Fisheries Section annual report, fiscal year 2001

FISHERIES SECTION ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year 2001
July 1, 2000 - June 30, 2001
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,

6

and Fisheries Section expenditures

B. Private waters management

10

C. Public waters management

13

D. Trout production and distribution

17

E. Warmwater hatchery production and distribution

22

F. Public fishing area operation

27

G. Resource studies

29

H. Maintenance and construction

32

Fisheries Section Activities
Fishing is the most popular wildlife-related activity in Georgia, enjoyed by every age. Around 1.15 million resident anglers use the State's diverse freshwater fishery that offers more than 4,000 miles of trout streams, 12,000 miles of warmwater streams wider than 10 feet, and 500,000 acres of impoundments. Anglers spend more than $1.12 billion yearly on fishing in Georgia with an economic impact of almost $2.3 billion generating an estimated 27,800 jobs. Programs of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD), Fisheries Section (Section) during fiscal year 2001 (FY2001) included 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, aquatic education services, and survey projects and studies designed to benefit these resources. The Section's activities are funded primarily through license fees which are appropriated annually by the State Legislature from the general fund. The Section's second major source of funding comes from the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program. Federal Aid dollars, accumulated by a user tax on fishing tackle and motorboat fuel, are apportioned back to states by a formula based on land area and license sales. Detailed information on the Section's activities and costs are itemized in Appendices A - H. The Section's programs are administered from WRD headquarters near Social Circle and from seven regional offices (Figure 1).
Issues of water quality and quantity continue to be of major concern for the Section. The seriousness of these issues across the state was accentuated in FY2001 due to the continuing drought. The Tri-State Comprehensive Study is the focal point for these issues in the Chattahoochee-Flint and Coosa-Tallapoosa river basins. Ground water use, quantity and quality of spring flows, and instream flow are major points of concern in the lower Flint River basin due to the precariously low population of the Gulf Coast strain of striped bass juxtaposed with the increasing demand for water by agricultural, municipal and industrial interests in this basin. Similar issues are being considered as part of the Environmental Protection Division's (EPD) legislatively mandated river basin planning process for all Georgia river basins. The Section participated on the Tri-State Comprehensive Study Committee, and reviewed and provided information to EPD on the river basin planning process.
The Section is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by participating on a harbor committee to study striped bass habitat restoration in the lower Savannah River. This once thriving, self-sustaining population continues to be seriously impacted by a number of past and present water quality and habitat degradations. Restoration stocking efforts by the Section have increased striped bass numbers in the lower Savannah River, but the key to recovery lies in the ability of this species to naturally sustain its numbers. Successful natural reproduction has been minimal and continues to be negatively impacted by present and proposed habitat alteration projects associated with harbor expansion and channel deepening.
1

2

The Section continued to introduce youth to fishing through the Kids Fishing Events program. Section staff held a total of 546 Kids Fishing Events (KFEs) statewide with 34,111 youth attending. Twenty-six percent of the attendees were beginners and 77% caught at least one fish. Two-hundred, eighty-eight KFEs were classified as "general" events sponsored by sportsman organizations, local governments, businesses, civic organizations, private individuals, and the military. 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 258 events were sponsored by staff at 10 WRD facilities. Ponds at Burton and Buford hatcheries, set aside for fishing by families with children, also provided a quality fishing experience for 1,784 youth in FY2001.
Responsive Management, an independent survey research company contracted to evaluate the Kids Fishing Events program, concluded that the current program is successfully reaching its goals. Other findings include: 94% of participants had fished at least one time prior to the event, 81% reported fishing again after the KFE, 76% reported that their KFE experience increased their interest in going fishing, and 98% liked the KFE event they attended. Focus groups conducted with various school-aged children indicated that principal motivations to fish were linked to social and psychological factors. Children's expectations and needs differed with age and influenced their having a meaningful KFE experience. The impact on young anglers who attended "general" and "WRD-sponsored" KFE events was found to be similar.
Aquatic Project WILD training for 1,113 Georgia educators was provided at 55 workshops. Forty new facilitators were trained at a joint Project WILD/WET workshop. One Advanced Project WILD workshop addressing "Fish and Wildlife Heritage" was attended by 17 educators who were instructed on the history of fish and wildlife, fish and wildlife management, and how wildlife management is funded in Georgia and other states. Overall, Fisheries Section staff conducted over 93 presentations to over 5,000 adults on a variety of topics including importance of aquatic resources, resource management issues, sport fishing, striped bass, pond management, erosion and sedimentation, and aquatic weed management. Approximately 12,000 students in Georgia schools were provided instruction by Section personnel on a variety of fish and aquatic resource topics.
The McDuffie Environmental Education Center (MEEC), established in FY1997, is a partnership of WRD, the Georgia Department of Education (DOE) and the Central Savannah River Resource Conservation and Development Council. DOE personnel from the technology group at the National Science Center's Fort Discovery and the Central Savannah River Regional Education Service Agency 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. Lesson plans are linked to the Georgia Quality Core Curriculum Standards. WRD provides classroom/laboratory facilities, a nature center, interpretive trails, supplies and materials, and computers linked to the Internet. During FY2001, a grant from the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority resulted in the construction and placement of eight interactive talking boxes
3

along trails and at MEEC activity areas. MEEC provided a hands-on outdoor learning experience to over 5,000 students and teachers during the 2000-2001 school year.
The robust redhorse (Moxostoma robustum), an imperiled fish, was discovered in the Oconee River below Sinclair Dam during the early 1990s. The Section has committed resources and personnel to prevent this species from becoming extinct, and has been instrumental in the establishment of the Robust Redhorse Conservation Committee (RRCC). The RRCC, in an effort to restore populations of this fish to sustainable levels, directs the efforts of representatives from state, federal, and private sectors. Section staff developed spawning and rearing techniques that resulted in the production of fingerlings suitable for stocking in natural environments. A total of 26,919 fingerling robust redhorse were harvested in the fall of 2000 from rearing ponds at eight state fish hatcheries in Georgia and South Carolina. These fingerlings were produced from Oconee and Savannah river brood stock captured and spawned in the spring of 2000. Of the fingerlings harvested, 11,426 were stocked in the Oconee and Ogeechee river basins in Georgia. Other fish were distributed to hatcheries and rearing ponds in Georgia and South Carolina for advanced rearing. Adult robust redhorse were captured by RRCC members sampling in Savannah River shoals at Augusta in the spring of 1998, 2000, and 2001. A second, robust redhorse spawning site was located in the Savannah River downstream of the New Savannah River Bluff Lock and Dam in the spring of 2000.
Unauthorized introduction of 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 and subsequent movement to the adjacent Satilla River basin by 1996. The Section has aggressively sought a solution that will please anglers but protect resident fish populations impacted by the invasion of this non-native species. Public concerns have focused on the reduced numbers of redbreast sunfish and bullheads now available in the fishery. Activities of staff in FY2001 focused on: 1) removal of flatheads from experimental sections of the Altamaha and Ocmulgee rivers, 2) monitoring of redbreast sunfish populations in the Altamaha-Ocmulgee experimental section to determine if removal of flatheads is having a positive impact, 3) removal of flatheads from the Satilla River and monitoring of native sport fish populations, 4) monitoring of flathead catfish and other fish populations in the lower Altamaha River system. Removal efforts by the Section, increased fishing pressure by anglers, and the effects of drought appear to have reduced the Altamaha River flathead catfish population. Electrofishing capture rates of flathead catfish on the Altamaha River have decreased from 217 kilograms per hour in 1998 to 66 kilograms per hour in 2001. In contrast, the capture rate of flathead catfish has been increasing in the Satilla River despite removal efforts, but no negative impacts on native fish populations have been documented.
The stream survey team assesses fish communities in wadeable streams across the state. Indices used to assess stream fish communities include the index of biotic integrity, the modified index of well-being, and a habitat assessment. The index of biotic integrity is a robust measure of 12-13 community attributes and is used in conjunction with the other indices to help identify point and non-point source pollution impacts. In FY2001, the team sampled 125 streams in the southeastern plains, piedmont, and ridge
4

and valley ecoregions of the state. Georgia's Environmental Protection Division (EPD) was provided a list of impaired streams and their potential cause of impairment. EPD will establish total maximum daily loads (TMDL) for each pollutant, which should reduce impacts and return the fish community to a level that meets federal Clean Water Act specifications. Improved water quality and habitat after TMDL implementation will result in better angling opportunities within and downstream of improved stream segments. In related efforts, regional fisheries staff provided EPD more than 758 fish tissue samples representing 20 species from 15 bodies of water. These samples were provided to EPD for contaminant screening and health risk assessment in establishing public fish consumption advisories.
The Section, in cooperation with the National Park Service, added a 4.75-mile segment of the Chattahoochee River bordering Cobb and Fulton counties to the delayed harvest trout fishing program in November 2000. This area of river was stocked with 50,000 brown and rainbow trout and placed under catch-and-release regulation between November 1 and May 14. The delayed harvest program has proven to be very popular among the fishing public. The possibility of catching a "trophy" (18 to 20-inch) fish has added to the program's allure, enhanced by the stocking of retired hatchery brood fish. Based on the success of this program and continued angler support, the Section will consider expanding delayed harvest to other streams that meet qualifying criteria. A new brown trout state record (18 lbs, 6 ozs) was established on November 12, 2001 by an angler fishing the Chattahoochee River near Alpharetta.
The Section continued to provide public service in other areas during FY2001. 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 continued. As a result of these activities, a reduction in the legal harvest length for largemouth bass in Lake Walter F. George was approved and implemented, efforts to control hydrilla in Lake Seminole were continued, experimental introductions of native aquatic plants were evaluated at Lake Oconee, predator introductions to control blueback herring populations in Lake Burton were recommended and spawning benches to enhance largemouth bass spawning were tested in Lake Burton. Over 5.1 million fingerling fish produced at the Section's warmwater hatcheries were provided for stocking 2,259 privately owned, newly constructed, or renovated ponds to establish fish populations. The Section had another successful year of producing and stocking white bass x striped bass hybrid fingerlings. Over 3.1 million hybrid bass fingerlings were stocked into 23 lakes and reservoirs. Also, over 2 million Atlantic and Gulf Coast strain striped bass fingerlings were raised in Georgia hatcheries and stocked into 11 reservoirs. An additional 40,003 oxytetracycline (OTC) marked, 8-inch striped bass were produced and stocked into the Savannah River as part of a continuing effort to re-establish a brood fish population in that system. Striped bass population monitoring and habitat restoration efforts by the Section continued in the lower Savannah River in hopes of re-establishing this area as the primary resource for this species in Georgia.
5

Appendix A: Tables showing important facts about fishing in Georgia, information on revenue earned, and expenditures for FY2001.
6

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. These are the most accurate data 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."

7

Table A-2. Revenue (to the nearest dollar) generated by the Fisheries Section from license sales in license year 2000-2001.a

License Sales License Year 2000-2001 (April 1, 2000 to March 31, 2001)

Type of License Combination Hunting-Fishing

Number 52,934

Sportsman=s

32,637

Resident Fishing Resident Trout One-Day Fishing Non-Resident Season Fishing Non-Resident 7-day Fishing Non-Resident Season Trout

433,011 100,535
61,303 9,697
27,028 7,906

Revenue $449,939 b
979,100 b 3,897,099
502,675 214,561 232,728 189,196 102,778

Totals

725,051

$6,568,076

a In addition to license sales shown, the Wildlife Resources Division sold 44,558 resident Wildlife Management Area (WMA) stamps for $846,602 and 1,129 nonresident Wildlife Management Area stamps for $82,417. These WMA stamps are required to fish on any Public Fishing Area or hunt on any W MA. 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.

8

Table A-3. Fisheries Section expenditures (thousands of dollars) by region and program with total man-days in FY2001.a

PROGRAM

HQb

I

COST

TOTAL

TOTAL

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII COST MAN-DAYS

Private Waters Management

55.7

58.7

19.5

75.9 47.1 35.7

88.1 43.2

423.9

1,801

Public Waters Management

789.9 466.7 709.4 564.7 665.2 355.8 574.8 373.0 4,499.5

13,499

Aquatic Plant Control

4.4

28.9

33.3

47

Trout Production/Stocking

133.9 165.8 719.3

1,019.0

3,417

Warmwater Hatcheries

184.4

52.1

25.0 270.7 10.7 375.6 167.7 317.2 1,403.4

4,705

Aquatic Education

152.9

36.1

43.5 105.1 52.6 34.9

38.4 16.5

480.0

1,844

Public Fishing Areas

147.8 306.6

74.6 164.8

431.0

1,124.8

4,959

Resource Studies

9.9

29.3

36.5

75.7

258

Facility Maintenance and New Construction
Total

602.9

31.7

2.2

56.7 574.3 82.2

32.4 7.1 1,389.5

2,081.8 1,117.7 1,518.9 1,177.0 1,543.6 920.7 1,332.4 757.0 10,449.1 c

1,865 32,395

9

a Figures may differ somewhat from the final 6/01 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 Public Waters Management, Aquatic Plant Control, Aquatic Education, and Facilities Maintenance and New Construction. These four programs include specific and prorated Headquarters cost.
c Total expenditures for the Section includes $3,644,299 of federal funds allocated to Georgia from the Sport Fish Restoration program and $296,983 of private funding from Oglethorpe Power Company for the operation of Rocky Mountain Public Fishing Area.

Appendix B: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Private Waters Management Program in FY2001.
10

Table B-1. Number of field investigations on private waters in each region in FY2001.

Region

Balance

Aquatic plant

Prestocking

General

Regional

control

Fish kill

checks

management Region totals percentages

I

29

6

8

43

4%

II

7

4

16

27

2%

III

248

32

22

12

10

324

28%

11

IV V VI VII Statewide totals % of totals

111 89 31 41
556 48%

22 7
63 57 187 16%

20 9
38 20 121 11%

12

41

206

18%

4

55

164

14%

16

113

261

23%

9

127

11%

44

244

1,152

100%

4%

21%

100%

Table B-2. Total number and acres of private ponds stocked with fingerling largemouth bass, bream and channel catfish in FY2001. Fish are provided to pond owners to establish fishable populations in newly constructed or renovated ponds.

Region

Bass-bream ponds stocked
Number Acres

Percent stocked at fertilized rate Number Acres

Number and species stocked

Bluegill

Redear Largemouth Channel

sunfish

bass

catfish

Catfish only ponds stocked
Number Acres

12

I

84 258

II

49 168

III

234 877 1.3% 0.7%

IV

172 783 11.3% 10.4%

V

349 2,488 3.1% 2.4%

VI

599 3,445 1.2% 1.3%

VII

68 344

Statewide totals 1,555 8,363

2.7% 2.4%

113,452 27,988

79,800

1,000

324,440 81,135

329,633 80,127

961,805 233,235

1,381,910 344,090

163,765 70,010 3,354,805 837,585

14,146 17,389 8,510 13,660
38,430 88,603 40,154 45,206 117,478 137,903 177,385 240,925
7,465 25,265 403,568 568,951

26

26

17

21

127

292

35

134

156

841

293

780

50

91

704 2,185

Appendix C: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Public Waters Management Program in FY2001.
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Table C-1. Aquatic plant management activities conducted statewide during FY2001.

Body of water

County

Treatments and lakes

A. H. Stephens State Park
Blackshear
Blackshear

Taliaferro
Crisp, Dooley, Sumter and Worth
Same as above

Target pest
Najas quadalupensis
Lyngbya Lyngbya

Control method

Acres

No. of

Cost of

treated treatments treatment

Management objectives; treatment effectiveness

Aquathol K, 6 gal/acre

20.7

2

Cutrine Plus, 60 lbs/acre

22.0

3

K-Tea, 10 gal/acre

8.8

1

$10,435

Impede invasion, improve access; good success with control

6,613

Improve access; fair success with control

Improve access; fair success with 2,668 control

Blackshear

Same as above

American Lotus, Ludwigia and Alligatorweed

Aqua-Kleen, 150 lbs/acre

1.5

2

676

Impede invasion, improve access; good success with control

14

Water Hyacinth,

Blackshear

Same as above

American Lotus,

Rodeo, 0.8 gal/acre,

Ludwigia,

Exactrol-More/Wind Brake,

Alligatorweed and

0.25 gal/acre

21.3

2

Giant Cutgrass

GSP Tifton

Tift

Ludwigia, Alligatorweed and assorted grasses

Rodeo, 0.8 gal/acre, Exactrol-More/Wind Brake,
0.25 gal/acre

2.0

1

Dodge County PFA

Dodge

Duckweed

Diquat/Reward, 1 gal/acre

5.0

1

Grand total

81.3

12

6,283

Impede invasion, improve access; good success with control

760

Impede invasion, improve access; good success with control

Impede invasion, improve access; 1,423 good success with control

$28,858

Table C-2. Fish kills investigated by the Fisheries Section in FY 2001.

Category of cause Agricultural Industrial Municipal a Natural/Disease Other c Transportation Undetermined Total

Number of incidents 1 2
13 4 1 2 2
25

Fish killed

Number

Value

72

$16.76

11,728

2,968.41

28,685 3,244

25,279.17 0 b

63

20.79

26

14.56

203

168.39

44,021

$28,468.08

15

a Includes fish kills caused by sewage discharges from county or city waste treatment facilities. b 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 fish are, therefore, rarely calculated. c Fish kill caused by construction related activities.

Table C-3. Environmental reviews and assessments conducted by the Fisheries Section in FY2001.

Agency and type of review

Number a

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Environmental Protection Division Permits and Variances

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

28

Stream buffer issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2

Surface mining application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1

Trout stream impoundment impact analysis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1

Wastewater discharge permits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1

Georgia State Clearinghouse

Project reviews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

U. S. Government Agency Permits, Projects and Plans

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

3

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

7

Fish & Wildlife Service Coordination Act Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

Federal Installation Integrated Mangt. Resource Management Plans. . .

3

National Park Service - Chattahoochee Recreational Area. . . . . . . . . . .

1

Tennessee Valley Authority - Environmental Assessments. . . . . . . . . .

2

Local/Regional Government Projects

Developments of Regional Impact. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

60

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.

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Appendix D: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Trout Production Program in FY2001.
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Table D-1. Catchable trout production (lbs), feed conversion ratios, and costs at state hatcheries in FY2001.

Hatchery

Species

RAINBOW

BROWN

Total

Cost a

Total

Per lb

Catchables Buford

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

166,089 1.62

25,597 1.38

191,686 1.59

$339,135

$1.77

Burton

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

72,166

26,569

98,735

256,315

2.60

1.48

1.26

1.42

Summerville Net weight gain Conversion ratio

30,417 1.43

30,417

88,211

2.90

1.43

Total

Net weight gain Conversion ratio b

268,672 1.56

52,166 1.32

320,838 1.52

$683,661

$2.13

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Cost per pound to stock catchable trout from state hatcheries: Production and distribution costs per pound:
Fingerlings c Summerville Fingerling trout (average length 3.0 inches) production of 849,170
fingerling rainbow trout weighing 16,871 pounds.

$57,197

$0.45 $2.58
$3.39

Grand Total Catchable and Fingerling Costs

$740,858

$2.64

a Costs do not include administrative costs of the Headquarters staff or costs of capital outlay improvements. b Conversion ratios used in totals are weighted means. 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. The cost of fingerlings & fry received from federal hatcheries is unknown and not included.

Table D-2. Number and weight (lbs) of species of trout stocked into Georgia public waters from state and federal hatcheries during FY2001.

Facility

RAINBOW

Number

Weight

BROWN

Number

Weight

TOTAL

Number

Weight

STATE HATCHERIES Buford catchables fingerlings Burton catchables fingerlings Summerville catchables

391,680 50,000
263,854 132,262
56,763

132,692 4,428
77,599 3,225
23,061

54,822 50,000
57,578 91,550

21,389 1,916
17,207 181

446,502 100,000
321,432 223,812
56,763

154,081 6,344
94,806 3,406
23,061

19

FEDERAL HATCHERIES

Chattahoochee

catchables

364,903

116,207

364,903

116,207

TOTAL catchables fingerlings

1,077,200 182,262

349,559 7,653

112,400 141,550

38,596 2,097

1,189,600 323,812

388,155 9,750

Table D-3. Number and weight (lbs) of catchable trout by species and habitat type stocked from all hatcheries in FY2001.

RAINBOW

Habitat

Number

STREAMS BY COUNTY

Bartow

13,550

Catoosa

2,100

Chattooga

4,500

Cherokee

1,000

Dade

100

Dawson

26,767

Fannin

72,863

Floyd

28,175

Gilmer

29,528

Gordon

1,500

Habersham

24,236

Haralson

9,150

Lumpkin

82,902

Murray

23,704

Paulding

6,200

Pickens

9,684

Polk

2,000

Rabun

126,035

Stephens

34,793

Towns

42,873

Union

79,299

Walker

13,750

White

82,218

Whitfield

400

Weight
4,405 865
1,815 326 41
8,754 24,043 10,670
9,702 481
7,286 3,630 25,218 7,821 2,493 3,005
791 37,046
9,791 13,080 25,177
5,152 24,911
162

Sub-total

717,327 226,665

TAILWATERS Blue Ridge Hartwell Lanier Morgan Falls

31,393 17,477 197,078 42,785

9,001 4,256 69,194 17,580

Sub-total

288,733 100,031

RESERVOIRS Burton Seed Tugalo Lake
Sub-total SMALL LAKES
Black Rock Dockery Nancytown Rock Creek Vogel Winfield Scott

2,300 1,000 4,950 8,250
2,475 10,700 14,000 12,840
3,075 19,800

767 334 1,650 2,751
807 3,507 4,521 4,008 1,031 6,238

Sub-total

62,890 20,112

GRAND TOTAL

1,077,200 349,559

BROWN Number Weight

150

45

2,428

752

2,484

930

50
18,819 5,956 4,336 1,969
15,771

56
5,679 1,835 1,175
491
5,321

51,963 16,284

44,646 7,091
51,737

16,449 3,245
19,694

3,200 1,000 4,500 8,700

964 300 1,354 2,618

112,400 38,596

TOTAL

Number

Weight

13,550 2,100 4,500 1,000 100
26,767 72,863 28,175 29,678
1,500 26,664
9,150 85,386 23,704
6,200 9,734 2,000 144,854 40,749 47,209 81,268 13,750 97,989
400
769,290

4,405 865
1,815 326 41
8,754 24,043 10,670
9,747 481
8,038 3,630 26,148 7,821 2,493 3,061
791 42,725 11,626 14,255 25,668
5,152 30,232
162
242,949

31,393 17,477 241,724 49,876
340,470

9,001 4,256 85,643 20,825
119,725

5,500 2,000 9,450 16,950
2,475 10,700 14,000 12,840
3,075 19,800 62,890 1,189,600

1,731 634
3,004 5,369
807 3,507 4,521 4,008 1,031 6,238 20,112 388,155

20

Table D-4. Number and weight (lbs) of fingerling trout by species and habitat type stocked from all hatcheries in FY2001.

Locations stocked

RAINBOW Number Weight

BROWN

TOTAL

Number Weight Number Weight

STREAMS BY COUNTY

Habersham

20,000

8 20,000

8

Rabun

20,000

600

40,925 102 60,925

702

Stephens

30,000

14 30,000

14

White

625

15

625

57

1,250

72

Sub-total

20,625

615

91,550 181 112,175

796

TAILWATERS Blue Ridge

91,637

Lanier

10,000

Morgan Falls 60,000

Sub-total

161,637

GRAND TOTAL 182,262

1,640 485
4,913 7,038 7,653

50,000 50,000 141,550

1,916 1,916 2,097

91,637 10,000 110,000 211,637 323,812

1,640 485
6,829 8,954 9,750

21

Appendix E: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Warmwater Hatchery Production Program in FY2001.
22

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

state hatcheries in FY2001.

Number Cost pera

Species

Acres

Number per acre

fish ($)

Bluegill Fingerling

22.62 5,613,301 248,157

0.033

Channel catfish

Fry

6.90 2,413,000 349,710

0.028

Fingerling Intermediate

8.07 18.40

894,710 588,240

110,869 31,970

0.119 0.290

Harvestable

16.13

51,045

3,165

1.928

Hybrid white-striped bass Fry Fingerling

b 18,700,000 26.45 3,450,541

b
130,455

0.012 0.049

Largemouth bass

Fingerling

11.51

857,242

74,478

0.113

Redear sunfish Fingerling

6.11 1,143,395 187,135

0.062

Robust redhorse Fingerling Intermediate
Shoal bass Fingerling

3.79

6,393

1,687

c

1.58

1,675

1,060

c

3.60

58,208

16,169

0.919

Striped bass Fry Fingerling Intermediate

b
13.11 5.75

5,940,000 2,383,087
41,036

b
181,776 7,137

0.010 0.025 1.274

Totals (all phases)

144.02 42,141,873 d 124,482 e

0.073 e

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 A total of $31,831 was expended on the experimental culture of this species. Georgia is
the first state to attempt the hatchery culture of this potentially threatened species. d 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 hatchery spawning stocks, and the stocking of fish produced at federal
hatcheries. e Weighted means. Striped bass, hybrid striped-white bass, hybrid white-striped bass,
and robust redhorse (all phases) are not included.

23

Table E-2. Warmwater fish species produced (number) by size class at state hatcheries in FY2001.

24

Species

Bowens Mill

Bluegill Fingerling

1,585,545

Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable

284,725

Hybrid white-striped bass

Fry

Fingerling

1,385,126

Largemouth bass Fingerling

280,327

Redear sunfish Fingerling

275,220

Robust redhorse Fingerling Intermediate

Shoal bass Fingerling

Striped bass Fry Fingerling Intermediate
Total

3,810,943

Burton

Cordele

Richmond

McDuffie

Hill

Steve Cocke

Walton

Total

2,033,000 112,107 301,811 6,085
1,026,419

990,669 1,285,777 1,065,000 686,310 5,613,301

380,000 243,115
36,818

94,763 34,621

160,000 241,808
8,142

10,000

2,413,000 894,710 588,240 51,045

18,700,000 881,725

157,271

18,700,000 3,450,541

160,738 138,900 163,000 114,277

857,242

4,043

35,648

261,482 1,053

261,589 235,000 110,104 1,143,395

190

2,160

6,393

622

1,675

22,560

58,208

4,043 3,515,070

920,565 2,994,440

5,940,000 254,880 41,036
27,633,481

510,753 2,563,534

696,889 1,620,362

5,940,000 2,383,087
41,036 42,141,873

Table E-3. Cost per fish (dollars) by size class for warmwater fish species produced at state hatcheries in FY2001.a

25

Species

Bowens Mill

Bluegill

Fingerling

0.030

Channel catfish

Fry

Fingerling

0.099

Intermediate

Harvestable

Hybrid white-striped bass

Fry

Fingerling

0.034

Largemouth bass

Fingerling

0.207

Redear sunfish

Fingerling

0.056

Shoal bass Fingerling

Cordele
0.028 0.175 0.296 1.948 0.044
0.605

McDuffie

Richmond Hill Steve Cocke Walton

Statewide Weighted Average

0.020

0.037

0.049

0.027

0.033

0.032 0.107
1.578

0.147 0.450

0.199 0.225 0.767

1.117

0.028 0.119 0.290 1.928

0.010 0.078

0.055

0.010 0.049

0.054

0.121

0.055

0.035

0.113

0.048

0.044

0.075 1.415

0.123

0.062 0.919

Striped bass

Fry

0.010

0.010

Fingerling

0.027

0.073

0.008

0.017

0.025

Intermediate

1.274

1.274

a
A total of $31,831 was also expended as part of an experimental effort to determine how to culture the potentially threatened robust

redhorse at Burton, McDuffie, Richmond Hill, and Walton hatcheries.

Table E-4. Number of warmwater fish distributed from state hatcheries in FY2001. Totals include fish provided by federal hatcheries,

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

Kid's

fishing

Species

events

Bluegill

Fingerling

Channel catfish

Fingerling

3,250

Intermediate

323,677

Harvestable

49,799

Grass carp

Harvestable

Hybrid white-striped bass

Fry

Fingerling

Largemouth bass

Fingerling

Redear sunfish

Fingerling

Robust redhorse

Fingerling

Advanced fingerling

Intermediate

Shoal bass

Fingerling

Striped bass - Atlantic strain

Fry

Fingerling

Intermediate

Striped bass - Gulf strain

Fingerling

Walleye

Fingerling

Total (all sizes)

376,726

Other fisheries agencies
2,000 60
2,500,000 279,633
190 4
1,276,000 140,010
4,197,897

Private waters
3,354,805 568,951
403,568 837,585
5,164,909

Public fishing areas
531,200 2,450
49,625 6,886 804 3,000 2,300 4,600
600,865

Publicly owned
small lakes

Reservoirs

452,550

105,308 115,227
9,000

18,789 36,211

2,500 3,130,143 7,050 44,100
918

1,524,605
777,343 33,000
736,653 5,520,091

Rivers & streams

Total a

4,338,555

700,748 524,740
65,745

804

2,500,000 3,415,276

412,918

886,285

190 4
918

57,958

57,958

40,003

1,276,000 1,664,615
40,003

777,343

33,000 97,961 16,695,102

26

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 FY2001.
27

Table F-1. Operational costs of Georgia public fishing areas for FY2001.

Region

Area

Acreage

Total

Number open to operating

Ownership of lakes public fishing cost ($)

I Rocky Mountain Private

2

559.0

306,602 a

III McDuffie

State

13

126.0

74,608

IV Big Lazer

State

1

195.0

10,735

IV Marben Farms

State

22

290.8

154,075

VI Dodge County

State

1

104.0

122,051

VI Evans County VI Laurens County b

State State

3

92.0

87,356

1

109.0

16,376

VI Paradise

State

60

409.0

204,169

VI Treutlen County Private

1

189.0

1,067

Total

2,073.8

977,039

a Cost of operation includes campground and swimming beach. Cost was funded through a contract with Oglethorpe Power Corporation.
b New public fishing area not yet opened to the public for fishing. Expected to open
Fall 2003.

28

Appendix G: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Resource Studies in FY2001.
29

Table G-1. Fishery resource studies with costs conducted in Georgia during FY2001.

Region

Study title

Cost ($)

East Central (III)

Investigation of the Trout Fishery in the Chattahoochee River Below Buford Dam

29,269

Southwest (V)

Effects of Flouridone Treatment on Largemouth Bass Movement in Lake Seminole

36,474

Headquarters Total

Administrative project review and support services

9,945 $75,688

30

Table G-2. Final reports and publications completed by the Fisheries Section in FY2001.

Author Owens, S. J. and P. J. Geer

Publication
In Press. Size and age of American eels collected from tributaries of the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay. Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Catadromous eels: August 21-22, 2000, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Schleiger, S. L.
Weathers, K., M. Newman, D. Partridge, and R. Wright
Schmitt, D. N.

Schleiger, S. L., 2000. Use of an index of biotic integrity to detect effects of land use on stream fish communities in west-central Georgia. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 129:1118-1133.
In Press. Fish population and angler response to a 406-mm minimum length limit for largemouth bass on Lake Eufaula, AL-GA. Proceedings of the Fifty-fourth Annual Conference, Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
Georgia standardized sampling evaluation: electrofishing and gill net catch per unit effort

31

Appendix H: Table showing the Fisheries Section maintenance and construction projects in FY2001.
32

33

Table H-1. Facility maintenance and construction projects statewide during FY2001.

Project

Project description

Boat Ramp Construction

New boat ramps were constructed at five locations and construction at a sixth location was begun. Three of the five new ramps constructed were double-lane structures; one located on Lake Sinclair in Putnam County and two located on the Withlacoochee River in Lowndes County (SR 31 and SR133). A single-lane ramp was constructed on Brier Creek on Murray Hill Road in Burke County and a triple-lane ramp was completed on Lake Seminole at SR253 in Decatur County. Two floating, aluminum service piers and a gravel parking area for up to 80 trailered vehicles, including three concrete, handicapped parking pads were constructed at the Lake Sinclair site. A second doublelane ramp is also scheduled for this site in the next fiscal year. Gravel parking areas were constructed or improved at the four other ramp construction sites. Construction at the sixth ramp site on the Altamaha River at Pig Farm Landing in Wayne County was delayed by unfavorable river water levels. Land was acquired for new ramp sites on the Flint River at SR128 in Crawford County and the Little Satilla River at Zirkle Landing in Pierce County. Plans and permits for these two landings and a third landing on the Kinchafoonee River at SR45 in Webster County were finalized to begin construction in FY2002.

Boat Ramp Repair and Maintenance (statewide)

Inspections of statewide Department boating access facilities were conducted no less than once during the year with many inspected on numerous occasions. Inspections included cutting of grass and trash pick-up and removal. Service piers with connecting walkways were installed at existing boat ramps on the Savannah River at Tuckasee King Landing in Screven County and on Lake Bobbin at Paradise Public Fishing Area in Berrien County. The ramp and parking area on Lake Bobbin were also renovated. A second existing boating access site on the Savannah River at SR301 in Screven County was acquired from the Georgia Dept. of Transportation and completely renovated. Two Clarks Hill Reservoir boating access sites at SR17 in McDuffie County and SR79 in Lincoln County were renovated. Both sites had new ramps installed and parking areas re-worked. Parking areas were also renovated at boating access sites on the Flint River in Lee and Wayne counties and on the Ocmulgee River at SR83 in Jasper County. Numerous smaller repairs on parking areas, signs, service piers and ramps were conducted statewide by Section personnel.

Laurens County Public Fishing Area

Engineering fees and construction costs for dam, lake bed, and office facilities on site of new Laurens County Public Fishing Area. Costs include funds expended on bond supplements and surveys of electrical service and entrance easements to the area.

Cordele Hatchery

Remodeled the Hatchery Manager's residence: added a new master bedroom, closet and bath; converted one bedroom to a bathroom and laundry; replaced kitchen cabinets; replaced windows; installed new septic system; and re-sided and re-roofed house. This was a continuation of work begun in FY2000.

Total cost 248,074
447,334
453,424 41,213

Table H-1 (continued). Facility maintenance and construction projects statewide during FY2001.

Project Cordele Hatchery
Walton Regional Office

Project description
FEMA project to repair damage to hatchery resulting from Flood of 1998. Work included repair of former PFA dam, construction of two ponds in area of former raceways, removal of rock debris from the creek downstream of the old PFA dam, and replacement of retaining wall on the spring.
Replaced office roof and installed carpeting in interior offices.

Total cost 21,633
9,923

Walton Hatchery

Constructed an attached garage and storage structure to the Hatchery manager's residence.

6,756

Manager's Residence-Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center
McDuffie Public Fishing Area

Replaced heating/air conditioning unit in Manager's residence. Engineering fees and costs to repair the east side dams at McDuffie Public Fishing Area.

2,600 18,792

34

West Central Regional offices Summerville Fish Hatchery

Activities associated with the maintenance of regional and district facilities. Activities include landscaping, grounds and office maintenance, upkeep of structures, etc.
Fees for two independent appraisals of Downes tract adjacent to Summerville Fish Hatchery.

14,034 3,400

McDuffie Fish Hatchery
Headquarters Administrative Costs Total expenditures

Attorney's fees, taxes and title insurance associated with the purchase of adjacent Prather tract. Prorated time and expenses of headquarters staff to manage capital outlay projects.

3,396 118,980 1,389,559