Fisheries Section annual report, fiscal year 1998

FISHERIES SECTION ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year 1998
July 1, 1997- June 30, 1998
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,

5

and Fisheries Section expenditures

B. Private waters management

9

C. Public waters management

12

D. Trout production

16

E. Warmwater hatchery production

21

F. Public fishing area operation

26

G. Resource studies

28

H. Maintenance and construction

31

Fisheries Section Activities
Fishing is the most popular wildlife-related activity in Georgia, enjoyed by every age group. Around 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 $1.12 billion yearly on fishing in Georgia with an economic impact of just under $2.3 billion. The ongoing programs of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD), Fisheries Section (Section) during fiscal year 1998 (FY1998) 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 itemized in the tables of Appendices A-H. The Section's statewide program is administered from the WRD headquarters near Social Circle and from seven regional offices located statewide (Figure 1).
Work was completed in the previous fiscal year on a new trout egg hatching facility at the Summerville Trout Hatchery which has enabled the Section to hatch and raise a portion of its fingerling needs. An estimated 900,000 rainbow and brown trout combined were hatched from 1.3 million eggs incubated at the Summerville facility in FY1998. Summerville's goal is to provide 50% of the 1.2 million four inch fingerlings that had been supplied annually by Federal hatcheries in the past. Summerville's commitment was nearly realized in FY1998 and was considered a great success in its first year of fingerling production. Improvements at the Buford Trout Hatchery continued with additions to a new liquid oxygen delivery system that will supplement mechanical aeration in trout raceways during periods of heavy production. Additions and improvement made at these two facilities and the recent renovations at Lake Burton Trout Hatchery will insure that reliable numbers of "stockable" trout are available for this popular Georgia fishery. More than 838,000 "catchable" size trout were produced and stocked into Georgia waters from state trout hatcheries in FY1998 with an additional 321,000 trout stocked from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hatcheries.
Rocky Mountain Recreation and Public Fishing Area, owned by Oglethorpe Power Company and operated by the Section, opened in FY1997. Public use at Rocky Mountain has been high with an estimated 120,075 visitors through June 30, 1998. This 5,000 acre public fishing area features two lakes (200 and 357 acres) open to the public for fishing, boating, and swimming (designated beach area only). Hunters harvested 40 deer and 45 waterfowl from the area in FY1998. Bow-hunting for turkey is also allowed on the area. Other available facilities include hiking trails, picnic areas, campground, and a group shelter.
The Section's aquatic education efforts continued to develop and grow in FY1998. A total of 497 Kids Fishing Events (KFEs) were held statewide with 33,654 children attending. Thirtythree percent of the children attending were beginners and 71 % caught at least one fish. This represents a 35% increase in the number of KFEs and a 61 % increase in the number of youth attending compared to FY1997 figures. Sixty-three percent (312) were classified as "general" events sponsored by sportsman organizations, churches, local governments, civic organizations, the military, and private individuals. 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 remaining 185 events were sponsored by WRD staff at DNR facilities statewide. In addition to
1

Region I - Calhoun
Region IV Ft. Valley

Region II Gainesville
Region Ill Social Circle

Grady
Region V Albany

Region VI Waycross

Region VII Richmond Hill

Figure 1. Fisheries Section regions in Georgia and location of regional offices.

2

scheduled KFEs, 359 days of fishing were recorded on special ponds at Burton and Buford hatcheries that have been set aside for fishing by families with children. Approximately 2,100 children fished these ponds in FY1998 with just over 10% being first time anglers and 70% catching at least one fish. More than 1250 educators were trained to use Project WILD/Aquatic Project WILD materials in 66 workshops, statewide.
The McDuffie Environmental Education Center was established in FY1997 through a partnership of the Georgia DNR and the Georgia Department of Education (DOE). Specifically, DOE personnel from the Technology group at the National Science Center's Fort Discovery and the Central Savannah River Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) are collaborating with Section personnel at the McDuffie Public Fishing Area and Fish Hatchery to provide a link between the classroom and the environment through technology. DNR will provide classroom/laboratory facilities, a nature center and trails, resource personnel, and four computers linked to the Internet. During FY1998, the Center provided a hands-on learning experience for 15 groups totaling about 500 individuals. Curriculum and technology training was provided by DOE personnel in conjunction with project GRIP (Georgia Statewide Academic and Medical Systems, Rivers Internet Project), a statewide environmental education/technology initiative. Attendees were provided with a real world experience focusing on surface water quality, water and wastewater treatment, groundwater, and natural wetlands.
"The Trout Streams of Georgia" map continues to be a popular publication. This threecolor publication highlights all trout waters, streams, rivers and reservoirs, roads, cities, camping areas, fish hatcheries, and public lands in north Georgia. The map's objective was to aid trout anglers, both novice and experienced, in locating new fishing opportunities. Other features include a trout stream index based on stocking frequency, trout species identification, fishing tips and techniques, and additional sources of information. Efforts were initiated in FY1998 to contract with the University of Georgia Remote Sensing Laboratory to provide technical expertise in improving and updating the current map. Plans include producing a web-enabled copy of this map that can be accessed and printed by Internet users visiting the Department's web page.
The robust redhorse, an imperiled fish species, was discovered in the early 1990s in the Oconee River below Sinclair Dam. The Fisheries Section, a signatory to a memorandum of understanding establishing the Robust Redhorse Conservation Committee (RRCC), has committed resources and personnel to keep this species from extinction. In conjunction with the committee's efforts to protect the only known naturally-reproducing population of robust redhorse, Section staff have worked to develop spawning and rearing techniques that have resulted in the production of fingerlings suitable for stocking in natural environments. A total of 26,018 phase I fingerlings, harvested from Georgia WRD hatchery rearing ponds at Walton, McDuffie, Burton, and Richmond Hill in fall 1997, were stocked at seven locations on the Upper Broad River Basin and at two locations on the Ogeechee River. Another 7,393 fingerlings were distributed to various hatcheries in Georgia and South Carolina for advanced-rearing trials. The total fingerling production of 33,411 fish resulted from 182,000 fry (18.4% survival) produced during spring 1997 hatchery spawning. On a special note, four adult female Robust Redhorse were captured in the spring of 1998 by RRCC members sampling in the Savannah River shoals at Augusta, Georgia.
An unauthorized introduction of the flathead catfish into the Ocmulgee River in the late 1970s led to an expansion of this species throughout the Altamaha River system by the early 1990s. 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
3

predator has on native redbreast sunfish and bullhead populations. Flathead catfish activities of Section staff in FY1998 focused on: 1) continued removal of flatheads from experimental sections of the Altamaha and Ocmulgee rivers, 2) continued removal of flatheads from the Satilla River and monitoring of native sport fish populations, 3) sampling of the St. Marys, Alapaha, and Ohoopee to verify that flatheads have not been illegally moved to these rivers, 4) production of a flathead catfish fishing guide which gives instructions on how and where to fish for flatheads and recipes for cooking them. Removal efforts by the Department and efforts by commercial and sport anglers appear to have stabilized the Altamaha River population and reduced the number of large catfish observed during sampling in an experimental removal zone on the Ocmulgee River. Electrofishing capture rates on the Altamaha River appear to have stabilized around 70 flatheads per hour.
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. Over 4. 7 million fish produced at the Section's seven warmwater hatcheries were provided to 2,259 owners of newly constructed or renovated ponds to establish fish populations. The Section had a successful year of producing and stocking striped bass and white bass x striped bass hybrid fingerlings in FY1998. Production goals were exceeded for striped bass and nearly met for hybrid bass fingerlings. Over one million striped bass and two million hybrid bass fingerlings were raised in Georgia hatcheries and stocked into reservoirs, statewide. An additional 42,926 oxytetracycline (OTC) marked, intermediate size (8-inch) striped bass were stocked into the Savannah River as part of a continuing effort to re-establish a striped bass brood fish population in that system. The Ogeechee River was also stocked with 4,815 OTC marked, intermediate size striped bass to enhance a predicted small 1997 year class in that river.
4

Appendix A: Tables showing important facts about fishing in Georgia, information on revenue earned, and expenditures for FY1998.
5

Table A-1. Important statistics on sport fishing in Georgia.

Item
Total freshwater resident anglers 16 years and older Total resident anglers 6 to 15 years old Total annual fishing trips by resident anglers (16 years and older) Total annual days spent freshwater fishing (16 years and older) Annual average days spent freshwater fishing (16 years and older) Total annual expenditures by all resident and non-resident anglers
in Georgia (16 years and older) Economic impact of sport fishing on Georgia's economy Estimated number of jobs generated Estimated state sales tax generated from the sale of sport fishing
related items

Number
805,000 a 348,000 a 10,094,000 a 11,591,000 a
14 a $1,121,278,000 b
$2,290,557,000 b 27,800 b
$44,851,000 b

a 1996 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation - Georgia published by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in March
_ 1998. This is the most accurate data currently available.
b The 1996 Economic Impact of Sport Fishing in Georgia published by the American Sportfishing Association. The calculations are based on data from the "1996 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation."

6

TableA-2.

Revenue (to the nearest dollar) generated by the Fisheries Section from license sales in license year 1997-1998.a

License Sales License Year 1997-1998 (April 1, 1997 to March 31, 1998)

Type of License

Number

Combination Hunting-Fishing

61,090

Sportsman's

19,972

Resident Fishing

498,122

Resident Trout

103,459

One-Day Fishing

60,742

Non-Resident Season Fishing

9,196

Non-Resident 7-day Fishing

28,382

Non-Resident Season Trout

6,344

Revenue
b
531,653
b
586,992 4,185,197
455,446 176,338 215,236 181,735
78,709

Totals

787,307

$6,411,306

a In addition to license sales shown, the Wildlife Resources Division sold 55,414 resident Wildlife Management Area (WMA) stamps for $1,020,009 and 1,459 non-resident Wildlife Management Area stamps for $104,818. These WMA stamps are required to fish on any Public Fishing Area or hunt on any WMA. It is not practical to determine what portion of this revenue is generated by fishing.
b This figure represents only half of the revenue generated by this license. The other half is considered generated by hunters.

7

Table A-3. Fisheries Section expenditures (thousands of dollars) by region and program with total man-days in FY1998. a

PROGRAM

----------
HQb

-----------------------COST

TOTAL

TOTAL

II

111

IV

V

VI

VII

COST MAN-DAYS

Private Waters Management

50.7

56.3

17.1

52.4

49.7 43.0 104.7

45.9

419.8

2,207

Public Waters Management

460.8

360.0 507.7 592.7 541.5 413.3 620.1 323.0 3,819.1

15,193

Aquatic Plant Control

6.5

47.3

53.8

81

Trout Production/Stocking

127.9

172.8 759.6

1,060.3

3,645

Warmwater Hatcheries

154.5

48.6

25.5 218.7

19.3 372.3 128.3 313.6 1,280.8

5,506

Aquatic Education

139.3

36.5

48.0 105.5

45.6 86.6 29.2

19.0

509.7

2,100

CX)

Public Fishing Areas

126.0 341.7

73.6 146.3

356.5

1,044.1

5,318

Resource Studies

2.8

20.6

23.4

103

Facility Maintenance and New Construction
Total

1,487.1

30.2

2.7

42.4 858.1 36.5 44.1

2,555.6 1,046.1 1,381.2 1,085.3 1,707.8 951.7 1,282.9

14.9 2,516.0
C
716.4 10,727.0

1,795 35,948

a Figures may differ somewhat from the final 6/98 Fiscal Accounting and Control System (FACS) printout since errors in the FACS printout were corrected for this report.
b Headquarters office expenses and workdays were prorated to all programs as administrative support with the exception of Aquatic Plant Control, Aquatic Education, and Facilities Maintenance and New Construction. These three programs include specific and prorated Headquarters cost.
c This total includes $4,443,668 federal funds allocated to Georgia from the Sport Fish Restoration program.

Appendix B: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Private Waters Management Program in FY1998.
9

Table B-1. Number of field investigations on private waters in each region in FY1998.

Region

Balance

Aquatic Plant
Control

Fish Prestocking

General

Kill

Checks Management

II

111

_..

0

IV

V

VI

VII

Statewide Totals

% of Totals

52 28 243
163 125
73 17 701 58%

17

6

2

2

49

31

24

12

10

3

60

35

45

14

207

103

17%

8%

1

13

7

25

25

17

29

10

52

1

19

44

155

4%

13%

Region Totals

Regional Percentages

75 46 355
241 167 230
96 1210 100%

6% 4% 29%
20% 14% 19%
8% 100%

Table B-2. Total number and acres of private ponds stocked with fingerling largemouth bass, bream and channel catfish in FY1998. 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

77 235

1

1

95,732 24,133

10,994 19,490

34

46

II

51 159

2

2

66,998 14,387

7,824 17,619

23

36

..........

111

285 1,347

4

2

508,075 117,855

58,505 118,890

154

375

IV

192 1,092

17

17

502,620 101,870

61,808 64,199

56

150

V

263 1,709

8

12

764,200 172,800

88,615 121,145

150

676

VI

581 2,552

1

1 1,009,160 252,290 118,640 221,802

273

711

VII

77 299

Statewide Total 1,526 7,393

109,720 26,930

11,645 28,760

5

6 3,056,505 710,265 358,031 591,905

43

388

733 2,382

Appendix C: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Public Waters Management Program in FY1998.
12

Table C-1. Aquatic plant management activities statewide in FY1998.

Body of Water

County

Target Pest

Control Method

Acres

No. of

Cost of

Treated Treatments Treatment

Management Objectives; Treatment Effectiveness

Treatments in Reservoirs and Lakes

Blackshear

Crisp/Worth/ Dooley/Sumter

Alligatorweed, primrose, and water hyacinth

Barrage (2,4-D), 0.5 gal/acre, Nalcotrol, 1.0 qt/acre

31

2

$ 3,160 Improve access;

good success with

control

Blackshear Crisp/Worth/

American lotus

Dooley/Sumter

Aquakleen, 200 lbs/acre

0.25

1

$

868 Improve access;

good success with

control

Blackshear Crisp/Worth/

Lyngbya

Dooley/Sumter

_..

(,.)

Blackshear Crisp/Worth/

Lyngbya

Dooley/Sumter

Cutrine Plus, 60 lbs/acre
Cutrine (liq), 5 gals/acre, Promate,0.5 gal/acre, Malquatic, 1 pint/acre

31

4

$ 6,177 Minimize regrowth;

good success with

control

8

1

$ 2,178 Minimize regrowth;

good success with

control

Reed Bingham State Park

Cook

Hydrilla

Komeen, 16 gals/acre, Promate 0.13 gal/acre

125

1

$ 34,933 Impede invasion,

improve access;

good success with

control

Grand Total

195.3

9

$ 47,316

Table C-2. Fish kills investigated by the Fisheries Section in FY1998.

Type of Fish Kill

Number of incidents

Fish killed Number

Value

Municipal Pollutionb

8

12,350

$4,097

Industrial Pollution

1

379

$125

Agricultural Pesticide Disease/Natural

1

5,077

$968

3

2,215

NN

Undetermined

11

13,375

$4,418

~

Total

~

24

33,396

$9,608

a Fines collected as of June 30, 1998 by the Environmental Protection Division for FY1998 fish kills.

Fines collected
by DNR8
$99,300
NA NA NA NA
$99,300

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 FY1998.

IAgency and Type of Review

Number 1

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Environmental Protection Division Permits and Variances

Erosion and Sedimentation - 25 ft. Variances .............. .

79

Erosion and Sedimentation - Trout Stream Variances (100 ft.) ..

15

Requests to build ponds on trout streams ................. .

32

River Basin Plans ................................... .

2

West Georgia Regional Reservoir Studies ................ .

2

Trout Stream Temperature Impact Study ................. .

1

lnstream Flow Working Group Recommendations ......... .

1

Water Withdrawal Permits ............................ .

1

Proposed Variance Procedure ......................... .

1

NPDES Permit Application ............................ .

1

Georgia State Properties Commission

Proposed Mineral Lease .............................. .

1

Georgia Ports Authority

Plans for Savannah Harbor Deepening

1

U. S. Government Agency Permits, Projects and Plans

Army Corps of Engineers-Plans and Projects .............. .

5

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission-License Issues ...... .

9

Fish & Wildlife Service-Memorandum of Understanding....... .

1

National Park Service-Environmental Assessment. .......... .

1

Local/Regional Government Projects

Developments of Regional Impact

5

I Total

158

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 FY1998.
16

Table D-1. Trout production (lbs), conversion ratios a, and costs at state hatcheries in FY1998.

Hatchery

BROOK

Species RAINBOW

BROWN

Total

Cost b Total

Per lb

Catchables Buford

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

187 4.68

70,984 1.63

61,635 1.28

132,806 1.47

$330,839

$2.49

Burton

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

91,286 1.42

29,269 1.08

120,555 1.34

$290,727

$2.41

Summerville

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

25,415 1.51

3,398 2.22

28,813 1.60

$73,110

$2.54

....>.
.......

Total

Net weight gain

187

187,685

94,302 282,174 $694,676

$2.46

Conversion ratio

4.68

1.51

1.26

1.43

Cost per pound to stock catchable trout from state hatcheries: Production and distribution costs per pound:

$0.61 $3.07

Fingerlings c
Summerville Fingerling trout (average length 2.1 inches) production of 901,467 fingerlings (681,818 rainbow and 219,649 brown) weighing 2,920 pounds.

$55,510 d

Grand Total Catchable and Fingerling Costs

$750,186

$3.24

a Conversion ratios used in totals are weighted means. b Costs do not include administrative costs of the Headquarters staff or costs of capital outlay improvements. c Summerville Hatchery began fingerling production in FY98 and is expected to be the state's primary source of fingerling
trout in the future. Small numbers of fingerlings are also produced at Buford and Burton hatcheries, but production costs were not estimated separately. Cost of federal fingerlings is unknown and not included. ct Fingerling costs include non-capital outlay startup costs that will not be incurred on an annual basis.

Table D-2. Number and weight (lbs) of each species of trout stocked into Georgia's public waters from state and federal hatcheries during FY1998.

Facility

BROOK Number Weight

RAINBOW

Number

Weight

BROWN

Number

Weight

TOTAL

Number

Weight

STATE HATCHERIES Buford
catch ables fingerlings

950 1,024 174,177 65,360

66,836 1,969

241,748 50,000

80,387 636

416,875 115,360

148,247 2,605

Burton catchables fingerlings

291,562

97,164

34,929 174,481

13,094 2,628

326,491 174,481

110,258 2,628

Summerville

->.
CX>

catchables

fingerlings

87,525

33,430

7,700

3,084

95,225

36,514

FEDERAL HATCHERIES Chattahoochee
catch ables fingerlings

321,290 104,069

321,290

104,069

TOTAL catchables fingerlings

950 1,024 874,554 301,499 284,377

65,360

1,969 224,481

96,565 3,264

1,159,881 289,841

399,088 5,233

Table D-3. Number and weight (lbs) of catchable trout by species and habitat type stocked from all hatcheries in FY1998.

BROOK

Habitat

Number Weight

STREAMS BY COUNTY

Bartow

Catoosa

Chattooga

Cherokee

Dade Dawson

Fannin

100 108

Floyd

Gilmer

Gordon

Habersham

Haralson Lumpkin

150 161

Murray

Paulding

Pickens

Polk

Rabun

Stephens

50

54

Towns

50

54

Union

Walker

White

150 161

RAINBOW Number Weight

10,125 1,750 3,850 1,150 150
13,890 73,162 18,225 45,223
2,350 19,231
7,300 65,700 18,950
4,100 6,800 1,700 110,563 24,650 59,115 76,124 11,550 72,822

3,893 686
1,475 401 52
4,527 24,490
7,084 14,541
883 6,358 2,671 22,070 7,375 1,598 2,260
654 37,687
8,341 20,278 24,497
4,493 23,813

Sub-Total
TAILWATERS Blue Ridge Hartwell Lanier

500 538 648,480 220,127

50

54 20,121

6,345

5,600

1,991

400 432 136,083 51,877

Sub-Total
SMALL LAKES Black Rock Conasauga Dockery Nancytown Rock Creek Vogel Winfield Scott

450 486 161,804 60,213

3,900 1,375 11,750 10,000 10,850 3,700 22,695

1,278 508
3,791 3,416 3,621 1,150 7,395

BROWN Number Weight

1,100

444

200

80

200

82

9,925 25
1,500

3,416 8
598

18,253 600
25,975 2,300 500 210 100
20,055 24,965 13,796
5,990 1,200 44,570
171,464

6,337 243
9,166 916 202 65 41
6,889 8,823 4,695 2,094
478 14,993
59,570

4,400 105,013
109,413

1,509 34,389
35,898

3,000

920

500

177

TOTAL Number Weight

11,225 1,950 4,050 1,150 150
23,815 73,287 19,725 45,223
2,350 37,484
7,900 91,825 21,250
4,600 7,010 1,800 130,618 49,665 72,961 82,114 12,750 117,542
820,444

4,337 766
1,557 401 52
7,943 24,606
7,682 14,541
883 12,695
2,914 31,397
8,291 1,800 2,325
695 44,576 17,218 25,027 26,591
4,971 38,967
280,235

20,171 10,000 241,496
271,667

6,399 3,500 86,698
96,597

3,900 1,375 11,750 13,000 10,850 4,200 22,695

1,278 508
3,791 4,336 3,621 1,327 7,395

Sub-Total GRAND TOTAL

950 1,024

64,270 21,159 874,554 301,499

3,500 284,377

1,097

67,770

96,565 1,159,881

22,256 399,088

19

Table D-4. Number and weight (lbs) of fingerling trout by species and habitat type stocked from all hatcheries in FY1998.

Locations Stocked

RAINBOW Number Weight

STREAMS BY COUNTY Dawson Habersham Rabun Stephens
Subtotal

TAILWATERS Lanier

65,360

GRAND TOTAL

65,360

1,969 1,969

BROWN Number Weight

100,248 3,693
59,462 11,078
174,481

143 1
2,481 3
2,628

50,000 224,481

636 3,264

TOTAL Number Weight

100,248 3,693
59,462 11,078
174,481

143 1
2,481 3
2,628

115,360 289,841

2,605 5,233

20

Appendix E: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Warmwater Hatchery Production Program in FY1998.
21

Table E-1. Total numbers and cost per fish of warmwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY1998.

Species
Bluegill Fingerling
Redearsunfish Fingerling
Largemouth bass Fingerling
Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable
Striped bass Fry Fingerling Intermediate
Hybrid striped-white bass Fry Fingerling
Hybrid white-striped bass Fry Fingerling
Shoal bass Fingerling Intermediate
Robust redhorse Fry Fingerling Intermediate

Acres
23.17
6.44
10.64
10.00 20.00 19.40
9.11
b
12.51 5.80
b
0.80
b
21.85
4.40 0.40
b
5.58 0.25

Number
4,467,329
1,023,529
794,688
2,411,250 1,009,990
567,834 68,636
4,921,000 1,460,610
47,878
700,000 72,404
16,458,000 2,041,561
88,970 35
14,702 34,402
2

Number Per Acre
192,807
158,933
74,689
241,125 50,500 29,270 7,534
b
116,755 8,255
b
90,505
b
93,435
20,220 88
b
6,165 8

Cost Pe~ Fish($)
0.038
0.060
0.118
0.033 0.089 0.278 1.110
0.009 0.039 1.468
0.009 0.112
0.009 0.073
0.444
C
d d d

Totals (all sizes)

150.35

36,182,820 e

93,709

0.075 1

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 Incidental production, no costs assigned. d A total of $32,022 was expended on the experimental culture of this species. Georgia is
the first state to attempt the hatchery culture of this potentially threatened species. e Differences between the production totals in this table and the distribution totals in Table E-4
result from handling, holding, and transport mortalities, the use of surplus fish as forage to maintain spawning stocks, and the stocking of fish produced on federal hatcheries. 1 Weighted means. Striped bass, hybrid striped-white bass, hybrid white-striped bass, and robust redhorse (all phases) are not included.

22

Table E-2. Number of each warmwater fish species produced at state hatcheries in FY1998.

Species

Summerville Burton Walton McDuffie Cordele

Steve Bowens Richmond

Cocke

Mill

Hill

Total

Bluegill Fingerling

164,000

475,243 822,900 10,000 1,123,666 1,126,880

744,640 4,467,329

Redear sunfish Fingerling

53,812

83,520 234,300

205,010 219,220

227,667 1,023,529

Largemouth bass Fingerling

91,480 170,950

121,777 213,403

197,078 794,688

Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable

9,873

370,000 315,300
28,037

2,041,250 52,199
327,079 28,099

300,268 187,566
12,500

219,327

122,896 43,316

2,411,250 1,009,990
567,834 68,636

Striped bass

I\)

Fry

w

Fingerling

Intermediate

808,097

246,204

4,921,000 406,309 47,878

4,921,000 1,460,610
47,878

Hybrid striped-white bass Fry Fingerling

700,000 72,404

700,000 72,404

Hybrid white-striped bass Fry Fingerling

123,639

202,333

16,458,000 16,458,000 495,242 1,220,347 2,041,561

Shoal bass Fingerling Intermediate

74,076 35

14,894

88,970 35

Robust redhorse Fry Fingerling Intermediate

3,491 28,800 2

14,702 332

1,779

14,702 34,402
2

Total (all sizes) 217,812 3,493 812,555 2,764,618 2,735,071 2,211,885 2,274,072 25,163,314 36,182,820

Table E-3. Cost per fish (dollars) for warmwater fish speci~s produced at state hatcheries in FY1998.8

Species

Summerville

Walton

McDuffie

Cordele

Steve Cocke

Bowens Richmond

Mill

Hill

Statewide averages

Bluegill Fingerling

0.127

0.020

0.016

0.040

0.034

0.057

0.038

Redearsunfish Fingerling

0.134

0.117

0.036

0.069

0.058

0.041

0.060

Largemouth bass Fingerling

0.164

0.056

0.076

0.210

0.077

0.118

Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable

0.906

0.025 0.068
1.502

0.034 0.284 0.288 0.578

0.069 0.177 1.425

0.088

0.111 0.500

0.033 0.089 0.278 1.110

Striped bass

I\) ~

Fry

Fingerling

Intermediate

0.028

0.016

0.009 0.075 1.468

0.009 0.039 1.468

Hybrid white-striped bass Fry Fingerling

0.052

0.239

0.062

0.009 0.052

0.009 0.112

Hybrid striped-white bass Fry Fingerling

0.009 0.112

0.009 0.073

Shoal bass Fingerling

0.151

1.898

0.444

a A total of $32,022 was also expended as part of an experimental effort to determine how to culture the potentially threatened Robust Redhorse sucker at Burton, McDuffie, Richmond Hill and Walton hatcheries.

Table E-4. Number of warmwater fish distributed from state hatcheries in FY1998. Totals include fish provided by federal

hatcheries, surplus brood stock, and fish available as by-products of other programs.

Public y

Owned

Public

Kid's

Other

Private

Rivers &

Small

Fishing

Fishing

Fisheries

Species

Waters Reservoirs Streams

Lakes

Areas

Events

Agencies

Bluegill

Fingerling

3,056,505

37,104

65,200

241,666

3,500

Harvestable

600

Total8
3,403,975 600

Redear sunfish Fingerling

710,265

16,776

1,300

20,500

10,000

500

759,341

Largemouth bass Fingerling

358,031

50,000

184,779

31,250

250

624,310

Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable

591,905

32,450 8,750

126,250 60,541 84,430 10,000

91,917 52,790 24,313

2,300 363,885
35,223

4,250 3,000

126,250 783,363 512,855
69,536

I\)

Striped bass

01

Fry

Fingerling

Intermediate

1,850,181

511,000 47,741

1,885

511,000 1,852,066
47,741

Striped-white bass hybrid Fingerling

71,904

71,904

White-striped bass hybrid Fry Fingerling

2,025,387

6,789

5,150,000 5,150,000 2,032,176

Shoal bass Fingerling Intermediate
Walleye Fingerling

35,306

87,883 35

87,883 35
35,306

Robust redhorse Fry Fingerling
Total (all sizes)

4,716,706 4,077,858

26029 722,688

532,500

469,825 411,408

6,650 1,381 5,171,416

6,650 27,410 16,102,401

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

Appendix F: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Public Fishing Area Program in FY1998.
26

Table F-1. Public Fishing Areas cost data for FY1998.

Region

Area

Ownership

Number of Lakes

Acreage Open to Fishing

Total Operating Cost($)

Rocky Mountain

Private

2

559.0

341,684 a

111

McDuffie

State

13

118.0

73,596

IV

Big Lazer

State

1

195.0

13,112

N -.J

IV

Marben Farms

State

22

251.6

162,479

VI

Dodge County

State

1

104.0

93,826

VI

Evans County

State

3

122.0

85,123

VI

Paradise

State

60

409.0

175,578

VI
Total

Treutlen County

Private

1

189.0

2,000

1,947.6

947,398

8Cost of operation includes campground and swimming beach. Total cost funded through contract with Oglethorpe Power Corporation.

Appendix G: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Resource Studies in FY1998.
28

Table G-1. Cost for resource studies in each region during FY1998.

Region

Study Title

Northeast (II)

Evaluation of Walleye Introductions into Lakes Burton and Seed

East Central (Ill) Richard B. Russell Tailwater Creel Survey

Headquarters Total

Administrative

a Funded by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers

Cost($) 20,637 44,777 a 2,803 68,217

29

Table G-2. Final reports and publications completed by the Fisheries Section in FY1998.

Author Biagi and Brown

Publication
Upper Temperature Tolerance of Juvenile and Adult Brown and Rainbow Trout Tested Under Flowing Conditions

Durniak, Keefer and Ruddell Standardized Sampling of Wild Trout Streams

Pierce and Van Den Avyle

Hybridization between Introduced Spotted Bass and Smallmouth Bass in Reservoirs

30

Appendix H: Table showing the Fisheries Section maintenance and construction projects in FY1998.
31

Table H-1. Facility maintenance and construction projects statewide during FY1998.

Project

Project Description

Total Cost($)

Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center (Marben PFA) Development

Construction of a 30' x 64' shelter with enclosed classroom, restrooms, and open picnic area at the central location of Lake Margery, Lake Bennett, and Dairy Lake was begun. Fencing for traffic management at Fox Lake and Margery Lake was constructed. A fishing pier was built and placed at Lower Raleigh lake. The disabled accessible parking pad, picnic area, and fishing walkway at Margery Lake were completed. The disabled accessible fishing station, concrete walkway, and picnic area at Fox Lake were also completed. The trails at the Raleigh lakes and Bennett Lake were improved by removing trees, brush, and other vegetation and widened to increase angler access. A siphon system was installed at Lower Raleigh Lake. The siphon systems for Whitetail and Little Raleigh lakes were purchased. The disabled accessible restroom for Shepherd Lake was purchased.

293,096

Boat Ramp Repair & Boat ramp inspections were conducted at all state-owned sites no less than once during FY1998 with many

Maintenance

being inspected more often. Major repair of parking lots was completed at boat ramps on the Flint River at

(statewide)

State Route 49 (Macon Co.), the Oconee River at Dyar Pasture (Greene Co.), the Canoochee River at State

Route 30 (Bryan Co.), the Little River at Reed Bingham State Park (Cook Co.), and the Ogeechee River off

(.,.)

N

U.S. 1 (Jefferson Co.). Docks bought in previous segments were installed and concrete walkways

constructed at the boat ramp sites on Lake Walter F. George at Sandy Branch (Clay Co.) and on the St.

Marys River off State Route 121 (Charlton Co.). The existing service pier at Rotary Park on the

Chattahoochee River (Muscogee Co.) was extended . Contracts were let to Elbert County for major repairs

to four Richard B. Russell Reservoir boat ramp parking lots, to Jasper County for paving the parking area of

the Ocmulgee River ramp at State Route 83, and to Bryan County for paving the parking area of the

Ogeechee River ramp at State Route 204. A composting restroom was purchased for installation in FY99

443,954

at the Idle Hour Park site on Bartlett's Ferry Lake (Harris Co.). Minor repairs to parking lots and ramps were also made at a number of access sites statewide.

Boat Ramp Construction

Completed plans and negotiated a lease for a boat ramp site at Lake Sinclair (Putnam Co.). Continued road construction for two Savannah River sites on the Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area (Screven Co.). Purchased road construction materials for a new site at Big Hammock Wildlife Management Area (Tattnall Co.). Plans were completed and materials purchased for ramps on the Little River (Cook Co.) and the Ogeechee River (Jefferson Co.). Drafted plans for a new site on Lake Seminole (Seminole Co.). New concrete boat ramps were constructed in FY1998 at four sites. These were located on the Chattahoochee River at Hollingsworth Road (Heard Co.), on the Ocmulgee River at Abbeville (Wilcox Co.), on Walter F. George at Sandy Branch (Clay Co.), and on the Savannah River downstream of the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam (Richmond Co.). Gravel parking areas were also constructed at three of these sites and two acres of paved parking added to the existing lot at the Richmond County site. Additional aggregate was applied to the parking area of a Canoochee River site (Bryan Co.) constructed in FY1997.

274,145

Table H-1. Facility maintenance and construction projects statewide during FY1998.

Project

Project Description

Summerville Fish Hatchery Buford Fish Hatchery

Drainage system installed to eliminate surface water problems. Change order cost and engineering fees associated with construction of fish holding house. Materials and installation of piping for liquid oxygen system to trout raceways.

Total Cost($) 51,055
33,100

Walton Fish Hatchery
McDuffie Public Fishing Area

Purchase and installation of new septic system for hatchery residence and re-paving of access roads on hatchery. Construction and engineering fees for the renovation of the West Valley dams on four lakes to include refitting of drainage structures with siphon systems, re-sloping of earthen dams, installation of emergency spillways and the purchase of 3.3 acres of an adjacent property to allow for spillway construction.

Burke County Public Fishing Area

Cost associated with three land appraisals and two surveys done in preparation to the purchase of the Mead Farms tract as mitigation lands for the planned Burke County Public Fishing Area lake to be constructed on High Head Creek on the Yucchi Wildlife Management Area, Burke County.

Marben Public Fishing Purchase and installation of new septic tank. Drilling and installation of a new well.

Area v1eve l-OCKe r-1sn
Hatchery

Electrical re-wiring of the two employee residences on Steve Cocke Fish Hatchery.

Cordele Fish Hatchery Paving of access roads on hatchery. Appraisal of property adjacent to hatchery and under consideration for purchase.

Paradise Public Fishing Area

Engineering fees and costs to renovate earthen dams at Lake Patrick and Lake Bobben. Costs cover grading and re-sloping of earthen dams and refitting or replacement of drainage control and overflow structures to comply with safe-dam standards. Road improvements, to include removal of trees and stumps, widening, applying aggregate rock, grading and finishing, were completed at Cypress Pond (0.3 miles), Horseshoe #3 (0.4 miles), and from Duck Pond to Lake Bobben boat ramp (0.4 miles). Also, a 20' by 20' shelter with attached 8' by 20' enclosed structure were constructed over the fish cleaning station.

Evans County Public Drilling and installation of deep well for use by the public visiting the area.

Fishing Area

Laurens County Public Legal advertisement in the Atlanta Journal Constitution to solicit bids for an engineering firm to oversee the

Fishing Area

Laurens County PFA construction project.

Headquarters

Time and expenditures of headquarters staff to manage capital outlay projects.

Administrative Costs

I !Total Expenditures

I

43,81S 391,172
13,338 5,736
10,090 4,658 801,144
8,928 582
141,184 $2,516,0011