technical guidance on private waters, development and maintenance of boating-access facilities, production and stocking of trout and warmwater fish, production of aquatic education materials and services, and survey projects and studies designed to benefit these resources. Detailed information on the Section's activities and program costs are listed in the tables in Appendices A-H. The Section's program is administered from the Wildlife Resources Division headquarters office in Social Circle and from the seven regional offices, located statewide (Figure 1). The Section's aquatic education efforts continued to grow in FY1996. The "Lake Ecosystem" poster, the first in the "Aquatic Habitats" poster series, was reprinted after developing new background and activities for inclusion on the reverse poster side. The "Freshwater Wetlands" poster was also updated and reprinted. These posters, along with the accompanying background information and lesson plans, help educators teach about aquatic resources. The Section initiated development of a Georgia trout stream map in association with the Center for Remote Sensing and Mapping Science in Athens, Georgia. The 22 "x 35", three-color map will be available in 1997 for distribution to the public. Kids Fishing Events (KFE's) continue to increase in popularity with 313 events held and 20,089 children attending in FY1996. Approximately 26% of the children were beginners and 79% caught at least one fish. Event sponsors were encouraged to promote the Section's KFE goals: to have fun; learn how to fish safely; follow rules; catch a fish; and touch a fish. The robust redhorse, an imperiled fish species, was discovered in the early 1990's in the Oconee River below Sinclair Dam during the initial phases of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) re-licensing process for the Georgia Power Sinclair Project. Since that time, Fisheries Section staff have conducted research and monitoring efforts regarding the habits, habitats, and reproductive success of this species. In August of 1995, Georgia Power Company submitted a license renewal application to FERC for the Sinclair Project. In the new license, priority was given to meeting the flow requirements for the early life stages of the robust redhorse. In conjunction with efforts to protect the only known reproducing population in the Southeast, fisheries staff have experimentally begun to work with other resource agencies to artificially produce this species at state and federal fish hatchery facilities. Successful spawning and rearing techniques were developed and have resulted in the production of 545 juvenile robust redhorse that were released into the Broad River in June and August of 1995. An additional 40,000 three to five inch fingerlings were inventoried from and re-stocked into hatchery ponds in December 1995. This group will be harvested again in the fall of 1996; surviving juveniles will be stocked into the Broad River. Recovery efforts directed toward this fish species in Georgia and the Carolinas is coordinated by the Robust Redhorse Conservation Committee (RRCC), a coalition of public agencies, private companies and concerned groups that formed in October 1995 to work toward the species protection and recovery. 1 Region I - Calhoun Region II Gainesville Region Ill Walton Grady Thomas Region V Albany Region VI Waycross Region II Richmond Hill Figure 1. Fisheries regions in Georgia and location of regional offices. 2 An unauthorized introduction of the flathead catfish into the Ocmulgee River in the late 1970's led to an expansion of this species throughout the Altamaha River system by the early 1990's. Shortly after flatheads became established in the lower Altamaha River, Section staff began concentrating efforts on assessing the size and extent of this population and the impact it has on native fish populations. Public concerns have focused on the impact this voracious predator has on native redbreast sunfish populations. Section flathead catfish activities in FY1996 included: 1) conducting mark/recapture experiments in July and August 1995 to assess population densities from two, ten-mile portions of river, 2) intensive removal of fish from a specified section of river to evaluate the effectiveness of electrofishing techniques (3,000 pounds of fish removed by electrofishing donated to the Second Harvest food bank), 3) promotion and sponsorship of a flathead catfish tournament to encourage angler interest in the species, and 4) verification of flatheads for the first time from the Satilla River in May 1996. The rapid proliferation of the flathead catfish in the lower Coastal Plain rivers has gained widespread attention and has prompted legislative support for a new fisheries position to work principally on flathead catfish biology and management. This new position will allow the Section to be more aggressive on the issues of flathead management in these rivers. The Section continued to provide public service in other areas. Sampling continued on Georgia's major reservoirs and streams to detect potential problems and monitor fish populations. Studies designed to identify management needs, assess fish populations, and evaluate ongoing programs were continued. Nearly 4.5 million fish produced at the Section's seven warmwater hatcheries were stocked into 1,992 ponds to establish fish populations in either newly constructed or renovated ponds. The Section had another highly successful season of producing and stocking striped bass and white bass x striped bass hybrid fingerlings in 1996. All production goals were exceeded. Over 1.7 million striped bass and over 4.2 million hybrid fingerlings were raised in Georgia hatcheries and stocked into reservoirs, statewide. In addition, 23,622 advanced phase II (6-8 inch) striped bass, reared at Richmond Hill and Bo Ginn (National) fish hatcheries, were stocked into the Savannah River as part of a continuing effort to re-establish a striped bass brood fish population in that river system. More than 810,000 catchable-sized trout were produced and stocked into Georgia waters from state fish hatcheries with more than 332,000 additional trout stocked from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hatcheries. 3 Appendix A: Tables showing important facts about fishing in Georgia, information on revenue earned, and expenditures for FY1996. 4 Table A-1. Important facts about freshwater fishing and fishermen in Georgia. Item Total resident Georgia anglers 16 years old and older. Total resident Georgia anglers 6 to 15 years old. Total annual fishing trips by Georgia fishermen (16 years old and older). Total days spent fishing each year (16 years old and older). Average days spent fishing each year (16 years old and older). Average one-way mileage traveled on each fishing trip (anglers16 years old and older). 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 891,800 a 259,700 a 13, 114,900 a 14,268,900 a 16 a 21 a $448,400,000 b $951,600,000 b 14,700 b $17,900,000 b a 1991 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 August 1993. This is the most accurate data currently available. b The 1991 Economic Impact of Sport Fishing in Georgia published by the Sport Fishing Institute. The calculations are based on data from the "1991 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 1995-1996.a License Sales License Year 1995-1996 (April 1, 1995 to March 31, 1996) Type of License Number Combination Hunting-Fishing 76,540 Resident Fishing 536,294 Resident Trout 114,296 One-Day Fishing 56,194 Non-resident Season Fishing 9,815 Non-resident 7-day Fishing 32,385 Non-resident Season Trout 5.968 Totals 831,492 Revenue 666, 148b 4,505,745 503,195 163,116 229,707 207,338 74.027 6,349,276 a In addition to license sales shown, the Wildlife Resources Division sold 65,634 resident Wildlife Management Area (WMA) stamps for $1,208,245 and 1,280 non~resident Wildlife Management Area stamps for $91,916. These WMA stamps are required to fish on any Public Fishing Area or hunt on any WMA. No effort is currently made to determine which portion of revenue is generated by which Wildlife Resources Division program. b This figure represents only half of the revenue generated by this license. The other half is considered generated by hunters. 6 a Table A-3. Fisheries Section expenditures (thousands of dollars) and mandays by region and program in FY1996. PROGRAM ---------------------------------COST---------------------------------- b TOTAL Headquarters II 111 IV V VI VII TOTAL MANDAYS Private Waters Management 30.8 51.7 9.6 54.9 40.6 40.5 68.2 41.1 337.4 1,700 Public Waters Management 281.8 316.4 539.3 455.8 345.9 389.0 516.5 243.9 3,088.6 12,221 Aquatic Plant Control 0.2 105.9 106.1 333 Trout Production/Stocking 65.4 95.8 555.6 716.8 3,147 Warmwater Hatcheries 114.1 28.6 29.1 221.3 25.0 377.9 157.4 297.1 1,250.5 5,663 Aquatic Education 57.6 24.8 50.3 49.2 42.6 31.9 25.8 19.3 301.5 1,558 Public Fishing Areas 78.4 67.7 72.7 357.2 283.5 859.5 3,900 Resource Studies 22.0 35.7 56.6 82.1 10.2 26.5 7.7 240.8 1,464 Facility Maintenance and New Construction 733.5 21.8 42.9 683.4 24.2 5.0 13.0 1,523.8 1,489 Total C 1,383.8 642.5 1,240.5 978.9 1,610.8 890.0 1,056.4 622.1 8,425.0 31,475 a These figures may differ somewhat from the final 6/96 Fiscal Accounting and Control System (FAGS) priritout since errors in the FAGS printout were corrected for this report. b Expenses of Headquarters Office, with the exception of Aquatic Education and Facility Maintenance and New Construction, were prorated as administrative costs to all programs. Mandays for the Headquarters Office were also prorated based on regional effort. C Total Dingell-Johnson funds expended to support the Fisheries Section program in FY1996 were $3,213,435. Appendix B: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Private Waters Management Program in FY1996. 8 Table B-1. Number of field investigations on private waters in each region in FY1996. Region Balance Aquatic Plant Control Fish Prestocking General Kill Check Management Region Totals 0/o of Total II 111 IV co V VI VII Statewide Totals 0/o of Grand Total 48 6 231 135 134 36 31 621 570/o 43 2 3 3 7 1 60 26 14 26 9 5 3 2 34 53 9 13 18 4 182 117 36 170/o 110/o 3% 1 7 57 9 1 52 2 129 12% 97 24 388 184 140 184 68 1,085 1000/o 9% 2% 36% 17% 13% 170/o 6% 1000/o Table B-2. Total number and acres of private ponds stocked with fingerling largemouth bass, bream and channel catfish in FY1996. These fish are provided to pond owners to establish fishable populations in newly constructed or renovated ponds. Region Bass-bream ponds stocked Percent stocked at fertilized rate Number Acres Number Acres Number and species stocked Bluegill Redear Largemouth Channel sunfish bass catfish Catfish only ponds stocked Number Acres 92 201 0 0 84,755 4,935 9,985 14,485 25 30 II 37 174 0 0 69,400 17,350 8,675 16,820 25 25 Ill 257 1,136 3 3 403,550 93,465 50,648 107,858 166 281 ..... IV 0 V 187 1,271 228 1,797 14 18 492,750 117,550 75,400 63,310 6 2 610,600 141,650 75,950 109,350 41 173 133 542 VI 449 2,944 2 2 1,149,200 281,240 144,335 199,485 262 540 VII 57 276 0 0 89,500 21,000 6,415 20,080 29 207 Statewide totals 1,307 7,798 4 5 2,899,755 677,190 371,408 531,388 681 1,797 Appendix C: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Public Waters Management Program in FY1996. 11 Table C-1. Aquatic plant management activities in FY1996. Body of Water County Target Pest Control Method Acres Treated No. of Cost($) of Treatments Treatment Management Objectives; Treatment Effectiveness Treatments in Reservoirs and Lakes Blackshear Crisp/Worth Giant Cutgrass Rodeo, 0.8 gal/acre, 5.3 Worth/Dooley/ Nalcotrol II, 0.2 gal/acre, Sumter Driftgon, 0.2 gal/acre 1 860 Stop invasion, improve access; good success with control Blackshear Sarne as above Srnartweed, Alligatorweed, Primrose, Giant Cuti:irass Rodeo, 0.8 gal/acre Windbrake,0.2 gal/acre 26.6 2 3,520 Improve access; good success with control Blackshear Sarne as above Primrose, Aquathol, 300 lbs/acre 5 Maidencane, .... Waterrnilfoil, Allii:iatorweed Blackshear Sarne as above Alligatorweed Flea beetle introductions 50 lakewide 1 2,888 Open boat trails; good success with control 1 469 Maintain access:fair success Blackshear Sarne as above Lynqbya Aquatic plant 20 introductions of various types primarily near areas of historic Lyngbya infestations 2 15,289 Overall goal is to replace Lyngbya with more desirable species. Survival of those plants introduced in 1995 was low. Results from the plantings in 1996 indicate only fair success. Worth Doughtery Waterrnilfoil,Giant Sonar (SRP), 25 lbs/acre 6.4 Cutgrass, Lillies, Bladderwort 1 2,535 Improve access; good success with control Worth Dougherty Giant Cutgrass Rodeo, 0.8 gal/acre, Nalcotrol II, 0.2 gal/acre, Driftgon, 0.2 gal/acre 49.9 3 5,999 Stop invasion, improve access; good success with control Jackson Butts/Newton Giant Cutgrass, Rodeo, 0.8 gal/acre, 2.6 Alligatorweed Nalcotrol II, 0.2 gal/acre, Driftaon 0.2 aal/acre 1 1,024 Stop invasion, improve access; good success with control Table C-1. Aquatic plant management activities in FY1996 (cont'd). Body of Water County Target Pest Control Method Acres Treated No. of Cost($) of Treatments Treatment Management Objectives; Treatment Effectiveness Juliette Monroe Eurasian Watermilfoil Aquakleen (2,4-D), 200 lbs/acre 16.5 2 7,995 Stop spread within lake and downstream; good control with minimal impact to non-targeted plants George L. Smith State Park Emanuel Cabomba Aquathol K, 3.6 gals/acre 55 1 9,083 Improve access, open boat trails;good success with control Hunt Pond Hbuston Watermeal Sonar (AS), 1 qt/acre 2 .... Oliver w Muscogee Spiny naiad Aquathol K, 5.6 gals/acre 5.4 1 1,017 Stop invasion, improve access; good success with control 1 1,540 Improve access; good success with control Oliver Muscogee Spiny naiad Komeen, 2.4 gals/acre 16.5 1 660 Improve access; good success with control Oliver Muscogee Lyngbya Komeen, 10 gals/acre 2 1 591 Improve access; good success with control Oliver Muscogee Lyngbya Komeen, 5 gals/acre 2 1 408 Improve access; good success with control General Management Activities All impacted All impacted All impacted Operational Planning NA NA 9,715 Administrative planning associated with all herbicide treatments, other management activities, and reporting. To be determined To be determined To be determined Chemical Purchases NA NA 42,280 Utilized available CORPS funding to purchase chemicals for future use. Grand Total 265.2 20 105,873 Table C-2. Fish kills investigated by the Fisheries Section in FY1996. Type of Fish Kill Number of Incidents Fish Killed Number Value Fines collected by DNR8 Municipal Pollutionb 4 1,110 $925 $13,900 Industrial Pollution 5 7,651 $1,230 $23,500 Agricultural Pesticide 1 5,950 $2,071 $2,071 Disease/Natural 13 8,294 NAC Undetermined 7 14,777 $3,280 .... Total +=- 30 37,782 $7,506 $39,471 a Fines collected as of June 30, 1996 by the Environmental Protection Division for the FY1996 fish kills. b Includes fish kills caused by sewage discharges from county or city waste treatment facilities: c Estimates of the number of fish killed by disease or natural causes are not normally calculated using accepted fish kill counting guidelines. Estimates for the value of the fish are, therefore, rarely calculated. Table C-3. Environmental reviews and assessments commented on by the Fisheries Section in FY1996. Agency Numbera Broad River Watershed Association (Grant proposal) Chattahoochie River National Recreation Area - Bowman's Island land exchange Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division Permits and Variances Erosion and sedimentation - 25 ft. Variances Erosion and Sedimentation - Trout Stream Variances (100 ft.) Water Withdrawal Permits Water Quality Certifications Supplemental Environmental Project Plans Draft Biological Monitoring Plan U.S. Government Agency Permits, Projects and Plans Army Corps of Engineers Permits Army Corps of Engineers Plans and Projects Federal Energy Regulatory Commission License Issues Fish and Wildlife Service Plans Forest Service Plans South Georgia Natural Gas Company, Phase II Expansion Program South Georgia Rivers Conservation Project The Nature Conservancy - Conasauga River Questionnaire Total 1 1 1 136 35 1 1 2 1 3 5 7 4 2 1 1 1 203 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. 15 Appendix D: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Trout Production Program in FY1996. 16 a Table D-1. Trout production (lbs), conversion ratios, and costs at state hatcheries in FY1996. Hatchery Buford Net Weight Gain Conversion ratio Sgecies BROOK RAINBOW BROWN 806 3.38 86,547 1.80 69,629 1.39 Total 156,982 1.63 Burton Net Weight Gain Conversion ratio 90,045 1.71 25,460 1.32 115,505 1.62 ..... Summerville Net Weight Gain "' Conversion ratio 40,186 1.34 40,186 1.34 Total Net Weight Gain Conversion ratio 806 216,778 95,089 3.38 1.66 1.37 Cost per pound to stock trout from state hatcheries: Total production and distribution costs per pound: Conversion ratios used in totals are weighted means. b Does not include administrative costs of the Headquarters staff. 312,673 1.58 b Cost Total Per lb $261,258 $1.66 $210,413 $1.82 $63,232 $1.57 $534,903 $1.71 $0.37 $2.08 Table D-2. Number and weight (lbs) of each species of trout stocked into Georgia's public waters from state and federal hatcheries during FY1996. Facility BROOK Number Weight RAINBOW Number Weight BROWN Number Weight TOTAL Number Weight STATE HATCHERIES Buford catch ables fingerlings 540 1,236 203,154 74,199 115,412 39,678 319,106 115,113 50,000 2,084 50,000 2,084 Burton catchables fingerlings 322,780 105,898 55,900 26,746 16,925 1,330 378,680 26,746 122,823 1,330 Summerville catchables .... 00 FEDERAL HATCHERIES Chattahoochee catchables 103,078 37,022 9,205 3,038 112,283 40,060 322,825 116,537 322,825 116,537 Walhalla catchables 10,000 3,001 10,000 3,001 Others fingerlings 25,000 385 25,000 385 TOTAL catchables fingerlings 540 1,236 961,837 336,657 180,517 59,641. 1,142,894 397,534 25,000 385 76,746 3,414. 101,746 3,799 Table D-3. Number and weight (lbs) of catchable trout by species and habitat type stocked from all hatcheries in FY1996. Facility BROOK RAINBOW BROWN TOTAL Number Weight Number Weight Number Weight Number Weight STREAMS BY COUNTY Bartow 11,050 4,158 1,131 392 12,181 4,550 Catoosa 1,900 695 200 69 2,100 764 Chattooga 4,227 1,571 198 59 4,425 1,630 Cherokee 1,650 584 1,650 584 Dade 150 61 150 61 Dawson 20 48 14,783 6,733. 7,900 2,690 22,703 9,471 Fannin 20 48 77,915 30,795 25 30 77,960 30,873 Floyd 23,591 8,249 3,422 1,079 27,013 9,328 Gilmer 47,300 15,425 47,300 15,425 Gordon 2,150 735 2,150 735 Habersham 27,378 9,189 7,350 2,352 34,728 11,541 Haralson 8,979 3,297 596 178 9,575 3,475 Lumpkin 130 337 65,907 22,395 25,175 8,205 91,212 30,937 Murray 21,800 7,881 2,050 707 23,850 8,588 Paulding 5,056 1,938 308 107 5,364 2,045 Pickens 8,050 2,770 865 338 8,915 3,108 Polk 1,800 691 100 30 1,900 721 Rabun 30 72 102,657 33,520 21,025 6,494 123,712 40,086 Stephens 33,610 11,369 11,250 3,374 44,860 14,743 Towns 60 142 66,886 22,323 8,255 2,925 75,201 25,390 Union 40 95 82,780 32,004 4,415 1,550 87,235 33,649 Walker 13,300 4,645 1,200 417 14,500 5,062 --W-h-i-te------- ------4-0 ----9-5- .]_0_3..!~~Q --3-4-,6-6-2- ---7-,-3-6-5 ---2-,3-3-3- --1-1-0-,-84-5- 37,090 -T--o-ta-l------- ----3-4-0 ----8-3-7 -7-2-6-,3-5-9- -2-5-5-,6-9-0- -1-0-2-,8-3-0- --3-3-,3-2-9- --8-2-9-,5-2-9- _2~J..!~~~ TAILWATERS Blue Ridge 24,450 8,298 60 71 24,510 8,369 Hartwell 12,000 3,607 12,000 3,607 --L-a-n-ie-r------ -----2-0-0 ---3-9-9- .]_3_3..!Q~~ --4-6-,5-9-2- 74,527 --2-5-,5-5-0- 207,800' --7-2-,5-4-1- -T--o-ta-l------- ----2-0-0- ---3-9-9- ]~J..!~g~ --5-8-,4-9-7- --7-4-,5-8-7- --2-5-,6-2-1- --2-4-4-,3-1-0- --8-4-,5-1-7- SMALL LAKES Black Rock 2,205 698 1,300 290 3,505 988 Conasauga 1,525 465 1,525 465 Dockery 9,500 3,545 9,500 3,545 Nancytown 14,200 4,281 1,800 401 16,000 4,682 Rock Creek 13,000 4,501 13,000 4,501 Vogel 5,325 1,689 5,325 1,689 --W-i-n-fi-e-ld--S-c-o-tt ------- ------ --2-0-,2-0-0- ---7-,2-9-1- ------- ------- ---2-0-,2-0-0- ---7-,2-9-1- -T--o-ta-l------- ------- ------ -~.?..!~~~ --2-2-,4-7-0- ---3-,1-0-0- -----69-1- ---6-9-,0-5-5- __?_3..!l~l GRAND TOTAL 540 1,236 961,837 336,657 180,517 59,641 1,142,894 397,534 19 Table D-4. Number and weight (lbs) of fingerling trout by species and habitat type stocked from all hatcheries in FY1996. Facility BROOK RAINBOW BROWN TOTAL Number Weight Number Weight Number Weight Number Weight STREAMS BY COUNTY Rabun 25,000 1,250 25,000 1,250 Stephens 746 11 746 11 --W-h-i-te------- ------- ------ -------- ------- ----1-,-0-00- ------6-9 - 1,000 ------69- -T--o-ta-l------- ------- ------ ---2-6-,-7-4-6 1,330 ---2-6-,-7-4-6 ---1-,-3-3-0 TAILWATERS Blue Ridge 25,000 385 25,000 385 Lanier ------- ------ -------- ---5-0-,-0-0-0 2,084 ---5-0-,0-0-0- ---2-,-0-8-4 -T--o-ta-l------- ------- ------ ___?J.!QQQ ----3-8-5- ---5-0-,-0-0-0 ---2-,-0-8-4 ---7-5-,-0-0-0 2,469 GRAND TOTAL 25,000 385 76,746 3,414 101,746 3,799 20 Appendix E: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Warmwater Hatchery Production Program in FY1996. 21 Table E-1. Total numbers and cost per fish of warmwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY1996. Number a Cost Per Species Acres Number Per Acre Fish($) Bluegill Fingerling 26.52 5,025,558 189,501 0.042 Redear sunfish Fingerling 7.29 1,061,309 145,584 0.065 Largemouth bass Fingerling 10.94 697,472 63,754 0.151 Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable 8.10 8.39 25.25 4.64 2,297,559 890,939 336,351 25,516 283,649 106,191 13,321 5,499 0.029 0.101 0.597 1.732 Striped bass Fry Fingerling Intermediate b 11.31 1.20 3,451,000 1,726,167 3,540 b 152,623 2,950 0.013 0.035 4.150 Hybrid striped-white bass Fry Fingerling b 3.00 3,100,000 142,228 b 47,409 0.013 0.156 Hybrid white-striped bass Fry Fingerling b 20.66 13,340,000 4,130,576 b 199,931 0.013 0.038 Shoal bass Fingerling 3.30 108,752 32,955 0.457 Totals (all sizes) C 130.60 36,336,967 d 125,926 d 0.039 a Cost of each production phase includes cost of previous phase. b Not Applicable, these fry were hatched in jars and 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. 22 Table E-2. Number of each warmwater fish species produced at state hatcheries in FY1996. Species Summerville Walton McDuffie Cordele Steve Cocke Bowens Richmond Mill Hill Total Bluegill Fingerling Redear sunfish Fingerling Largemouth bass Fingerling Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable w N Striped bass Fry Fingerling Intermediate Hybrid striped-white bass Fry Fingerling Hybrid white-striped bass Fry Fingerling Shoal bass Fingerling 159,449 518,162 698,797 916,443 1,582,586 1,150,121 5,025,558 107,200 240,400 172,630 278,670 262,409 1,061,309 119,480 116,814 75,500 231,935 153,743 697,472 104,728 4,988 670,000 252,400 25,728 15,162 1,627,559 50,426 4,104 170,433 197,579 6,250 228,578 134,800 57,630 2,297,559 890,939 336,351 25,516 921,982 645,314 3,451,000 158,871 3,540 3,451,000 1,726,167 3,540 3,100,000 142,228 3,100,000 142,228 685,474 939,446 13,340,000 13,340,000 857,251 1,648,405 4,130,576 61,087 47,665 108,752 Totals (all sizes) 159,449 1,540,032 2,941,283 2,682,622 2,231,814 3,179,020 23,602,747 36,336,967 Table E-3. Cost per fish (dollars) warmwater fish species produced at state hatcheries in FY1996. Species Summerville Walton McDuffie Cordele Steve Cocke Bowens Mill Richmond Hill Bluegill Fingerling 0.091 0.016 0.017 0.069 0.032 0.052 Redear sunfish Fingerling a 0.084 0.036 0.094 0.055 0.055 Largemouth bass Fingerling 0.114 0.130 0.074 0.227 0.117 Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Intermediate N Harvestable .J:l, Striped bass Fry Fingerling Intermediate 0.086 1.738 0.014 0.071 0.541 1.100 0.036 2.106 5.698 0.118 0.226 0.660 0.036 0.014 0.118 0.118 0.476 0.013 0.116 4.150 Hybrid striped-white bass Fry Fingerling 0.013 0.156 Hybrid white-striped bass Fry Fingerling 0.016 0.026 0.076 0.013 0.034 Shoal bass Fingerling 0.393 0.538 a A total of $5,072 was expended to produce redear sunfish, but production was not realized due to contamination of the fish population with green sunfish. Table E-4. Number of warmwater fish distributed from state hatcheries in FY1996. Totals include fish provided by federal hatcheries, surplus brood stock and fish available as by-products of other programs. Species Private Waters Reservoirs Rivers & Streams Publicly Owned Small Lakes Public Fishing Areas Kid's Fishing Events Other Fisheries Agencies a Total Bluegill fingerling 2,899,755 414,985 500,666 20,000 3,835,406 Redear sunfish fingerling 677,190 2,225 130,420 84,500 5,000 899,335 Largemouth bass fingerling 371,408 58,180 30,288 28,660 7,960 6,000 502,496 Channel catfish fingerling intermediate "'0, harvestable Striped bass fingerling intermediate 531,388 16,404 1,583,739 3,027 16,885 2,248 9,150 5,799 47,277 296,624 9,044 19,278 563,222 362,553 28,322 596,704 2,180,443 20,595 23,622 White-striped bass hybrid fingerling 4,078,350 16,770 4,095,120 Shoal bass fingerling 108,102 108,102 Robust redhorse intermediate 100 Total 4,479,741 5,738,898 141,517 609,968 658,597 352,701 a Totals do not include fry produced and distributed to other state hatcheries for later production phases. 100 617,299 12,598,721 Appendix F: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Public Fishing Area Program in FY1996. 26 Table F-1. Public Fishing Areas cost data for FY1996. Region Area Ownership Number of Lakes Acreage Open to Fishing Total Operating Cost($) Arrowhead State 2 25.3 67,721 111 McDuffie State 13 118.0 72,693 IV Baldwin Forest State 5 31.0 42,166 IV Rum Creek GA Power 1 3,600.0 1,617 l'v -.J IV Marben State 22 285.0 107,230 IV Big Lazer State 1 195.0 20,186 VI Paradise State 71 414.0 143,258 VI Evans County State 3 114.0 64,322 VI Dodge County State 1 104.0 75,281 VI Treutlen County Private 1 189.0 1,673 Total 5,075.3 596,147 Appendix G: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Resource Studies in FY1996. 28 Table G-1. Cost for resource studies in each region during FY1996. Region Northwest (I) Northeast (II) East Central (Ill) West Central (IV) Southwest (V) Coastal (VII) Headquarters Total Study Title Development of a Stream Classification System for Evaluating Trout Stocking in Georgia Evaluation of Walleye Introductions into Lakes Burton and Seed Standardized Sampling of Wild Trout Streams Evaluation of Non-Reporting in a Reward Tagging Study Critical Temperature/Duration of Exposure Model for Sub-Adult and Adult Brown and Rainbow Trout Creel Census of Richard B. Russell Tailwaters Effects of Watershed Use on Stream Fish Communities Effects of Hydrilla on Water Quality in Lake Seminole Evaluation of Shoal Bass Stocking Comparison of Estimates Generated by Two Creel Clerks on Lake Walter F. George Reproduction of Striped Bass in the Ogeechee River Administrative Cost($) 35,692 32,000 24,617 10,000 . 7,200 64,926 10,234 14,500 8,000 3,994 7,700 21,974 240,837 29 Table G-2. Final reports and publications completed by the Fisheries Section in FY1996. Author Grizzle, J. M., Mauldin II, A. C. Keefer, L. C. Meronek, T. G. Publication Effect of Calcium on Acute Toxicity of Sodium Chloride to Larval and Newly Transformed Juveni~e Striped Bass. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health _7(4):298-303. Changes in Shad-Largemouth Bass Dynamics and Sport Fishery Following a Disease Caused Fish Kill. Published in the FortyNinth Annual Proceedings of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Striped Bass Reproductive Success in the Ogeechee River. Final report on Sport Fish Restoration Project. 30 Appendix H: Table showing the Fisheries Section maintenance and construction projects in FY1996. 31 Table H-1. Facility maintenance and construction projects statewide during FY 1996. Project Public Fishing Area / Hatchery Repair Boat Ramp Repair & Maintenance Bacon County Public Fishing Lake Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center Development (Marben PFA) Project Description TotalCost Repairs were made to the upper lake dam on Evans County Public Fishing Area. A water control structure was installed and the dam rebuilt on pond #4 at Baldwin Forest PFA. Inspections were co_mpleted on all ramps statewide during the year and most were inspected on a number of occasions. Personnel assisted the Coastal Resources Division with a major repair of the boat ramp on the Champney River in McIntosh County. Major repairs were made on the boat ramp on the Oconee River at Dyar Pasture. The existing service pier at the boat ramp at Idle Hour Park on Bartletts Ferry Lake was resurfaced, a second service pier constructed, and a paved walkway was added at this heavily used site. The entrance road was paved and parking area resurfaced with aggregate at the boat ramp on the Ocmulgee River at SR83. Changes in the river hydrology as a result of the 1994 flood continued to cause damage to the ramp at SR49 on the Flint River. Erosion around the ramp was filled and covered with riprap. Riprap was also used to armor a shoreline where erosion threatened to damage the parking area at the same site. 57,532 367,929 The Department of Natural Resources entered into an agreement with Bacon County to provide mapping and environmental services at a proposed public fishing area site in Bacon County. The actual work will be completed in later fiscal years. 28,000 Poured concrete boat ramps were constructed at lakes Bennett and Margery. A pre-existing concrete log ramp was removed before construction could begin at Lake Margery. A boat ramp was also constructed at Dairy Lake and a service ramp at Clubhouse Lake. Piers were installed adjacent to the boat ramps at Fox, Bennett, Dairy and Margery lakes. Parking areas were improved (enlarged or added) at Margery, Bennett, Dairy, Fox, Pigeonhouse, Lower Raleigh, and Crossroads lakes. Parking areas were also fenced at Margery, Dairy, Bennett, and Shepherd Lakes. The Fox Lake access road was widened and drainage improved. Access roads throughout the area were maintained and/or improved as necessary with the addition of aggregate rock, clearing and construction of ditches, placement of culverts, and grading. Wheelchair access facilities installed or constructed on Marben Public Fishing Area during FY1996 included a bio-composting type restroom, service pier (ADA level 1), parking pad and walkways at Fox Lake, fishing pier at Clubhouse Lake, and tackle shelves and rod holders at wheelchair fishing stations on Shepard Lake. Floating fishing piers were constructed and installed at Pigeonhouse, Dove, and Dairy lakes. A pavilion was constructed over a concrete pad at Dove Lake. Angler access trails were built and/or improved at Crossroads, Lower Raleigh, Upper Raleigh, Little Raleigh, Dairy, Pigeonhouse, Whitetail, Boar, and Allen lakes. Three bridges were constructed along these trails. Picnic tables were placed at Whitetail, Dove, Fox, Pigeonhouse, Bennett, and Allen lakes. Shade trees were planted around picnic and parking areas and at angler access points. A gravel road was built from Marben Farms Road to Pigeonhouse Lake. Dam emergency spillways were cleared and improved at Greenhouse, Pigeonhouse, and Allen Lakes and a PVC siphon system was installed at Piaeonhouse Lake. 186,002 Table H-1, (cont'd). Facility maintenance and construction projects statewide during FY 1996. Boat Ramp Construction (,.) (,.) Five boating access sites were constructed at the following locations: Brier Creek at State Route 73 in Screven County; Savannah River at Poor Robin Landing in Screven County; Canoochee River at State Route 169 in Evans County; South Newport River at State Route 25 in McIntosh County; and Alapaha River off State Route 94 in Echols County. The Brier Creek ramp (40' x 12') was built on state DOT right-of-way. The Poor Robin ramp (120' x 21 ') was constructed on property leased from Screven County and includes a gravel parking area constructed to accommodate 20 vehicles. The Canoochee River ramp (40' x 20') was constructed on the state DOT right-of-way and includes a gravel parking area to accommodate 20 vehicles. The South Newport River ramp (60' x 20') was constructed on the state DOT right-of-way and included a paved entrance road and parking lot to accommodate 20 vehicles. The Alapaha River ramp (60' x 20') was constructed on the state DOT right-of-way and includes a gravel parking area to accommodate 20 vehicles. Site preparation was completed for a new boat ramp on Ebenezer Creek off State Route 275 in Effingham County on land leased to the Department of Natural Resources by the county. A boating access facility was constructed on the 84 acre lake at Evans County Public Fishing Area . Features include a paved ramp (60' x 24'1, two adjacent service piers, paved handicapped parking area and sidewalk, and gravel parking area. Two miles of gravel road were constructed on the Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area in Screven County to provide access to a scheduled construction site on the adjacent Savannah River. A service pier was installed at a recently constructed boat ramp on the Chattahoochee River in Columbus, Georgia. Plans were finalized and permits obtained for the construction of new boat ramps on the Chattahoochee River at Campbellton Road in Fulton County, the Chattahoochee River off State Route 1 in Heard County, Lake Seminole off State Route 253 in Seminole County, Turner's Creek off State Route 257 in Chatham County, Ocmulgee River off State Route 182 in Ben Hill County, and Little River off State Route 76 in Cook County. 257,899 Summerville Holding House A contract was let for the construction of a new 42' x 61 ' concrete block fish holding house at the Summerville Fish Hatchery. Construction on this project will be completed in FY 1997. 265,037 Summerville Storage Building A contract was let for the construction of a 50'x60' prefabricated metal storage building at the Summerville Fish Hatchery. Construction will be completed in FY 1997. 61,100 Richmond Hill Hatchery Funds were obligated for construction of a warehouse electric hoist structure. Actual work will be completed in FYl 997. 6,000 Headquarters Administrative Costs ITotal Exeenditures This is the calculated prorated share of non-capital outlay expenses applied to management of capital outlay projects by the Headquarters staff. I 294,301 I I 1,523,000 a Includes funding provided through the Consolidated Maintenance Program of the Wildlife Resources Division's budget. Monies expended from this fund are not included in the Fisheries Section expenditures. Appendix I: Narrative descriptions of Fisheries Section programs. 34 WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISION FISHERIES MANAGEMENT SECTION Program Description Fishing is the most popular wildlife related activity in Georgia, enjoyed by over 1. 15 million anglers representing every age group. The State's diverse freshwater fishery resources include over 4,000 miles of trout streams, 12,000 miles of warmwater streams and half a million acres of impoundments. Anglers spend almost $500 million yearly on fishing in Georgia which generates an estimated 14,700 jobs and has a total economic impact of over $900 rriillion. 1 It is the responsibility of the Fisheries Section to manage and protect the freshwater aquatic habitats that support this valuable recreational activity and to improve whenever possible the quality of fishing. The Section's activities are funded primarily through license fees which are collected into and then appropriated from the general fund and from federal funds derived by a user tax on fishing tackle and motorboat fuels. The following information provides a brief description of the major programs used to meet the Section's responsibilities. 1. Program: Fisheries Management in Public Waters Description: This program includes a number of activities designed to protect fish and their aquatic habitat and/or improve the quality of fishing. These activities include the development of fishing laws and regulations, reservoir fish attractor construction and maintenance, pollution and fish kill investigations, environmental reviews and assessments, aquatic education and technical assistance to other environmental agencies and to cities, counties and military bases. Tasks such as these account for about 39% of the Section's annual expenditures. Some examples of these activities are: Fish Kill Investigations. Technical Assistance and Environmental Reviews Fisheries personnel investigate, on the average, 45 fish kills per year during which over 200,000 fish die. These fish kills, if caused by pollution, are reported to the Environmental Protection Division for enforcement action. Fisheries biologists assist the Environmental Protection Division in enforcing provisions of Georgia's Erosion and Sedimentation Control law by evaluating the ecological impacts of projects proposed in stream buffers. Fisheries management assistance is provided each year to agencies such as the DNR Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division, to the Jekyll Island and Stone Mountain authorities, and to cities, counties and to military bases. In addition, the Section staff reviews permits and applications for water supply lakes, flood control projects, drinking water intakes, power plants, and numerous other developmental activities, all of which often impact the state's fisheries resources. The Section recommends actions which will help 1The 1991 Economic Impact of Sport Fishing in Georgia published by the Sport Fishing Institute. The calculations are based on data from the 1991 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 August 1993. 35 protect or enhance fish populations and sport fishing activities when these development activities occur. Aquatic Education The Aquatic Education Program consists of three key components: Youth Education; Adult Education; and Kids Fishing. Youth Education involves training educators to use Aquatic Project WILD (APW), an award winning environmental and conservation program of instructional workshops and supplementary curriculum materials for kindergarten through twelfth grade teachers. About 1,000 educators are trained annually to use APW in their classrooms. Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) staff also use APW materials when giving presentations to youth in schools and at WRD facilities. Educational materials, including posters and lesson planning material, are produced to assist educators teaching youth about aquatic resources. Adult Education consists primarily of producing materials such as the annual Freshwater and Saltwater Sport Fishing Regulations, news releases, public service announcements, brochures and programs. Fish identification aids, fish consumption advisories, how to handle and release fish properly, and suggested places to go fishing are examples of educational material that are included in the fishing regulations booklet. Brochures are produced and updated regularly that offer the public information on where to go fishing, how to get started, and what kind of fishing to expect on major reservoirs and rivers. Fisheries personnel also make presentations to various organizations and staff booths at large events such as the Georgia National Fair and the Atlanta and Perry Fisheramas. Aquatic Education opportunities for all ages are available to visitors at Fisheries Section facilities, where signs and trails provide an opportunity to learn more about what the Section does and why, and about the aquatic resources in the area Kids Fishing Events (KFE's) are popular community activities that introduce youth under age 16 and their families to the joys of fishing and promote a better understanding of the natural environment. KFE's provide an opportunity for youth to fish, often for the first time, where knowledgeable volunteers are available to assist and where the probability of catching a fish is high. WRD co-sponsors most events by providing channel catfish and trout to enhance fish populations, educational materials for the participants, and technical assistance. KFE's are also conducted by fisheries staff at fish hatcheries and PFA's. Aquatic Plant Control The cost of this activity has been shared with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the past several years. Moderate amounts of aquatic plants provide environmental stability in lakes and streams and provide nursery areas for young fish and other organisms. However, particularly noxious plants, often exotic to Georgia, must be controlled through a practical management program. Approved aquatic herbicides, winter lake "drawdowns" and the stocking of sterile grass carp are the most frequent types of control used and recommended by the Section. An average of six 36 water bodies, typically large reservoirs in the southern half of the state, are treated with chemicals each year. Recently, the Section has been focusing more effort on the introduction of beneficial native plants (which are easy to control and provide food for wildlife) to many of our reservoirs. It is hoped that these actions will result in healthy aquatic communities, in which water-based recreation such as swimming, boating and angling can be accommodated. Aquaculture Though aquaculture can offer tremendous benefits to sport fish populations, sport fishermen, and the consumer, the operations of the aquaculture industry can have serious negative impacts on both native fish species and established sport fish populations if not carefully regulated. Uncontrolled introductions and stocking of exotic fish, or of fish containing exotic disease organisms are examples of potential problems that may be avoided by effective laws and regulations. In December 1991, this program was initiated to provide planning and coordination of the Department's involvement in the regulation and development of Georgia's aquaculture industry, and to minimize any negative effects on native fisheries resources. The Section responds to requests from persons desiring information on laws regulating fish culture and the sale and transportation of fish. Persons licensed to sell sterile triploid grass carp are periodically inspected to determine compliance with permit conditions. 2. Program: Hatchery Production and Stocking Description: One method of enhancing the opportunities for recreational fishing statewide is through the stocking of fish. New lakes and ponds can be stocked with fish to establish a sport fish population. Depleted or threatened native populations may be replenished by stocking. New species can be introduced into lakes to create new fishing opportunities. The high demand for limited fish resources can be met by stocking; for example, the demand for trout fishing opportunities cannot be met by Georgia's native trout populations. To buffer pressure on the trout resource and maintain the quality of native trout fishing, trout are reared to a catchable size (about 9 inches) at state hatcheries. These fish are then stocked in selected streams or impoundments to provide a "put and take" trout fishery to help meet the demand for trout fishing opportunities. Hatchery production and stocking account for approximately 26% of the Section's annual expenditures. There are two types of hatchery production in the state: warmwater fish and trout production. Warmwater Fish Production and Stocking The Section produces warmwater fish at seven hatcheries statewide. About 40,000,000 fry, fingerlings and adult fish are raised each year in over 140 acres of hatchery ponds. One example is the production of striped bass for stocking in rivers to re-establish and/or maintain native stocks. Striped bass and striped bass hybrids are also raised for stocking in reservoirs to 37 provide a unique, new fishery and to control forage fish populations. Bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass and channel catfish are produced for stocking ponds, small lakes and new public fishing lakes to establish desirable fish populations. Channel catfish are also produced for Kids Fishing Events. Trout Production and Stocking Georgia is the southernmost state in the eastern United States containing significant trout habitat. Over 4,000 miles of trout streams exist in the northern third of the state, primarily in or near the Chattahoochee National Forest. Trout fishing is a very popular activity; however, these streams cannot support the current fishing pressure unless a stocking program is maintained. Three state fish hatcheries and two federal hatcheries work together to produce the trout needed. Through their efforts, approximately 1.1 million trout are stocked into north Georgia. 3. Program: Management of Public Fishing Areas (PFAs) Description: Public Fishing Areas help meet the demand for boat and bank fishing opportunities by providing lakes, managed primarily for fishing, in areas of the state where these opportunities are limited. They also provide unique opportunities for public education about the aquatic environment, Kids Fishing Events, etc. These facilities provide an excellent learning environment where children not only can experience fishing as a recreation, but can also be exposed to and learn to value the natural environment. We are presently working to make these facilities an integral part of our efforts to provide more educational opportunities on the aquatic environment both for children and adults. Expenditures on this program utilize about 8% of the Section's annual budget. 4. Program: Fisheries Resource Studies Description: To determine what actions are needed to protect freshwater aquatic habitats and to enhance recreational fishing activities, it is critical that the Section understand and evaluate what is occurring in these habitats. Detection of such things as pollution impacts, overharvest of fish species, current sport fish population levels, reservoir water level fluctuation impacts on fish, etc. is needed. For example, annual sampling of the sport fish populations in all major reservoirs and five rivers, which began in 1987, has made it possible for biologists to look for trends and to give anglers a forecast of future fishing opportunities in their favorite water bodies. Many important studies, such as the effect of water levels on walleye populations in Lake Burton, and the documentation of the impacts of the spread of flathead catfish populations in Georgia, have been conducted. This program accounts for about 8% of the Section's annual expenditures. 5. Program: Facility Construction and Maintenance Description: This program involves the construction of new Public Fishing Areas, boat access areas on rivers and lakes, the construction or renovation of buildings on existing 38 facilities {such as hatcheries and public fishing areas), and the maintenance of public boat ramps. The Section spends about $200,000 per year on boat ramp construction. Other expenditures vary depending on need and availability of funds. This program accounts for about 15% of the Section's annual expenditures, although this varies significantly from year to year. 6. Program: Technical Assistance to Private Pond Owners Description: Surveys in the state have indicated that in the past, up to 40% of fishing pressure in Georgia has been exerted on small lakes and ponds. Therefore, any_ substantial loss of fishing on small ponds could increase the pressure on public waters which are already heavily used. The Section has for many years provided field diagnostic services and recommendations to private ponds owners to enable them to maintain healthy sport fish populations and good fishing. Problems related to dead or dying fish, fish population balance, excessive aquatic vegetation, muddy water, etc. often can be solved through communication with our biologists and technicians. In addition to numerous phone and office contacts for information, over 1,300 field investigations of private pond problems are made each year. It is important for pond owners to continue to have a source of information on which they can depend for professional advice. Operation of this program currently requires about 4 % of the Section's budget. 39