FISHERIES SECTION ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year 2007 July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007 Wildlife Resources Division Department of Natural Resources Social Circle, Georgia Table of Contents SUBJECT PAGE Overview of Fisheries Section activities 1 Figure 1. Map of Fisheries Section region boundaries 2 Figure 2. Stream Survey Team sampling efforts 6 Appendices: A. Facts about fishing in Georgia, fisheries related revenues earned, and 8 Fisheries Section expenditures B. Private waters management 12 C. Public waters management 14 D. Trout production and distribution 19 E. Warmwater hatchery production and distribution 24 F. Public fishing area operation 29 G. Resource studies 31 H. Maintenance and construction 34 Fisheries Section Activities Fishing is the most popular wildlife-related activity in Georgia, enjoyed by people of all ages. Each of Georgia's 1.29 million resident anglers fish an average of 16 days in the state's diverse freshwater resources that include more than 4,000 miles of trout streams, 12,000 miles of warm water streams wider than 10 feet, and 500,000 acres of impoundments. Anglers spend more than $1.13 billion yearly on fishing in Georgia with an economic impact of more than $1.93 billion generating an estimated 16,881 jobs. Programs of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD), Fisheries Section (Section) during fiscal year 2007 (FY2007) 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 warm water 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 Georgia legislature from the state's 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 fuels, are apportioned back to states by a formula based on land area and fishing license sales. Detailed information on the Section's activities and expenditures are itemized in Appendices A through H. The Section's programs are administered from WRD headquarters near Social Circle and from seven regional offices (Figure 1). Reintroduction of lake sturgeon to the upper Coosa River system continued in FY2007 in cooperation with the USFWS. A total of 12,729 lake sturgeon fingerlings were stocked into four sub-basins of the Coosa River. Once a unique component of the diverse Coosa River basin fish assemblage, lake sturgeon were extirpated from the system in the late 1960s. This was probably a combined function of habitat degradation, over-harvest, and dam construction. Goals of the reintroduction program are the re-establishment of a self-sustaining lake sturgeon population and eventual creation of a unique sport fishery for Georgia anglers. Anglers continue reporting sturgeon sightings at several locations in the river system to include Weiss Reservoir in Alabama. Radio telemetry studies conducted by the UGA, School of Forest and Natural Resources indicate juvenile lake sturgeon extensively use the Coosa River downstream of Rome into Weiss Reservoir. Population monitoring by the university indicates lake sturgeon growth is about four to six inches annually, with some individual lake sturgeon up to 36 inches being captured and released. Additional research in the areas of food habits, seasonal habitat use, and survival estimates continues. Continued advances in lake sturgeon rearing technique at Summerville Fish Hatchery contributed significantly to the quality and quantity of fish stocked this year. The state's three trout hatcheries combined efforts with the State of South Carolina and the Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery to stock more than 1.07 million catchable trout and 346,000 fingerling trout into north Georgia streams, small lakes, reservoirs, and their tailwaters. A 1.2 mile stretch of the Toccoa River downstream of the Blue Ridge reservoir dam in Fannin County became the fifth stream to be designated in the popular `delayed harvest' program. More than 68,000 catchable trout were stocked into these Georgia streams where seasonal catch-and-release angling regulations have resulted in excellent catch rates for wintertime anglers. Lake Burton provides Georgia's only reservoir trout fishery where 5,000 brown trout were stocked last year to boost this put-grow-and-take fishery. More than 6,300 catchable trout were released into the Toccoa River downstream of Blue Ridge Reservoir dam. Water quality improvements of reservoir discharges from this Tennessee Valley Authority dam have enhanced the potential of this 15-mile long tail-water fishery as evidenced by increased angler catch rates of 9 to 14-inch trout. 1 S@WA(%U(WT$(S0'(SW(UC`6A$kXl!&)q0"mSrn#st&((Ao#(p)&uSQT)Av(cewCA@b0#S$SV'%cUX(@'&&AV2(AU(&%(3A&1x0Cy(C2z'0{#|&(T$&df@W&A3%gVB($(2T@ARh#SBA)0$f$$i'&V13ghXA)(@@i#Cpd(qs&r(A((3A&0)SS((0A'(U(XW(&AYW0@$)@XC('&Y&0A&VAY(CX00@)(V#A45X((U67'8(09&(0d'eTSASU0)&X(0V0D&T(AE&F%VXX#BG0X3H(2))&$)&I&&0P&(&BW(Wa0(bT0B&`cVW'(VAS@`tduA&((0dv&000@(w&SY&AY(T&A@d('V0j@0&Y0(~}BxAd&yXV'`(V0(S(3(C(3U&S3&&0VT@S@V'XXY(A(A`A&j$0$X0BS((VVT3@jBX2&#$$`VdA$&A(T0@@3S@A3 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 2006, 62,173 pounds of American shad were commercially harvested from Georgia rivers. This was a 64 percent increase from the 39,840 pounds harvested during 2005. An estimated 223,046 American shad returned to the Altamaha River to spawn during 2006, a 83 percent increase from 121,979 fish during 2005. The shad population and harvest are at lower levels than those observed during the population's peak in the mid-1990's. However, the overall exploitation rate of 0.178 is extremely low. Thus, there is no evidence that American shad are being over-harvested in Georgia waters. Alabama shad restoration efforts continued in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River system in FY2007. Alabama shad migrate into freshwater streams along the northern Gulf of Mexico. It is thought that loss of critical upstream spawning habitat due to migration barriers has caused a population decline in the ACF system. Woodruff Dam at Lake Seminole presents the first upstream barrier to fish moving upstream to spawn. A navigation lock at the dam provides potential for upstream movement, but whether sufficient numbers of fish actually navigate and pass through the locks during normal operations is unknown. The present study will focus on estimating present population levels of shad and determining how fish interact with the lock. Developing a viable fish passage plan will be a critical step in the recovery of this and other diadromous species in the ACF system. Alabama shad returning to the Apalachicola River in FY2007 was estimated at 8,500 fish. Preliminary study results indicate that 40-70% of the returning population have been able to navigate through the lock structure at Jim Woodruff Dam and move upstream. Cooperators on this project include the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Clemson University, and The Nature Conservancy. The Section continued striped bass restoration efforts and population monitoring in Georgia's coastal rivers in hopes of re-establishing depleted stocks. Restoration stocking efforts initiated by the Section in 1990 have been very successful in increasing the number of striped bass in the lower Savannah River. After a 17-year closure, the Savannah River striped bass fishery was re-opened to allow for limited harvest in October 2005. Annual monitoring efforts have indicated that current population numbers are near historic levels. 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 also initiated striped bass recovery efforts in the Altamaha River system in November 2005 and as of June 2007 has released over 80,000 hatchery-reared fish in the river. The Altamaha River system is home to Georgia's striped bass angling record (63 lbs.); however, the population has precipitously declined over the last several decades. The Section has also for many years played an integral part in a multi-state effort to maintain and enhance the Gulf strain striped bass in the ACF River System. The Section continues to introduce youth to fishing through the Kids Fishing Events (KFE) program. Section staff held a total of 299 KFEs statewide with 24,357 youth attending. Eighteen percent of the attendees were beginners and 56 percent caught at least one fish. One hundred fifty-eight KFEs were classified as "general" events sponsored by sportsman organizations, local governments, civic organizations, businesses, 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 141 events. Special ponds at Burton and Buford hatcheries, set aside for fishing by families with children, also provided a quality fishing experience for 5,552 young anglers in FY2007. Beginners comprised 28 percent of this group with an overall success rate of 67 percent. 3 Aquatic Project WILD training was provided to 897 Georgia educators at 43 workshops conducted statewide. Forty-two (42) educators were trained as Aquatic Project WILD facilitators at a workshop at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in January 2007. One Advanced Project WILD workshops was conducted in FY2007 and attended by 13 educators and resource management professionals. A Teacher Conservation Workshop was also conducted for twenty-eight (28) certified teachers. Topics included Pond and stream ecology, stream-side management zones, and the importance of prescribed fire to the quality of riparian habitats. Overall, Fisheries Section staff conducted 80 presentations to more than 6,090 youth on a variety of topics including the importance of aquatic resources, fish identification, fish life history, fish physiology, managing fish populations, fish culture at WRD hatcheries, and aquatic weed management. The Section also annually sponsors and staffs exhibits at the Turkey Hunting, Fishing & Outdoor Expos in Atlanta and Perry, Georgia National Fair, Trout Fishing Primer, Unicoi Outdoor Adventure Day, Arrowhead Environmental Education Center Outdoor Adventure Day, McDuffie Environmental Education Center, Okefenokee Fair, National Wild Turkey Federation Jakes Day at Paradise Public Fishing Area, and Long County Wildlife Festival. It is estimated that a combined total of over 150,000 Georgians attended these events. The McDuffie Environmental Education Center (MEEC) is operated through a partnership between WRD and four area resource and educational agencies. Originally formed in 1996, over 38,000 students and teachers have benefited from outdoor classroom activities sponsored at this facility. The McDuffie County Board of Education funded a program coordinator position for all students visiting from McDuffie County. A $23,000 grant from the WRD Non-Game Section and school visitation fees paid for a program coordinator's salary and supplies to operate the MEEC for all outside county public, private, and home schools. The Non-Game grant was administered through the National Science Center at Fort Discovery. The science center hired a certified teacher who not only worked with visiting school groups, but also took on responsibilities to develop lesson plans aligned with the new Georgia Performance Standards, wrote grants, attended professional workshops, conducted pre- and post-visits, and presented at Augusta State University's Best Showcase. Grants from the Watson-Brown Foundation (W-BF), NonGame Watchable Wildlife Fund, and the Audubon Society, totaling $7,118, were used to co-host a teacher workshop in June 2007. The MEEC also served as the activities site for a the National Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs (HOF-NOD) curriculum where more than 200 students in grades K-8 came to the MEEC for activities that included casting, knot tying, fish biology, and fishing techniques. The robust redhorse (Moxostoma robustum), an imperiled fish, was discovered in the Oconee River in 1991 during a survey conducted for the re-licensing 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). The RRCC coordinates the efforts of state, federal, and private-sector participants in a common goal of restoring the robust redhorse to a significant portion of its historic range in the Southeastern United States. In spring 2006 a total of 13,087 robust redhorse fry were stocked into rearing ponds at the Walton and Richmond Hill fish hatcheries. However, only 91 fingerings were harvested from rearing ponds in Fall 2006 and stocked in the Ocmulgee River immediately below Lloyd Shoals Dam. Causes for the low survival were believed to be elevated pond water pH at Walton Hatchery and high cormorant and otter predation at Richmond Hill Hatchery. Ocmulgee River stockings between the Lloyd Shoals and Juliette dams in 2006 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. Forty-one sub-adult robust redhorse were collected by electrofishing from the Ogeechee River in Spring 2007. Captured fish were transported to the Oconee River and stocked at several locations between Milledgeville and Dublin as a continuation of efforts that 4 began in 2000 to augment the declining Oconee River population. The Ogeechee River population has also been supplemented by stockings since 1997. Flathead catfish presence in the Satilla River was confirmed in the summer of 1996. Public sentiment is overwhelmingly in favor of protecting the premier redbreast fishery threatened by the expansion of this non-native, predatory catfish in the Satilla River. The Section has responded by annually monitoring the expansion of flathead catfish numbers and actively capturing and removing this species. Fisheries staff removed 7,646 pounds of flathead catfish from 90 miles of the Satilla after 55 hours of electrofishing effort. This was a 27% increase in electrofishing effort and an 8% increase in the total poundage of flathead catfish removed when compared to FY2006. Capture rates of flathead catfish dramatically increased in the Satilla River over the previous year. Flathead catfish have negatively impacted native fish populations in the areas of the Satilla where they have become well established. Continued efforts to control the expansion of the flathead catfish population in the Satilla River have not been effective. Species abundance of redbreast sunfish and native catfish species in the lower Satilla River have been reduced by 65% and 87%, respectively, since 1996. The Stream Survey Team assesses the status of fish communities in wadeable streams across the state using the fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI). This index integrates 12-13 functional and compositional attributes of a fish community at several trophic levels to assess stream health. Two additional assessment tools, the modified index of well-being (Iwb) and a visual habitat assessment, are also employed. The IBI, modified Iwb, and habitat assessments provide information about potential sources of stream degradation for those streams found to have impaired fish communities. The Stream Survey Team sampled 112 streams in FY2007 (Figure 2). These streams were located in 12 of Georgia's 14 major river basins across four of the state's five major ecoregions: Blue Ridge (28), Piedmont (54), Southeastern Plains (18), and Southern Coastal Plain (12). Fish biomonitoring reports on all streams surveyed by the Team are provided to Georgia's Environmental Protection Division (EPD). EPD is tasked with establishing Total Maximum Daily Loads for the causative pollutant(s) in impaired streams. By reducing and controlling pollutant loads, healthy fish populations should be able to re-establish and maintain themselves in these streams. The overall goal is to improve fish diversity, abundance, and health by meeting federal Clean Water Act criteria and returning impaired streams to their designated water use classifications (fishing, swimming, drinking water, etc.). May 30, 2006 saw the culmination of a ten-year effort by Fisheries Section and DNR officials to identify and quantify damages and negotiate a settlement related to PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) contamination in Lake Hartwell. On this date, a federal court approved a compensation plan that allocates nearly $3.7 million to Georgia for enhancing the recreational fishery in and around Lake Hartwell. PCBs originated from an electrical capacitor manufacturing plant operated by Sangamo-Weston in Pickens County, South Carolina. Two public hearings were held in August 2006 where Georgia's compensation plan was presented. The plan includes enhancing shoreline fishing access at three sites and adding large capacity boating access facilities at two other sites. Over 150 citizens attended the meetings and provided strong support for the proposed plan. The Deadhead Logging Program entered its second and final year during FY2007. No applications for a logging permit were received. Several public inquiries concerning the laws regarding removal of deadhead logs from water bodies not opened to logging by Georgia SB 283 were received. A study was initiated in FY2007 aimed at evaluating steam habitat including the importance of deadhead logs and other woody debris to health and abundance of other stream 5 !"#$%&%'(')&# fauna. Study objectives included the development of a new technique for mapping and quantifying stream habitat through the use of side-scanning sonar and geographical mapping software. This technique will be used to estimate the contribution that deadhead logs make to the overall large woody debris habitat in study systems. The contribution of other habitat types, such as rocky shoals, important to fish and other aquatic organisms will also be quantified. This new habitat mapping method has the potential to greatly enhance our ability to identify, quantify, and manage Georgia's aquatic resources. Northwest Georgia Fisheries staff continued an aggressive fish attractor program in FY2007, placing over 2000 fish attractor units at 48 locations in Rocky Mountain Public Fishing Area and Allatoona, Blue Ridge, and Carters reservoirs. Fish attractors were constructed from a diverse array of unique materials to include PVC and plastic shipping pallets, which have a greater longevity than attractors constructed from wood. More than 75 percent of the materials and man-power required to construct and deploy these structures were donated. Contributors include: Tennessee Valley Authority, United States Army Corp of Engineers, Bo's Pallets Inc., Dupont Inc., Blue Ridge High School, Bart's Bait and Tackle, Wildlife Action, Fannin Co. High School students and local anglers. Online maps showing locations of attractors are available as downloadable portable document files (PDFs) on the WRD website. Underwater video of the fish attractors in action is also available at the website. The fish attractor program continues to be popular with many anglers reporting increased fishing success over these structures. Over 1.52 million fingerling fish, produced at the Section's six warm water hatcheries, were provided for stocking in 790 privately owned, newly constructed, or renovated ponds to establish fish populations. Over 1.04 million hybrid striped bass fingerlings were produced and stocked into 10 lakes and reservoirs. Also, more than 2.62 million Atlantic and Gulf Coast strain striped bass fingerlings were raised in Georgia hatcheries and stocked into 14 reservoirs and one river. An additional 68,337 six to eight-inch striped bass were also produced and stocked into the lower Savannah and Altamaha rivers as part of a management plan aimed at re-establishing selfsustaining populations in those river basins. Also, 20,248 six to eight-inch Gulf striped bass were stocked into Lake Seminole as part of Gulf striped bass management efforts in the ApalachicolaChattahoochee-Flint River system. Walleye fingerlings have been annually stocked into seven North Georgia reservoirs since 2002 and these waters again received 357,319 fingerlings and 50,000 fry in FY2007. 7 Appendix A: Tables showing important facts about fishing in Georgia, information on revenue earned, and expenditures for FY2007. 8 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 908,000 a 381,000 a 10,107,000 a 14,742,000 a 16 a $1,132,885,000 b $1,938,503,000 b 16,881 b $116,709,000 b a 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation - Georgia FHW/06-GA published by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau in January 2008. b Sportfishing in America: An Economic Engine and Conservation Powerhouse (revised January 2008) published by the American Sportfishing Association. Calculations are based on data from the "2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation." 9 Table A-2. Revenue (to the nearest dollar) generated by the Fisheries Section from license sales in fiscal year 2007.a Type of License License Sales Fiscal Year 2007 (July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007) Number Lifetime (new issues) Combination Hunting-Fishing Sportsman=s Resident Fishing Resident Trout One-Day Fishing Non-Resident Season Fishing Non-Resident 7-day Fishing Non-Resident Season Trout 2,417 54,519 38,862 416,930 93,174 65,847 18,304 36,542 11,188 Revenue 332,460 b 447,056 b 1,141,571 b 3,502,212 409,966 190,956 428,314 233,869 138,731 Totals 737,783 $ 6,825,135 a In addition to license sales shown, the Wildlife Resources Division sold 39,542 resident Wildlife Management Area (WMA) stamps for $727,573 and 1,612 non-resident WMA stamps for $115,661. A WMA stamp is required to fish on any Public Fishing Area or hunt on any WMA. It is not practical to calculate the portion of this revenue generated by anglers. b This figure represents only half of the revenue generated by this license. The other half is considered generated by hunters. 10 Table A-3. Fisheries Section expenditures (thousands of dollars) by region and program with total staff-days in FY2007.a PROGRAM COST BY REGION HQb I II III IV V VI VII Private Waters Management 3.5 15.7 3.3 19.8 24.9 15.6 29.3 22.3 Public Waters Management General Technical Guidance Habitat Management Surveys and Inventories Aquatic Education Resource Studies c 1,099.3 229.9 12.3 6.5 314.9 50.8 484.9 473.4 78.9 117.7 53.8 185.9 37.1 657.6 177.9 89.1 32.1 303.1 55.4 486.4 69.8 88.2 21.5 258.9 48.0 693.7 356.9 38.3 86.3 108.4 92.6 11.2 325.8 41.0 47.3 45.2 155.8 24.6 11.9 811.4 325.8 45.9 7.4 390.9 41.4 343.9 85.7 40.3 133.1 35.3 49.5 Hatchery Production & Stocking Coldwater Hatcheries Warmwater Hatcheries 62.9 26.8 36.1 266.3 199.3 67.0 844.5 816.0 28.5 246.8 246.8 16.6 16.6 535.8 535.8 193.1 193.1 279.1 279.1 Public Fishing Areas 47.6 411.1 218.8 563.4 610.1 Facility Construction and Maintenance Capital Outlay & New Construction Operations & Maintenance 118.4 109.2 9.2 86.1 20.9 65.2 15.1 5.2 9.9 76.8 19.7 57.1 930.2 839.0 91.2 94.1 34.3 59.8 75.0 35.7 39.3 30.9 5.1 25.8 TOTAL TOTAL COST STAFF-DAYS 134.4 594 4,891.5 1,365.9 479.1 252.8 1,851.0 385.2 557.5 14,219 2,819 1,760 787 7,306 1,298 249 2,445.1 1,042.1 1,403.0 7,443 3,153 4,290 1,851.0 6,842 1,426.6 2,413 1,069.1 357.5 1,418 995 11 Totals 1,331.7 1,252.6 1,520.5 1,048.6 2,228.8 971.3 1,718.9 676.2 10,748.6 d 31,511 a Figures may differ somewhat from the final June 2007 Fiscal Accounting and Control System (FACS) printout since errors in the FACS printout were corrected for this report. b Headquarters office expenses and staff-days 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 both specific and prorated Headquarters cost. c This category includes contracted studies in addition to Resource Studies conducted by Section personnel. d Total includes $6,716,335 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 FY2007. 12 Table B-1. Private Waters Program FY2007 fish distribution by Regional location of pond. Fish are provided to pond owners to establish fishable populations in newly constructed or renovated ponds. Bass-bream ponds stocked Region Number Acres Percent stocked at fertilized rate Number Acres Species and number stocked Bluegill Redear Largemouth Channel sunfish bass catfish Catfish only ponds stocked Number Acres Revenue generated 13 I II III IV V VI VII Other 29 166 26 70 102 433 70 323 131 578 191 732 53 216 1 4 7.7% 22.3% 2.9% 5.3% 4.3% 1.6% 3.1% 4.8% 1.0% 0.3% 66,700 39,560 166,480 129,480 217,272 288,840 86,560 1,600 16,675 9,890 41,620 30,170 54,300 72,210 21,640 400 8,338 4,845 22,425 15,946 26,207 35,725 10,930 200 10,733 4,320 18,100 16,003 39,745 55,390 15,915 13 8 $ 8,806 $ 4,915 17 15 $ 21,410 10 13 $ 16,485 52 454 $ 29,353 64 291 $ 39,512 17 19 $ 11,637 $ 180 Statewide totals 603 2,523 1.3% 1.7% 996,492 246,905 124,616 160,206 173 800 $132,298 Appendix C: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Public Waters Management Program in FY2007. 14 Table C-1. Public Waters - Surveys and Inventory conducted by the Fisheries Section in FY2007. Standardized Sampling Waterbody type Reservoirs/lakes/ponds Rivers/streams Public fishing areas Methodology Electrofishing Gill net Hoop net Hydroacoustics Electrofishing Scuba Electrofishing Gill net Waterbodies surveyed 33 25 1 3 11 1 25 3 Total stations 278 242 10 3 130 13 82 15 Creel Surveys Dates surveyed Angler Angler Waterbody (days of fishing) trips hours Altamaha River Duke's Creek1 3/26/06-10/21/2006 (210) 1/6/2006-12/31/2006 (156) 24,241 1,656 91,143 7,812 Satilla River 3/26/2006-10/21/2006 (210) 12,637 47,407 Savannah River Smith Creek2 10/29/2006-2/24/2007 (119) 11/1/2006-5/14/2007 (195) 3,605 142 17,937 205 Steve Bell Lake Waters Creek3 1/6/2006-12/30/2006 (359) 3/25/2006-10/31/2006 (95) 11,907 593 41,928 2,206 1 Restricted access trout stream. Fishing allowed Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday year round. 2 Delayed harvest section from Unicoi dam downstream to park boundary only. 3 Restricted access trout stream. Fishing allowed Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday during trout season only. Miscellaneous Surveys and Collections Waterbodies Survey type surveyed Age & growth 3 Broodstock collection1 6 Contaminant 15 Genetics 7 Exploitation2 1 Population monitoring 28 Public display3 5 Radiological 3 Temperature 40 Water quality 11 1 Striped bass, white bass, and Suwannee bass. Species surveyed 6 3 4 2 1 18 5 3 Number of fish 294 337 276 140 1,100 4,770 110 64 Samples collected 95 53 15 Table C-2. Fish kills investigated by the Fisheries Section in FY2007. Category of cause Transportation Number of incidents 1 Fish killed Number Value 15 $1.35 Industrial 2 Municipal a 3 Natural / Disease 6 Undetermined 3 Total 15 314 2,346 10,745 19,476 32,896 $145.45 $2,409.66 b N/A $9,156.52 $11,712.98 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 rarely reported. 16 Table C-3. Environmental reviews and assessments conducted by the Fisheries Section in FY2007. Agency and type of review Number a Georgia Department of Natural Resources Requests to build ponds on trout streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Requests to stock fish in trout streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Aquatic habitat plans/issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Stream buffer issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Stream flow issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Water quality issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Georgia State Clearinghouse Project reviews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 U.S. Government Agency Permits, Projects and Plans Army Corps of Engineers - Plans and projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission - License Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 U.S. Park Service Management plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Plans and projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 National Marine Fisheries Service -Plans and projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Local & Regional Government Projects Developments having regional impact. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 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 on which the Section prepared comments are included in these numbers. Numerous other documents were reviewed on which comments were not prepared. 17 Table C-4. Information - Education activities conducted by the Fisheries Section in FY2007. Education Event type Career day Student mentorship Student presentation / workshop Number of events 7 2 71 Total attendance 726 4 5,360 Fishing Event type Family fishing opportunites Fishing tournaments Handicapped fishing Kids fishing events Nat.Hunting / Fishing Day Senior citizen fishing Number of events 2 5 2 306 8 10 Attendance 5,552 110 35 24,942 2,214 457 Beginners 1,560 5 4,430 175 10 Caught a fish 3,727 61 15 13,570 1,227 431 Information Event type Fish hatchery / PFA tours Public presentations Special events Number of events 86 55 11 Total attendance 1,720 2,929 167,626 18 Appendix D: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Trout Production Program in FY2007. 19 Table D-1. Trout production (lbs), conversion ratios, and costs at state hatcheries in FY2007. Hatchery Species RAINBOW BROWN Total Cost a Total Per lb Catchables Buford Net weight gain Conversion ratio 168,358 1.16 19,535 1.01 187,893 1.15 $397,457 $2.12 Burton Net weight gain Conversion ratio 61,091 1.23 61,266 1.10 122,357 1.17 $273,980 $2.24 Summerville Net weight gain Conversion ratio 25,605 0.98 25,605 0.98 $90,886 $3.55 20 Total Net weight gain Conversion ratio b 255,054 1.16 80,801 1.08 335,855 1.14 $762,323 $2.27 Fingerlings c Summerville Cost per pound to stock trout from state hatcheries: Total production and distribution costs per pound: Production of 579,989 fingerling rainbow trout (3.4 inch mean length) weighing 9,325 pounds. $77,134 $0.56 $2.83 $8.27 Grand Total Catchable and Fingerling Costs $839,457 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. $2.99 Table D-2. Species, number, and weight (lbs) of trout stocked into Georgia's public waters from state and federal hatcheries during FY2007. Facility ______B_R_O__O_K______ Number Weight _____R_A__IN_B__O_W______ Number Weight ______B_R_O__W_N_______ Number Weight _______T_O_T_A_L________ Number Weight GEORGIA HATCHERY Buford catchables Burton catchables fingerlings Summerville catchables fingerlings 329,055 131,304 198,124 47,693 62,767 4,031 63,074 47,294 23,244 535 29,563 144,705 192,900 13,081 52,364 1,665 358,618 144,385 342,829 240,593 115,131 5,696 63,074 47,294 23,244 535 21 FEDERAL HATCHERY Chattahoochee Forest catchables 5,000 SOUTH CAROLINA HATCHERY Walhalla fingerlings 1,528 296,051 111,485 11,074 58,500 3,408 312,125 116,421 1,000 58,500 1,000 TOTAL catchables fingerlings 5,000 1,528 886,304 94,987 328,800 4,566 185,342 251,400 68,853 2,665 1,076,646 346,387 399,181 7,231 Table D-3. Species, number, and weight (lbs) of catchable trout by habitat stocked from all hatcheries in FY2007. Locations stocked BROOK Number Weight RAINBOW Number Weight BROWN Number Weight TOTAL Number Weight STREAMS BY COUNTY Bartow Catoosa Chattooga Cherokee Dawson 500 151 Fannin 3,000 923 Floyd Gilmer Gordon Habersham Haralson Lumpkin 500 151 Murray Paulding Pickens Polk Rabun Stephens Towns Union Walker --W---h--it-e---------- -----5--0-0-- -----1--5-1-- --T--o--t-a-l---------- --4--,-5--0-0-- --1--,-3--7-6-- 12,705 4,923 2,150 4,050 717 1,414 1,600 603 30,116 11,229 84,237 34,758 26,175 9,169 17,855 5,958 1,200 17,844 452 6,152 7,200 2,735 70,259 24,072 15,434 4,769 7,400 2,751 8,700 3,426 2,200 93,876 735 31,962 18,304 7,421 29,824 10,051 68,720 26,797 8,350 2,961 -----8--2--,-6-2--9- -----2--8--,-6-9--3- ----6-1--0--,-8-2--8- ----2-2--1--,-7-4--8- 4,600 3,000 6,493 5,859 1,200 11,753 11,535 1,300 1,419 1,154 2,351 2,210 423 4,270 3,977 458 48,934 18,364 9,628 3,481 14,632 5,291 7,892 2,636 1,300 500 -----1--4--,-7-8--9- -------5--,-2-5--8- ----1-4--2--,-9-1--5- -----5--1--,-7-9--2- 12,705 4,923 2,150 4,050 717 1,414 1,600 603 30,616 11,380 91,837 37,100 29,175 10,323 24,348 8,309 1,200 23,703 452 8,362 8,400 3,158 82,512 28,493 26,969 8,746 8,700 3,209 8,700 3,426 2,200 142,810 735 50,326 27,932 10,902 44,456 15,342 76,612 29,433 9,650 3,461 -----9--7--,-9-1--8- -----3--4--,-1-0--2- ----7-5--8--,-2-4--3- ----2-7--4--,-9-1--6- TAILWATERS Blue Ridge 500 152 Hartwell Lanier --M---o-r-g--a--n--F--a--ll-s ---------- ---------- --T--o--t-a-l---------- ------5--0-0- ------1--5-2- 31,464 8,996 9,469 2,482 148,643 60,875 -----3--8--,-6-3--7- -----1--5--,-9-9--3- ----2-2--8--,-2-1--3- -----8--8--,-3-4--6- 7,482 6,700 2,888 2,180 -----1--7--,-6-2--3- -------7--,-8-4--2-----3--1--,-8-0--5- -----1--2--,-9-1--0- 39,446 12,036 16,169 4,662 148,643 60,875 -----5--6--,-2-6--0- -----2--3--,-8-3--5- ----2-6--0--,-5-1--8- ----1-0--1--,-4-0--8- RESERVOIRS AND SMALL LAKES Black Rock 1,625 583 Burton Dockery 9,177 3,422 Nancytown 5,911 2,067 Rock Creek 10,500 4,786 Vogel 2,550 1,002 Winfield Scott 17,500 6,846 ------------------ ---------- ---------- -------------- -------------- Total 47,263 18,706 ------------------ ---------- ---------- -------------- -------------- GRAND TOTAL 5,000 1,528 886,304 328,800 5,000 2,273 5,097 1,677 525 201 -------------- -------------- 10,622 4,151 -------------- -------------- 185,342 68,853 1,625 583 5,000 2,273 9,177 3,422 11,008 3,744 10,500 4,786 3,075 1,203 17,500 6,846 -------------- -------------- 57,885 22,857 -------------- -------------- 1,076,646 399,181 22 Table D-4. Species, number, and weight (lbs) of fingerling trout by habitat stocked from all hatcheries in FY2007. Locations stocked RAINBOW Number Weight STREAMS BY COUNTY Rabun 3,000 426 White Total 3,000 426 TAILWATERS Blue Ridge 91,987 4,140 Total 91,987 4,140 RESERVOIRS AND SMALL LAKES Burton Total GRAND TOTAL 94,987 4,566 BROWN Number Weight 20,000 18 4,500 40 24,500 58 158,500 158,500 2,550 2,550 68,400 68,400 251,400 57 57 2,665 TOTAL Number Weight 23,000 444 4,500 40 27,500 484 250,487 250,487 6,690 6,690 68,400 68,400 346,387 57 57 7,231 23 Appendix E: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Warmwater Hatchery Production Program in FY2007. 24 Table E-1. Total numbers and cost per fish of warmwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY2007. Species Acres Number Number per acre Cost pera fish ($) Bluegill Fingerling Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable Goldfish Fingerling Hybrid white-striped bass Fry Fingerling Lake sturgeon Fry Fingerling Largemouth bass d Fingerling Adv. Fingerling Intermediate Redear sunfish Fingerling Robust redhorse Fingerling Shoal bass Fingerling Striped bass Fry Fingerling Intermediate Walleye Fingerling 15.58 7.10 12.45 22.40 10.39 1.64 b 19.15 b c 6.51 3.95 0.56 4.10 1.05 4.70 b 27.27 14.35 34.19 3,247,359 2,475,000 529,687 448,756 75,706 136,709 4,345,000 1,043,761 15,000 9,428 481,577 149,069 30 538,184 92 72,693 8,783,500 3,363,683 68,337 362,594 208,431 348,592 42,545 20,034 7,286 83,359 b 54,504 b c 73,975 37,739 54 131,264 88 15,467 b 123,347 4,762 10,605 0.035 0.029 0.129 0.469 1.704 0.182 0.006 0.059 0.136 4.341 0.037 0.091 109.944 0.067 68.148 1.041 0.007 0.030 1.396 0.043 Totals (all sizes) 186.13 26,146,165 e 69,807 f 0.081 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 and/or vats. c Sturgeon fingerlings were raised in trout raceways at Summerville Hatchery. d Numbers produced include 5,221 largemouth bass F1 hybrids (Florida x northern) and 375,638 Florida largemouth bass raised at Steve Cocke and Walton fish 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, walleye fry, and lake sturgeon (all phases) are not included. 25 26 Table E-2. Number of each warmwater fish species produced at state hatcheries in FY2007. Species Bowens Mill Burton Cordele Richmond McDuffie Hill Steve Cocke Summerville Bluegill Fingerling 900,836 836,726 498,894 565,261 Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable 106,582 13,679 1,800,000 101,898 149,163 38,988 675,000 236,684 28,341 12,657 55,598 57,812 28,925 191,597 10,382 Goldfish Fingerling 81,565 55,144 Hybrid white-striped bass Fry Fingerling Lake sturgeon a Fry Fingerling Largemouth bass b Fingerling 50,005 Adv. Fingerling 55,540 Intermediate 519,806 4,345,000 394,791 129,164 69,680 16,530 57,882 318,349 35,647 15,000 9,429 Redear sunfish Fingerling 121,379 146,900 139,474 91,214 Robust redhorse Fingerling 92 Shoal bass Fingerling Striped bass c Fry Fingerling Intermediate 888,186 36,456 150,000 8,633,500 303,911 1,911,953 48,089 36,237 89,850 20,248 Walleye Fingerling 28,779 121,346 Total (all sizes) 2,217,772 28,779 2,796,311 2,365,043 16,159,615 1,516,874 145,775 a Production of sturgeon for species restoration stockings in the Coosa River. Fish were raised in concrete trout raceways. b Numbers produced include 5,221 F1 hybrid (Florida x northern) largemouth bass raised at Walton Hatchey. c Numbers produced include 260,098 Gulf Coast strain striped bass raised at Steve Cocke and Cordele Hatcheries. Walton Total 445,642 3,247,359 21,843 2,475,000 529,687 448,756 75,706 136,709 4,345,000 1,043,761 15,000 9,429 27,013 30 481,577 149,069 30 39,217 538,184 92 72,693 169,783 8,783,500 3,363,683 68,337 212,469 362,594 915,997 26,146,166 27 Table E-3. Cost per fish (dollars) for warmwater fish species produced at state hatcheries in FY2007. Species Bowens Mill Burton Cordele McDuffie Richmond Hill Bluegill Fingerling Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable Hybrid white-striped bass Fry Fingerling Goldfish Fingerling Lake sturgeon Fry Fingerling Largemouth bass a Fingerling Adv. Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable Redear sunfish Fingerling Robust redhorse Fry Fingerling Shoal bass Fingerling Striped bass Fry Fingerling Intermediate Walleye Fingerling 0.036 0.176 2.790 0.279 0.117 0.151 0.060 0.034 0.149 0.037 0.138 0.736 1.297 0.052 1.254 0.060 0.011 0.009 0.052 0.310 1.293 0.038 0.050 0.219 0.431 0.006 0.048 0.009 0.085 0.068 0.018 0.035 43.424 0.057 0.006 0.017 1.233 a Numbers produced include 5,221 F1 hybrid (Florida x northern) largemouth bass fingerlings raised at Walton hatchery. Steve Cocke Summerville 0.059 0.391 0.273 1.058 0.120 0.024 0.033 0.136 4.341 0.188 0.826 0.179 1.132 0.053 Walton 0.029 0.664 0.087 109.944 0.103 0.036 0.023 Total 0.035 0.029 0.129 0.469 1.704 0.006 0.059 0.182 0.136 4.341 0.037 0.091 109.944 0.067 68.148 1.041 0.007 0.030 1.203 0.043 Table E-4. Warmwater fish distributed from state hatcheries in FY2007. Totals include fish provided by federal hatcheries, surplus brood stock, and fish available as by-products of other programs. 28 Species Bluegill Fingerling Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable Lake sturgeon Fingerling Largemouth bass Fingerling Redear sunfish Fingerling Robust redhorse Fingerling Shoal bass Fingerling Striped bass - Atlantic strain Fry Fingerling Intermediate Striped bass - Gulf strain Fingerling Intermediate White-striped bass hybrid Fingerling Walleye Fry Fingerling Total (all sizes) Kid's fishing events 6,000 291,409 51,726 349,135 Other fisheries agencies 3,200 2,300 500 800 2,000 1,200,000 1,208,800 Private waters 996,492 160,206 1,608 124,616 246,905 1,529,827 Public fishing areas 901,144 14,475 40,675 13,884 Publicly owned small lakes 171,952 35,000 77,893 38,927 8,910 79,740 2,219 3,438 3,200 1,062,028 329,429 Reservoirs 403,672 2,430,012 119,908 20,248 1,038,294 50,000 357,319 4,419,453 Rivers & streams 35,000 27,775 12,729 31,820 92 70,717 73,814 48,089 300,036 Totala 2,072,788 70,000 288,649 371,011 67,218 12,729 571,737 330,883 92 72,717 1,200,000 2,503,826 48,089 119,908 20,248 1,041,494 50,000 357,319 9,198,708 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 FY2007. 29 Table F-1. Public Fishing Area operational costs for FY2007. Region Area Ownership Number of lakes Acres open to public fishing Total operating cost ($) I Rocky Mountain a Private 2 559.0 411,073 III McDuffie State 7 109.0 222,353 IV Big Lazer IV Flat Creekb State State 1 195.0 57,437 2 109.0 212,516 IV Ocmulgee State 2 108.0 124,941 IV Marben Farms State 22 295.8 164,926 VI Dodge County State 1 104.0 108,590 VI Evans County State 3 122.0 130,055 VI Hugh M. Gillis State 3 111.0 147,703 VI Paradise VI Bacon Countyc State State 68 525.0 223,850 NA NA 7,408 Total 111 2,237.8 1,803,445 a Operational costs of public fishing area, campground, and swimming beach is annually funded through a contract with Oglethorpe Power Corporation. b New area under development. Projected opening Summer 2008. c New area under development. 30 Appendix G: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Resource Studies in FY2007. 31 Table G-1. Expenditures on resource studies and contracts by Region during FY2007. Region Study Title / Work Contracted West Central (IV) & Alabama Shad/Gulf Striped Bass in the Chattahoochee/Flint Southwest (V) River Basins Coastal (VII) Diadromous Species Project Coastal (VII) Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters East Central (III) Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Population Dynamics, Essential Habitats and Factors Affecting Abundance of Atlantic Sturgeon in the Altamaha River Development of a Statewide Strategy for Control of Invasive Exotic Species (Apple Snail-personal services) Outreach Campaign - Aquatic Nuisance Species (USFWS Grant) Dr. Ron Brooks - preparation, reading and analysis of otoliths from fish collected statewide Dr. Carl Quertermus - compilation and analysis of B.A.S.S. tournament fishing data Auburn University, SE Cooperative Fish Disease project diagnostic services, workshops and consultant services Auburn University - Southeastern Cooperative Fish Genetics, Genetics and Breeding of Fish in Georgia Auburn University - Dept. of Fisheries & Allied Aquacultures Population Dynamics of Sunfish in Georgia Rivers Clemson University - Anadromous Fish Recovery in the Chattahoochee/ Flint River Basins (NFWF Grant) University of Georgia, Warnell School of Forest Resources Chattahoochee River Trout - data compilation and analysis University of Georgia, Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit - research and education of fishery students University of Georgia Research Foundation - Reintroduction of Lake Sturgeon in the Coosa River University of Georgia Research Foundation - Center for Remote Mapping Science - electronic mapping and database services University of Georgia Research Foundation - Risk Assessment of Tilapia Culture in Georgia University of Georgia Research Foundation - Effects of Trout Stocking on Native Non-Game Fishes in Georgia University of Georgia Research Foundation - Attitudes & Behavior of GA Boaters - Fuel Costs Clean Vessel Program - Strom Thurmond Lake Headquarters Administrative project review and support services Cost 27,719 67,821 42,545 4,382 4,976 3,942 2,000 12,000 20,000 22,733 90,252 8,880 40,000 53,610 5,000 26,950 22,811 14,312 13,078 1,918 Total $484,930 32 Table G-2. Final reports and publications completed by the Fisheries Section in FY2007. Author Publication Herrington, S. J., K. J. Herrington, Fishery Dynamics of Macrophyte-Dominated Banks H. B. Herod and D. Harrison Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Proc. Annu. Conf. SEAFWA 59:292-302. Sakris, P. C., E. R. Irwin, J. C. Jolley and D. Harrison Sammons, S. M. and M. J. Maceina Comparison of Native and Introduced Flathead Catfish Populations in Alabama and Georgia: Growth, Mortality, and Management. N. Am. Jour. Fish. Mangt. 26:867974. Population Dynamics of Sunfish (Lepomis spp .) in Georgia Rivers with Emphasis on the Influence of Hydrology on Growth and Recruitment. Final Report, Fed. Aid Grant F-77, Georgia. June 2007. 138 pp. 33 Appendix H: Table showing the Fisheries Section maintenance and construction projects in FY2007. 34 Table H-1. Facility maintenance and construction projects statewide during FY2007 35 Project Boat Ramp Construction (statewide) Boat Ramp Repair and Maintenance (statewide) West Central Regional Facilities Project Description Construction of a new entrance road, a double lane ramp, canoe launch and graveled parking lot were completed this segment on the Oconee River below the Lake Sinclair Dam in Baldwin County. Permits and clearances for construction were obtained for the site on the Easons Bluff on the Altamaha River in Appling County. Construction should begin in the next segment. Construction of a double lane ramp, canoe launch and gravel parking lot were completed at the Etowah River Boat Ramp in Floyd County on this segment. Plans for the future expansion and paving of the parking lot are being completed with the work to be performed next segment. Construction of a new ramp at the State Route 4/ US 1 and Ogeechee River is still in the planning stages of the Georgia Department of Transportation bridge replacement. A concrete sidewalk, service pier foundation, and a service pier were completed at the Fishing Creek Boat Ramp on Clark Hill Reservoir in Lincoln County. Floating service piers were purchased for two ramps and will be installed next segment. A new fish cleaning station was completed at Evans County Public Fishing Area Public Fishing Area in Evans County this segment. Renovations of the restroom facility at Lake Patrick were completed at Paradise Public Fishing Area in Berrien County this segment. Concrete sidewalk, service pier foundation and a service pier were completed at the rear lake at Hugh Gillis Public Fishing Area this segment. A new service pier was added at Shuck Pen Eddy Boat Ramp at Lake Russell this segment. A new service pier was added at Middleton Bridge at Lake Russell this segment. A new service pier was added at Dry Fork Boat Ramp at Lake Russell this segment. A new service pier was added at Coldwater Creek Boat Ramp at Lake Russell this segment. A new service pier was added at Pearl Mill Boat Ramp at Lake Russell this segment. Two new service piers were added to the Flat Creek Public Fishing Area in Houston County this segment. A new service pier was installed on Miller Lake at the Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area in Screven County. Aggregate was purchased for renovation of the access roads to the boat ramps at the McDuffie Public Fishing Area and Paradise Public Fishing Area. DNR personnel and a local bass club constructed a new weigh-in station at the Dennis Station Access Area on Lake Sinclair. Smaller repairs to parking lots, signs, service piers and ramps were made on a number of other WRD boating access sites statewide. Two new service piers were added to the Flat Creek Public Fishing Area in Houston County this segment. A new service pier was installed on Miller Lake at the Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area in Screven County. Aggregate was purchased for renovation of the access roads to the boat ramps at the McDuffie Public Fishing Area and Paradise Public Fishing Area. DNR personnel and a local bass club constructed a new weigh-in station at the Dennis Station Access Area on Lake Sinclair. Smaller repairs to parking lots, signs, service piers and ramps were made on a number of other WRD boating access sites statewide. Activities associated with the maintenance/repair of any regional or district facility. In Region IV these areas include the regional office at Ft. Valley and the satellite offices and grounds at West Point, Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (Marben PFA), Big Lazer PFA, Flat Creek PFA, and Ocmulgee PFA. Activities include landscaping, grounds and office maintenance, upkeep of structures, pest control, office cleaning, etc. Total Cost 489,090 444,184 91,187 Table H-1 (continued). Facility maintenance and construction projects statewide during FY2007. 36 Project Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area Evans County Public Fishing Area Flat Creek Public Fishing Area Cordele Fish Hatchery McDuffie Public Fishing Area Calhoun Region Office Summerville Hatchery McDuffie Fish Hatchery Waycross Region Office Richmond Hill Fish Hatchery Big Lazer Creek Public Fishing Area HQ Administrative costs Total Expenditures Project Description Instrumentation data reduction and road evaluation. New Office construction Engineering and construction services New residence construction ($201,207); Architectural services for new residence construction ($3,460); appraisal reviews, surveys, and environmental reports for land (Norton tract) acquisition ($13,502.62); catch basin renovation ($8,275) Dam repair (includes repair plans, specifications, monitoring and surveying) - $100,619.46. Electronic gate ($14,914) Office addition and renovation. Residence windows replacement Manager's residence flooring, HVAC, and water filtration system replacement. Office roof replacement Hatchery barracks roof replacement ($3,990); Manager's residence roof replacement ($4,990) Shop building roof replacement ($4,100.14); aggregate ($2,000) Prorated expenses of headquarters staff to manage capital outlay repairs and maintenance projects. Total Cost 2,004 88,733 192,616 226,445 115,533 23,585 3,150 11,986 6,302 8,980 6,100 34,325 $1,744,220