Fisheries Section annual report, fiscal year 2003

FISHERIES SECTION ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year 2003
July 1, 2002 - June 30, 2003
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,

7

and Fisheries Section expenditures

B. Private waters management

11

C. Public waters management

14

D. Trout production and distribution

18

E. Warmwater hatchery production and distribution

23

F. Public fishing area operation

28

G. Resource studies

30

H. Maintenance and construction

33

Fisheries Section Activities
Fishing is the most popular wildlife-related activity in Georgia, enjoyed by every age. Around 1.29 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 $568 million yearly on fishing in Georgia with an economic impact of more than $1.14 billion generating an estimated 10,600 jobs. Programs of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD), Fisheries Section (Section) during fiscal year 2003 (FY2003) 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).
Hugh M. Gillis PFA is Georgia's newest Public Fishing Area. Located in Laurens County just 12 miles east of Dublin, this area features a 109-acre lake designed and built just for fishing. Lake and dam construction were completed in January 2002 and largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, and crappie fingerlings were stocked once minimum lake levels were reached. The main lake reached full pool on February 16, 2003. A supplemental stocking of 1,300 advanced phase largemouth bass fingerlings and 395 adult bass (12-14 inch) was also done in early 2003 to enhance the existing population. The grand opening is scheduled for August 22, 2003 when the lake and area will be dedicated to Senator Gillis. The new public fishing area will be open to the public for fishing from that date forward seven days per week from sunrise to sunset.
The re-introduction of lake sturgeon into the Coosa River Basin began in D ecember 2002 with the stocking of 1,127 lake sturgeon fingerlings into the Oostanaula River. The lake sturgeon, once an abundant member of the unique fish assemblage of the Coosa River System, was extirpated from the system in the late 1960s, probably due to habitat degradation and over-harvest. The goal is to re-establish a self-sustaining population of lake sturgeon and provide another sport fish for Georgia anglers. Anglers reported seeing the stocked juvenile sturgeon in the summer of 2003, and the fish appeared healthy. The recovery plan calls for stocking 5,000 to 10,000 fish per year for 20 years for the reestablishment of a breeding population capable of sustaining itself.
The Section, in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the US Forest Service, added a 2.3-mile section of the Chattooga River
1

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in Rabun County to the delayed harvest streams program in November 2002. This section of river was stocked with brown and rainbow trout during the catch-and-release period from November 1 through May 14, 2003. Anglers may not keep any fish during this period, and are restricted to the use of single hook artificial lures. The maintenance of high catch rates and the possibility of catching a "trophy" size fish add appeal to the program for many anglers. This new section brings the total number of delayed harvest streams to four. The other streams in the program include: Smith Creek from Unicoi Lake dam downstream to Unicoi State Park boundary in White County, Amicalola Creek from Steel Bridge Road downstream to GA Highway 53 in Dawson County, and the Chattahoochee River from Sope Creek downstream to US Highway 41 in metro Atlanta.
The Section monitors the population size, age structure, and the commercial and sport harvest of American shad in Georgia's coastal plain rivers with emphasis on the Altamaha River system. These monitoring efforts satisfy Georgia's requirements to Amendment 1 of the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Shad and River Herring developed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. During 2002, 25,526 pounds of American shad were commercially harvested from Georgia rivers. This was approximately a 54% decrease from the 56,044 pounds harvested during 2001. An estimated 87,267 American shad returned to the Altamaha River to spawn during 2002, down from 123,782 fish during 2001. The shad population and harvest are at much lower levels than those observed during the population's peak in the mid 1990's. However, the overall exploitation rate of 0.235 is also extremely low. Thus, there is no evidence that the population is being over-harvested. The drought conditions that existed from 1998 through the summer of 2002 likely reduced the number of juvenile shad that emigrated into the ocean, but this will not necessarily result in a lower population returning in future years to spawn. Once juveniles move out to sea, there are so many variables that affect year class strength that a prediction of future runs is not possible.
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. 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 initiated by the Section in the early 1990's have been very successful in increasing the number of striped bass in the lower Savannah River. Subsequent annual monitoring has indicated that population numbers are approaching historic levels. However, the key to recovery lies in the ability of this species to naturally sustain its numbers. To date, natural recruitment has been minimal. The potential negative impacts of proposed habitat alteration projects associated with harbor expansion and channel deepening threatens the progress of population recovery and continues to be a concern.
The Section continues to introduce youth to fishing through the Kids Fishing Events program. Section staff held a total of 469 Kids Fishing Events (KFEs) statewide with 27,281 youth attending. Twenty-four percent of the attendees were beginners and 74% caught at least one fish. Two hundred, forty-six KFEs were classified as "general" events
3

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. Staff at 13 WRD facilities sponsored the remaining 223 events. Ponds at Burton and Buford hatcheries, set aside for fishing by families with children, also provided a quality fishing experience for 2,963 youth in FY2003.
Aquatic Project WILD training was provided to 744 Georgia educators at 39 workshops conducted statewide. Twenty-four University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agents were trained as Project WILD facilitators at a joint Project WILD/WET workshop. One Advanced Project WILD workshop addressing "Wetlands and Waterfowl" was conducted at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge and Altamaha Wildlife Management Area and attended by 18 educators and resource management professionals. Overall, Fisheries Section staff conducted over 45 presentations to over 3,460 adults on a variety of topics including the importance of aquatic resources, aquatic resource management issues, sport fishing, striped bass, pond management, erosion and sedimentation, and aquatic weed management. The Section also sponsored and manned exhibits at the Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expos in Atlanta and Perry, Georgia National Fair, Trout Fishing Primer, Unicoi Outdoor Adventure Day, Arrowhead Environmental Education Center Outdoor Adventure Day, Okefenokee Fair, National Wild Turkey Federation Jakes Day, and Long County Wildlife Festival. It is estimated that a combined total of over 180,000 Georgia citizens attended these events.
The McDuffie Environmental Education Center (MEEC) is operated through a partnership between WRD and nine area resource and educational agencies. Originally formed in 1996, nearly 30,000 students and teachers or paraprofessionals have benefited from the outdoor classroom activities. A grant of $67,000 received from the Solid Waste Trust Fund was used to hire an intern, build an outdoor pavilion with restrooms, purchase a student recycling activity center, and purchase four new computers for the center. Accessibility was improved by adding several accessible walkways and boardwalks at the MEEC using Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) funds. Ann Matherly, the MEEC coordinator, received the Trailblazer award from the Environmental Education in Georgia Group for her role in the establishment of exemplary environmental education lesson plans on the Georgia Learning Center web site.
The robust redhorse (Moxostoma robustum), an imperiled fish, was discovered in the Oconee River in 1991 during a survey conducted for the relicensing of the Sinclair Hydroelectric Project. The Section has committed significant resources to recovery efforts for this species, and has been instrumental in the establishment of the Robust Redhorse Conservation Committee (RRCC). As the primary recovery vehicle, the RRCC directs the efforts of state, federal, and private sector representatives toward the goal of restoring the robust redhorse to a significant portion of its historic range in the Southeastern United States. A total of 38,032 robust redhorse fry were produced during the Spring 2002 spawning season on the Oconee River. Overall survival rate through the Phase I fingerling stage at Walton, Burton, Richmond Hill, and McDuffie hatcheries was 48 percent. A total of
4

18,186 fingerlings were stocked in the Ocmulgee, Ogeechee, and Oconee rivers and several refugial ponds at Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge. The Ocmulgee River stockings between the Lloyd Shoals and Juliette dams represent a continuation of restoration efforts under a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) signed in January 2002 by Georgia Power Company, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Georgia DNR. This agreement provides assurances that, in exchange for funding conservation actions, Georgia Power Company operations at Lloyd Shoals Dam will not be impacted if the robust redhorse is eventually listed under the Endangered Species Act. Other significant species recovery activities included: development of 15 comprehensive policy statements to guide practices in the redhorse recovery effort, a bank stabilization project on the Ocmulgee River to reduce sedimentation and aid restoration efforts initiated under the CCAA, telemetry investigations of juvenile migration and habitat use on the Ocmulgee River, initial development of fish passage facilities at Juliette Dam, incorporation of robust redhorse habitat requirements into instream flow studies for the Augusta Canal relicensing process, formation of Technical Working Groups (Habitat, Yadkin-Pee Dee, Oconee, and Ogeechee) to address a range of specific recovery issues, and completion of a robust redhorse population status survey on the Altamaha River.
The presence of flathead catfish in the Satilla River was confirmed in the summer of 1996. The Section annually monitors the population expansion of flathead catfish in the Satilla River and has initiated removal efforts in order to protect native fish species. Public sentiment is overwhelmingly in favor of protecting the premier redbreast fishery that exists on the Satilla River. During FY2003, Section staff expended 128 hours of electrofishing effort towards the removal of 5,296 lbs of flathead catfish from 90 miles of river. This was a 122% increase in electrofishing effort and a 362% increase in the total poundage of flathead catfish removed in the previous year's efforts. Despite removal efforts, capture rates of flathead catfish have continued to increase in the Satilla River. However, there has been no documented negative impacts on native fish populations due to the presence of increased numbers of flatheads.
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 (IBI), the modified index of well-being, and a habitat assessment. The IBIis a robust measure of 12-13 community attributes. Georgia biologists use this index, in conjunction with the other indices, to identify point and non-point source pollution impacts. In FY2003, the Stream Team sampled 96 streams in the Southeastern Plains, Piedmont, and Ridge and Valley ecoregions of the state. Sampling results from previous years were scored and a list of 54 impaired streams with their probable cause of degradation was provided to Georgia's Environmental Protection Division (EPD). EPD will establish Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) for the causative pollutant(s) that will be monitored and enforced. The overall goal is to improve water quality and stream community health by meeting federal Clean Water Act criteria through TMDL implementation.
The Section continued to provide public service in other areas during FY2003. Sampling continued on Georgia's major reservoirs and streams to detect potential
5

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 West Point was approved and implemented, efforts to rebuild the shoal bass population in the upper Chattahoochee River were initiated, experimental introductions of native aquatic plants were evaluated in lakes Oconee and Russell, predator introductions to control blueback herring populations in Lake Burton were implemented, spawning benches and Christmas trees were installed in Lake Burton to enhance spawning and nursery habitat of largemouth bass, sunfish and crappie. Fish attractors were also installed or maintained in lakes Allatoona, Carters, Rabun, Lanier, Nottely, Chatuge, Tobesofkee, Blackshear, and Walter F. George. Over 4.2 million fingerling fish produced at the Section's warmwater hatcheries were provided for stocking 2,133 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 3.2 million hybrid bass fingerlings were stocked into 20 lakes and reservoirs. Also, over 1.47 million Atlantic and Gulf Coast strain striped bass fingerlings were raised in Georgia hatcheries and stocked into 10 reservoirs. An additional 40,105 oxytetracycline (OTC) marked, 8 -inch striped bass were produced and stocked into the Savannah River as part of a continuing effort to reestablish a brood fish population in that system.
6

Appendix A: Tables showing important facts about fishing in Georgia, information on revenue earned, and expenditures for FY2003.
7

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
892,000 a 398,000 a 10,697,000 a 12,555,000 a
14 a $568,712,000 b
$1,140,197,000 b 10,649 b
$19,453,000 b

a 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation - Georgia published by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau in November 2002.
b Sportfishing in America: Values of Our Traditional Pastime published by the American Sportfishing Association. Calculations are based on data from the "2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation."

8

Table A-2. Revenue (to the nearest dollar) generated by the Fisheries Section from license sales in license year 2001-2002.a

License Sales License Year 2002-2003 (April 1, 2002 to March 31, 2003)

Type of License

Number

Lifetime (new issues)

1,587

Combination Hunting-Fishing

54,240

Sportsman=s

39,246

Resident Fishing Resident Trout

462,081 101,884

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

72,487 13,354 34,136
8,991

Revenue 292,425 b 445,258 b 1,153,707 b 3,885,496 449,752 211,415 313,323 219,876 111,850

Totals

788,006

$ 7,083,102

a In addition to license sales shown, the Wildlife Resources Division sold 44,515 resident Wildlife Management Area (WMA) stamps for $819,530 and 1,612 non-resident Wildlife Management Area stamps for $115,932. 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 was generated by fishing.
b This figure represents only half of the revenue generated by this license. The other half is considered generated by hunters.

9

Table A-3. Fisheries Section expenditures (thousands of dollars) by region and program with total man-days in FY2003.a

PROGRAM

COST

TOTAL TOTAL

HQb

I

II

III

IV

V

VI VII COST MAN-DAYS

Private Waters Management

15.6

52.1

15.6

53.0 48.5 47.3

80.9 45.8

358.8

1,586

Public Waters Management

355.2 495.1 634.4 532.9 544.7 360.6 426.1 343.0 3,692.0

13,387

Aquatic Plant Control

1.6

35.2

36.8

124

Trout Production/Stocking

38.4 170.9 676.9

886.2

3,060

Warmwater Hatcheries

52.8

47.0

44.6 234.3 18.8 397.4 143.1 279.6 1,217.6

4,948

Aquatic Education

200.5

37.1

47.6

82.5 68.3 44.8

20.5 33.9

535.2

1,793

10

Public Fishing Areas Resource Studies c

54.1 151.3

348.9

97.2 183.7 2.4

564.3

0.4 1,248.6 153.7

5,678

Capital Outlay & New Construction

553.0

17.7

1.4

33.3 831.1 12.9

24.0 7.9 1,481.3

1,588

Facility Operations & Maintenance
Total

9.4

12.7

43.9

13.8 36.7 62.0

28.1 11.2

217.8

1,431.9 1,181.5 1,466.8 1,047.0 1,767.0 925.0 1,287.0 721.8 9,610.2 d

502 32,666

a
Figures may differ somewhat from the final June 2003 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, Resource Studies, and Capital Outlay and New Construction. These five programs include specific and prorated Headquarters cost. c This category includes contracted studies in addition to Resource Studies conducted by Section personnel. d Total includes $4,040,673 in funding from the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration program.

Appendix B: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Private Waters Management Program in FY2003.
11

Table B-1. Number of field investigations on private waters in each region in FY2003.

12

Region

Balance

Aquatic Plant Control

Fish Kill

Prestocking General

Region

Check Management Totals

Regional Percentages

I

45

9

3

II

15

8

3

III

127

83

24

IV

108

31

22

V

115

19

2

VI

24

39

30

VII

31

11

Statewide Totals

465

189

95

% of Totals

46%

19%

9%

2

59

6%

12

38

4%

71

36

341

34%

30

191

19%

2

26

164

16%

2

43

138

14%

30

72

7%

75

179

1003

100%

8%

18%

100%

Table B-2. Total number and acres of private ponds stocked with fingerling largemouth bass, bream and channel catfish in FY2003. These 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

Species and number stocked

Bluegill

Redear Largemouth

sunfish

bass

Channel catfish

Catfish only ponds stocked Number Acres

I

71

224

II

32

78

III

274 1,059

IV

141

641

V

269 1,467

VI

586 3,000

VII

99

498

Statewide totals 1,472 6,968

11,349

89,230

28,420

7,105

1.1% 0.4%

414,560 103,640

3.5% 8.0%

262,680

65,545

5.2% 7.9%

562,570 121,880

0.3% 0.1% 1,198,720 299,305

203,240

47,810

1.6% 2.5% 2,681,539 734,515

22,320 4,103
52,998 29,693 72,645 141,755 21,370 344,884

13,906 15,040 95,789 33,468 92,465 206,963 43,095 500,726

23

17

27

29

161 324

24

72

131 559

227 694

69 195

662 1,890

13

Appendix C: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Public Waters Management Program in FY2003.
14

Table C-1. Aquatic plant management activities conducted statewide during FY2003.

15

Body of water

County

Target pest(s)

Control method

Acres

No. of

Cost of Management objectives;

treated treatments treatment treatment effectiveness

Arrowhead Lower Lake Blackshear
Blackshear

Floyd
Crisp / Dooly Sumter / Worth Crisp / Dooly Sumter / Worth

Blackshear

Crisp / Dooly Sumter / Worth

Blackshear

Crisp / Dooly Sumter / Worth

Reed Bingham Cook State Park 1
Reed Bingham Cook State Park 1
Reed Bingham Cook State Park 1
Grand Total

Water willow Lyngbya

2,4-D granular

1200 lbs

4.0

Cutrine Plus, 60 lbs/acre

5.0

American lotus,

Rodeo @ 0.08 gal/acre

45.3

ludwigia, parrotfeather, 2,4-D @ 0.08 gal/acre

watermilfoil,

Exactrol More & Wind Brake

alligatorweed

@ 0.25 gal/acre

Water hyacinth

Rodeo @ 0.8 gal/acre

6.6

American lotus,

2,4-D @ 0.04 gal/acre

ludwigia, alligatorweed, Exactrol More & Wind Brake

giant cutgrass

@ 0.25 gal/acre

Potamogeton, bladderwort, watermilfoil, parrotfeather

Aquathol Super K @ 8.8

5.6

lbs/acre

Hydrilla

Sonar AS @ 0.035 gal/acre

171

Hydrilla

Sonar SRP @ 16 lbs/acre

37.5

Ludwigia, alligatorweed, water hyacinth, spatterdock

2,4-D @ 1.5 gal/acre

20 295.0

2

$1,500 Moderate control

1

$3,675 Improve access; good

success with control

6

$14,328 Impede invasion, improve

access; good success

with control.

1

$3,650 Impede invasion, improve

access; good success

with control.

1

$3,901 Impede invasion, improve

access; good success

with control.

1

$3,225 Impede invasion, improve

access; good success

with control.

2

$4,837 Impede invasion, improve

access; good success

with control

1

$1,612 Impede invasion, improve

access; good success

with control

15

$36,728

1 Chemicals were purchased ($19,097) by the Parks, Recreation, and Historic Sites Division and were not included in the cost of treatment.

Table C-2. Fish kills investigated by the Fisheries Section in FY2003.

Category of Cause Agricultural

Number of Incidents 1

Fish Killed

Number

Value

885

$493.53

Industrial

1

Municipal a

8

Natural / Disease

3

Undetermined

6

Total

19

2,062 15,227
933 8,029 27,136

$429.81 $13,207.69
b
$0.00 $5,219.85 $19,350.88

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.

16

Table C-3. Environmental reviews and assessments conducted by the Fisheries Section in FY2003.

Agency and type of review
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division Permits and Variances Requests to build ponds on trout streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stream buffer issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erosion and sedimentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . River basin plans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Georgia State Clearinghouse Project reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
U. S. Government Agency Permits, Projects and Plans Army Corps of Engineers Plans and projects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Federal Energy Regulatory Commission - License Issues . . . . . . . . . . . Tennessee Valley Authority - Environmental assessments. . . . . . . . . . . U.S. Forest Service - Land management plans / EIS review . . . . . . . . . U.S. Forest Service - National policies / guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Local & Regional Government Projects Developments having regional impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Number a
44 3 1 3
6
11 15
1 2 2
23

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

111

a Each project, plan or permit is counted only once, even though the Section may have provided comments on more than one occasion. Only those projects that the Section prepared comments on are included in these numbers. Numerous other documents were reviewed but not commented on.

17

Appendix D: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Trout Production Program in FY2003.
18

Table D-1. Trout production (lbs), conversion ratios, and costs at state hatcheries in FY2003.

Hatchery

Species RAINBOW BROWN

Total

Cost a

Total

Per lb

Catchables Buford

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

158,702 1.33

25,244 1.09

183,946 1.29

$334,221

$1.82

Burton

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

80,513 1.40

36,350 1.24

116,863 1.35

$228,411

$1.95

Summerville

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

26,892 1.42

26,892 1.42

$70,840

$2.63

19

Total

Net weight gain Conversion ratio b

266,107 1.36

61,594 1.18

327,701 1.32

$633,472

$1.93

Fingerlings c Summerville

Cost per pound to stock trout from state hatcheries: Total production and distribution costs per pound:
Production of 970,676 fingerling rainbow trout (2.0 inch mean length) weighing 5,842 pounds.

$79,369

$0.41 $2.34
$13.59

Grand Total Catchable and Fingerling Costs

$712,841

$2.55

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. Species, number, and weight (lbs) of trout stocked into Georgia's public waters from state and federal hatcheries during FY2003.

Facility

_______R_A__IN_B__O_W________

Number

Weight

________B_R_O__W_N_________

Number

Weight

________T_O__T_A_L__________

Number

Weight

STATE HATCHERY
Buford catchables fingerlings
Burton catchables fingerlings
Summerville catchables fingerlings

407,994 75,000
236,935 96,491
61,010 75,192

148,727 4,646
80,246 1,981
23,409 391

52,433 110,000
60,390

19,416 5,846
22,410

460,427 185,000
297,325 96,491
61,010 75,192

168,143 10,492
102,656 1,981
23,409 391

20

FEDERAL HATCHERY
Chattahoochee Forest catchables fingerlings

267,042

82,138

267,042

82,138

TOTAL
catchables fingerlings

972,981 246,683

334,520 7,018

112,823 110,000

41,826 5,846

1,085,804 356,683

376,346 12,864

Table D-3. Species, number, and weight (lbs) of catchable trout by habitat stocked from all hatcheries in FY2003.

Locations stocked

RAINBOW

Number

Weight

BROWN

Number

Weight

TOTAL

Number

Weight

STREAMS BY COUNTY

Bartow

14,625

5,224

Catoosa

3,125

1,286

Chattooga

5,100

2,101

Cherokee

1,200

411

Dawson

29,550

10,146

Fannin

65,167

21,628

Floyd

31,100

11,727

Gilmer

22,545

7,130

Gordon

1,800

614

Habersham

14,640

5,017

Haralson

7,200

2,592

Lumpkin

71,252

22,688

Murray

25,850

8,835

Paulding

6,000

2,180

Pickens

7,692

2,849

Polk

2,200

839

Rabun

106,402

35,159

Stephens

33,110

10,946

Towns

41,178

13,847

Union

66,743

22,250

Walker

15,400

5,813

--W---h--it-e------------ --------8--3-,-6--5-6- --------2--7-,-9--3-9-

--T--o--ta--l------------ ------6--5--5-,-5--3-5- ------2--2--1-,-2--2-1-

1,950
4,608
2,055 2,060

641
1,552
872 677

19,696 7,085 1,535 1,975

6,789 2,348
485 644

--------1--0-,-9--3-5- ----------4-,-0--5-9--------5--1-,-8--9-9- --------1--8-,-0--6-7-

14,625

5,224

3,125 5,100

1,286 2,101

1,200

411

29,550

10,146

65,167

21,628

31,100

11,727

24,495

7,771

1,800 19,248

614 6,569

7,200

2,592

73,307

23,560

27,910

9,512

6,000

2,180

7,692

2,849

2,200 126,098

839 41,948

40,195

13,294

42,713

14,332

68,718

22,894

15,400

5,813

--------9--4-,-5--9-1- --------3--1-,-9--9-8-

------7--0--7-,-4--3-4- ------2--3--9-,-2--8-8-

TAILWATERS Blue Ridge Hartwell Lanier
--M---o-r-g--a--n--F--a-l-l-s--
--T--o--ta--l------------

21,330

6,412

23,800

7,835

154,457

57,556

--------5--2-,-1--4-7- --------1--9-,-9--9-5-

------2--5--1-,-7--3-4- --------9--1-,-7--9-8-

38,443

13,267

----------7-,-8--9-0- ----------3-,-4--5-6-

--------4--6-,-3--3-3- --------1--6-,-7--2-3-

21,330

6,412

23,800

7,835

192,900

70,823

--------6--0-,-0--3-7- --------2--3-,-4--5-1-

------2--9--8-,-0--6-7- ------1--0--8-,-5--2-1-

RESERVOIRS AND SMALL LAKES

Black Rock

1,800

653

Dockery

10,000

3,163

Lake Burton

5,000

1,860

Nancytown

14,000

4,996

Rock Creek

9,700

3,018

Vogel

2,712

941

Winfield Scott

22,500

6,870

-------------------- ---------------- ----------------

Total

65,712

21,501

-------------------- ---------------- ----------------

GRAND TOTAL

972,981 334,520

14,591

7,036

---------------- ----------------

14,591

7,036

---------------- ----------------

112,823

41,826

1,800

653

10,000

3,163

19,591

8,896

14,000

4,996

9,700

3,018

2,712

941

22,500

6,870

---------------- ----------------

80,303

28,537

---------------- ----------------

1,085,804 376,346

21

Table D-4. Species, number, and weight (lbs) of fingerling trout by habitat stocked from all hatcheries in FY2003.

Locations stocked

RAINBOW Number Weight

BROWN Number Weight

TOTAL Number Weight

STREAMS BY COUNTY

Rabun

20,553

Total

20,553

1,179 1,179

20,553 20,553

1,179 1,179

TAILWATERS Blue Ridge Morgan Falls Total
GRAND TOTAL

151,130 75,000
226,130
246,683

1,193 4,646 5,839
7,018

85,000 25,000 110,000
110,000

4,307 1,539 5,846
5,846

236,130 100,000 336,130
356,683

5,500 6,185 11,685
12,864

22

Appendix E: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Warmwater Hatchery Production Program in FY2003.
23

Table E-1. Total numbers and cost per fish of warmwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY2003.

Species

Acres

Number

Number per acre

Cost pera fish ($)

Bluegill
Fingerling
Channel catfish
Fry Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable
Hybrid white-striped bass
Fry Fingerling
Lake sturgeon
Fingerling
Largemouth bass d
Fingerling Adv. Fingerling Intermediate
Redear sunfish
Fingerling
Robust redhorse
Fingerling Intermediate
Shoal bass
Fingerling
Striped bass
Fry Fingerling Intermediate
Walleye
Fingerling

20.71
7.10 9.35 20.30 8.13
b
25.19
c
11.51 6.40 0.45
6.60
3.15 0.81
3.10
b
9.06 5.75
1.25

4,908,891
2,082,500 903,181 632,876 37,838
9,900,000 3,658,539
1,127
941,363 95,666 1,328
1,020,571
18,280 293
135,682
4,037,000 1,054,850
40,312
22,965

237,030
293,310 96,597 31,176 4,654
b
145,238
c
81,787 14,948
2,951
154,632
5,803 362
43,768
b
116,429 7,011
18,372

0.032
0.025 0.127 0.302 1.942
0.008 0.031
c
0.077 0.295 3.540
0.064
1.000 18.591
0.488
0.008 0.028 0.835
0.950

Totals (all sizes)

138.86

29,493,262 e

111,078 f

0.069 f

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 Sturgeon were raised in trout raceways at Summerville Hatchery. A total of $26,599 was expended
on the experimental culture of this species. d Numbers produced include 143,695 largemouth bass F1 hybrids (Florida x northern) raised at
McDuffie and Walton hatcheries. 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. f Weighted means. Striped bass fry, hybrid striped-white bass fry, hybrid white-striped bass fry, and lake sturgeon (all phases) are not included.

24

25

Table E-2. Number of each warmwater fish species produced at state hatcheries in FY2003.

Species

Bowens Mill

Bluegill Fingerling

1,607,669

Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable

230,705

Hybrid white-striped bass

Fry

Fingerling

437,995

Lake sturgeon a

Fingerling

Largemouth bass b

Fingerling

354,756

Adv. Fingerling

68,223

Intermediate

Redear sunfish Fingerling

192,215

Robust redhorse Fingerling Intermediate

Shoal bass Fingerling
Striped bass c Fry Fingerling Intermediate

Walleye Fingerling

Burton
3,674 16,318

Cordele 1,550,500
133,278 395,954
10,485 321,449
78,050

McDuffie 856,910 532,000 240,543
28,693 18,203
209,100 3,002
280,760 2,841 150
565,790

Richmond Hill

Steve Cocke Summerville

1,189,409 597,400

141,155 51,065
9,900,000 2,595,839

157,500 146,164
9,150
303,256

89,490 16,309

160,406 8,132

1,127

266,536 1,258

170,000

4,037,000 40,312

57,632 415,016

Total (all sizes)

2,891,563 19,992 2,489,716 2,737,992

18,328,373 2,024,656

a Experimental production of sturgeon for species restoration stockings. Fish were raised in concrete trout raceways.

b Numbers produced include 143,695 F1 hybrid (Florida x northern) largemouth bass raised at McDuffie and Walton hatcheries.

c Numbers produced include 415,016 Gulf Coast strain striped bass fingerlings raised at Steve Cocke Hatchery.

1,127

Walton

Total

657,503 4,908,891

11,000

2,082,500 903,181 632,876 37,838

9,900,000 3,658,539

1,127

127,611 1,328

941,363 95,666 1,328

111,060 1,020,571

10,507 143

18,280 293

135,682

74,044

4,037,000 1,054,850
40,312

6,647

22,965

999,843 29,493,262

Table E-3. Cost per fish (dollars) for warmwater fish species produced at state hatcheries in FY2003.

26

Species

Bowens Mill

Burton

Cordele

Richmond

McDuffie

Hill

Steve Cocke Summerville

Walton

Bluegill Fingerling

0.022

Channel catfish Fry
Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable

0.111

Hybrid white-striped bass

Fry

Fingerling

0.088

Lake sturgeon Fingerling
Largemouth bass b Fingerling
Adv. Fingerling Intermediate

0.122 0.228

Redear sunfish Fingerling

0.064

Robust redhorse Fingerling
Intermediate

Shoal bass Fingerling

Striped bass Fry
Fingerling Intermediate

Walleye Fingerling

1.598 1.272

0.028 0.121 0.265 1.609

0.012
0.019 0.110 0.595 1.508

0.083

0.012 1.029

0.428

0.032
0.595 11.035

0.032

0.029
0.118 0.358
0.008 0.017
0.148 0.490
0.046 2.010
0.008 0.835

0.102 0.188 0.271 1.123 0.021
0.064 0.198 0.116
0.570 0.010

0.021
1.042
a
0.027 3.540 0.107 0.779 26.517
0.095 0.159

a A total of $26,599 was expended as part of an experimental effort to develop and refine culture methods for Lake Sturgeon production at the Summerville Hatchery as part of an effort to restore this species to it native range in the Coosa River basin.
b Numbers produced include 143,695 F1 hybrid (Florida x northern) largemouth bass raised at McDuffie and Walton hatcheries.

Total
0.032
0.025 0.127 0.302 1.942
0.008 0.031
0.077 0.295 3.540
0.064
1.000 18.591
0.488
0.008 0.028 0.835
0.950

Table E-4. Warmwater fish distributed from state hatcheries in FY2003. Totals include fish provided by federal hatcheries, surplus brood

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

Species

Kid's fishing events

Other fisheries agencies

Private waters

Public fishing areas

Publicly owned small lakes

Reservoirs

Rivers & streams

Totala

Bluegill

Fingerling

2,681,539

92,833

121,340

153,400

3,049,112

Channel catfish

Fingerling

4,000

500,726

10,450

56,790

571,966

Intermediate

356,129

109,671

166,949

632,749

Harvestable

31,270

6,568

37,838

Lake sturgeon Intermediate
Largemouth bass Fingerling
Adv. Fingerling Intermediate

4,000

344,884

6,000 1,328

7,345

32,000 94,726

1,127

1,127
394,229 94,726 1,328

Redear sunfish Fingerling

734,515

8,610

743,125

27

Robust redhorse Fingerling
Intermediate

4,862

13,302 21

18,164 21

Shoal bass

Fingerling

100

135,194

135,294

Striped bass - Atlantic strain Fry
Fingerling Intermediate

1,093,157

626,493

300,000 40,105

1,393,157 626,493 40,105

Striped bass - Gulf strain Fingerling

846,469

846,469

White-striped bass hybrid Fry
Fingerling

20,000

1,600,000 126,423

2,000

3,121,630

1,600,000 3,270,053

Walleye

Fingerling

49,661

49,661

Total (all sizes)

411,399

2,828,542

4,261,664

226,850

363,034

4,770,979

643,149

13,505,617

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

Appendix F: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Public Fishing Area Program in FY2003.
28

Table F-1. Public Fishing Area operational costs for FY2003.

Region

Area

Ownership

Number of
lakes

Acres open to public fishing

Total operating
cost ($)

I

Rocky Mountain a

Private

2

559.0

348,903

III McDuffie

State

13

61.0

97,208

IV Big Lazer

State

1

195.0

32,162

IV Marben Farms

State

22

294.0

151,556

VI Dodge County

State

1

104.0

104,706

VI Evans County VI Laurens County b

State State

3

92.0

73,942

3

111.0

145,085

VI Paradise VI Treutlen County c

State Private

60

409.0

235,734

1

189.0

4,831

Total

2,014.0

1,194,127

a Operational costs of public fishing area, campground, and swimming beach is annually funded through a contract with Oglethorpe Power Corporation.
b Recently constructed public fishing area scheduled to be opened to the public in August 2003 and dedicated to Hugh M. Gillis.
c Treutlen County closed permanently to the public on July 1, 2003 after 29 years of operation when the Section gave up its lease. Anglers who fished Treutlen will be able to fish the newest public fishing area in neighboring Laurens County starting on August 22, 2003.

29

Appendix G: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Resource Studies in FY2003.
30

Table G-1. Expenditures on resource studies and contracts by Region during FY2003.

Region Northeast (II) Headquarters
Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters

Study Title / Work Contracted
Hydroacoustic analysis for blueback herring populations in Lakes Burton, Rabun, and Tugalo.
Effects of a drip-delivery fluridone treatment on largemouth bass movement and population characteristics in Lake Seminole, Georgia. (F-67) Southeastern Cooperative Fish Disease Project and Approval of Drugs for Public Fish Production (F-16)
Genetics and Breeding of Fishes in Georgia (F42)
Georgia Public Television - In support of the production of 22 episodes of "Georgia Outdoors"
Georgia B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation 2002 Tournament Creel Report
Reintroduction of Lake Sturgeon into the Coosa River
Effects of Trout Stocking on Native Non-Game Fishes in Georgia
Trout Map of Georgia, second edition (Georgia Center for Remote Mapping Science-UGA)
Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Annual payment in support of research & education
Administrative project review and support services

Cost 2,400 19,122
12,000 16,000 25,000
2,000 15,376 33,350 15,000 13,333
109

Total

$153,690

31

Table G-2. Final reports and publications completed by the Fisheries Section in FY2003.

Author

Publication

Klein, L.

Investigation of the Trout Fishery in the Chattahoochee River Below Buford Dam. Final report Federal Aid Project F-66, Study 27, 55pp.

Peterson, J. T. and J. W. Evans Quantitative Decision Analysis for Sport Fisheries Management. Fisheries 28(1):10-21. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD.

Sammons, S., Maceina, M. and D. Partridge

Changes in behavior, movement and home ranges of largemouth bass following large-scale hydrilla removal in Lake Seminole, Georgia. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 41(2003):31-38.

32

Appendix H: Table showing the Fisheries Section maintenance and construction projects in FY2003.
33

Table H-1. Facility maintenance and construction projects statewide during FY2003.

34

Project Boat Ramp Construction (statewide)
Boat Ramp Repair and Maintenance (statewide)
Hugh Gillis Public Fishing Area

Project Description
Planning and coordination activities were conducted on a number of potential sites around the state. The existing parking lot at the Putnam County Lake Sinclair ramp was curbed, paved and striped. Additional fixed aluminum service piers were also installed to accommodate boaters participating in organized events. All facilities have been constructed with provisions for persons with disabilities. A third, doublelane ramp, planned for this fiscal year was postponed until such time as use of the area warrants further expansion. Construction on the Pig Farm Landing Altamaha River access site in Wayne County was continued from the previous fiscal year with initial work on a 30 car/trailer parking area. Assistance was provided to the Coastal Resources Division of DNR in the renovation of a boat ramp on Redbird Creek at Fort McAllister State Park. Finishing touches were completed on the Ocmulgee River boating access site at State Route 96 in Houston County that was extended further into the river during the previous fiscal year.
Maintenance inspections were conducted at all boating access sites statewide with most sites visited on numerous occasions. Site inspections included trash pickup and removal, mowing of grass was accomplished routinely on these visits. The paved parking area at the Burton Hatchery Boat Ramp on Lake Burton was resurfaced during this fiscal year. Paving of the parking area at the Marine Corps Ditch boat ramp on the Flint River was also initiated. Modifications were completed to the floating service pier at Poor Robin Landing boat ramp. A new service pier for use at the SR72 boat ramp at Lake Russell was purchased. A new restroom and solar-powered security light were purchased and installed at the Ralph King Landing on Lake Seminole. Additional modifications to improve drainage were implemented at the Idle Hour Park on Bartletts Ferry Lake in Harris County. A new service pier was purchased and installed at Dodge County Public Fishing Area. New service piers were also purchased and installed at Big Lazer Public Fishing Area in addition to the construction of the handicapped parking area and an approach slab to the existing boat ramp. A major repair was necessary during the segment to the floating service pier at Rotary Park boat ramp on the Chattahoochee River as a result of damage during flooding. Additional revetment was installed at the Key Bridge boat ramp on the Ocmulgee River to repair damages due to the flooding. Smaller repairs to parking lots, signs, service piers and ramps were made on a number of other WRD boating access sites statewide.
Expenditures for engineering services for design, survey, geotechnical investigation, wetlands identification and quantification, testing, project supervision, and resident engineer observation. Funding for the construction of a pavilion at the second kids fishing lake matched by funds donated by the Laurens County Rotary Club.

Total Cost 360,848 567,449
29,234

Table H-1 (continued). Facility maintenance and construction projects statewide during FY2003.

35

Project Summerville Fish Hatchery
Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area
McDuffie Public Fishing Area
West Point Office McDuffie Fish Hatchery Treutlen County Public Fishing Area Richmond Hill Fish Hatchery Summerville Fish Hatchery Lake Burton Fish Hatchery
McDuffie Fish Hatchery Headquarters Administrative Costs Total Expenditures

Project Description
Chattooga County 2002 ad valorem taxes on the purchase of the Glenn Downes Tract, 2.236 acres.
Additional funds for new construction on earthen dams for lakes totaling 100 acres, access roads, parking areas, fishing piers, boat ramps, and four single-story, residential buildings.
Engineering fees for on-site services including: pre-bid meeting, monitoring, and testing prior to renovation work on east-side dams, 3E, 4E & 8E.
Continuation from FY2002 - concrete mix for foundation slab of new office structure. This project is complete. Removal of old electrical service and installation of new wiring in assistant manager's residence. Trash dumpster rental and hauling fees for debris from bridge demolition ($1,441.16). Travel expense reimbursements for employees working on this project ($217.36).
Roof replacement on hatchery manager's residence.
Installation of vinyl siding on hatchery manager's residence. Replacement of flush valves in trout raceways 1-4 and 5-8. Outflow piping in raceways 17 and 20 replaced to increase flow-through rate.
Roof replacement on hatchery office.
Prorated expenses of headquarters staff to manage capitol outlay projects.

Total Cost 518
391,731 48,340 353 4,218 1,659 4,990 4,700 16,795 8,400 42,078
$1,481,313