Fisheries Section annual report, fiscal year 2011

FISHERIES SECTION ANNUAL REPORT
Fiscal Year 2011
July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011
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

8

Appendices:

A. Facts about fishing in Georgia, fisheries related revenues earned, and

9

Fisheries Section expenditures

B. Private waters management

13

C. Public waters management

15

D. Trout production and distribution

20

E. Warmwater hatchery production and distribution

25

F. Public fishing area operation

30

G. Resource studies

32

H. Maintenance and construction

35

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 2011 (FY2011) 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).
The Section continues to introduce youth to fishing through the Kids Fishing Events (KFE) program. Section staff held a total of 304 KFEs statewide with 25,253 youth attending. Twentyfive percent of the attendees were beginners and 67 percent caught at least one fish. One hundred sixty-six 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 16 WRD facilities sponsored the remaining 138 events. Instructions in casting, how to hold a fish, how to safely remove a hook from a fish, fish identification, fish physiology, ethics, and safety were also provided at many events. Special ponds are set aside at many WRD hatcheries and public fishing areas for fishing by families with children. Two such ponds at Buford and Burton fish hatcheries provided a quality fishing experience for 2,959 young anglers in FY2011. Beginners comprised 22 percent of this group with an overall fishing success rate of 90 percent.
Aquatic Project WILD training was provided to 1,024 Georgia educators at 20 workshops conducted statewide in FY2011. In addition, another forty (40) educators were trained as Aquatic Project WILD `facilitators' which qualifies them to teach Aquatic WILD to other teachers. Two Advanced Project WILD workshops were also conducted in FY2011 and attended by 31 educators and resource management professionals. A Teacher Conservation Workshop was also conducted for thirty (30) 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, Section staff conducted 173 presentations to more than 11,029 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 Great Outdoors Show, 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 550,000 Georgians attend these events annually.
1

2

The Go Fish Georgia initiative, established by Governor Perdue in 2007, seeks to establish Georgia as a national fishing destination through a three-tiered approach: 1) improving the quality of fishing in Georgia waters; 2) improving access to water bodies for fishing in Georgia; and 3) increasing participation through active promotion and marketing of Georgia's exceptional fishing resources. The purpose of the Go Fish Georgia Initiative is to promote and enhance boating and fishing tourism in Georgia and to boost economic development in communities across the state. This initiative will result in quality fisheries resources statewide, including familyfriendly fishing and recreation access points that will increase fishing participation throughout Georgia.
The centerpiece of the state's efforts to promote fishing and increase participation is the new Go Fish Education Center located at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter just off Interstate 75 near Perry, Georgia. The Center's design plans call for a LEED certified "green" building incorporating a 15,000 square-foot public facility with live fish, static displays, theater, indoor and outdoor classrooms, public fishing pond, and interpretive trails. The Center opened to the public in October 2010 and the classroom education program kicked-off in January 2011. Professional education staff provided 37 days of programming to 1,665 students and 277 adults during the final six months of the fiscal year. Classroom programs are interactive, hands-on lessons that align to the Georgia Performance Standards. On-site fishing opportunities were also provided to 9,681 youth anglers at the Go Fish Center's fishing pond.
Improving access to Georgia's water bodies was one of the three core elements of the Go Fish Georgia initiative and has been facilitated through the creation of the Georgia Bass Trail. Under this program, seventeen large capacity boat ramps are to be funded and built through 50:50 partnerships with local and state organizations. Sites were selected across the state to represent the varied bass fishing opportunities that Georgia offers to both the amateur and professional angler. Facilities at these sites typically include multiple boat ramp lanes, extra capacity parking lots, and areas to weigh in the angler's catch. Eight of these ramps have been completed to date with another four nearing completion. The remaining five projects are in various stages of planning and permitting with expected completion in 2012. Major bass fishing tournaments attracted by such facilities have a significant economic impact on local communities. The Forrest Wood Cup championship bass tournament was conducted in August 2010 from the new Go Fish Georgia ramp on Lake Lanier and was estimated to have a $23.2 million economic impact.
The state's three trout hatcheries combined efforts with the Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery to stock more than 1.2 million catchable trout and 48,800 fingerling trout into north Georgia streams, small lakes, reservoirs, and their tail-waters. To maintain high catch rates during the fall and winter months, about 73,000 catchable-sized trout were stocked into Georgia's five "delayed harvest" streams. Anglers reported high satisfaction and outstanding catch rates in delayed harvest streams. Lakes Burton and Seed are Georgia's only managed reservoir trout fisheries where 25,000 and 2,000 catchable brown trout were stocked, respectively, in fall 2010. Reservoir trout fishing has grown in popularity over the years and peak fishing occurs in the summer months. More than 39,500 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.
The Section completed analysis of data related to the 2005 brown trout stocking moratorium in the Lanier tail-water section of the Chattahoochee River. The stocking moratorium was extended indefinitely due to analysis results which verified presence of a healthy, sustained wild brown trout fishery. Rainbow trout will continue to be stocked at current rates. A research
3

project studying growth, migration and diet of brown trout in the Lanier tail-water is now underway to explore controlling factors of population dynamics. This research will help guide future management of trout populations in the Chattahoochee River below Lake Lanier.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources' Normandy Fish Hatchery supplied nearly 1.7 million walleye fry to Georgia rearing facilities in FY2011. In addition, approximately 400,000 walleye fry were produced for the first time at the Richmond Hill fish hatchery in Georgia. Five state warmwater fish hatcheries raised these fry to produce over 729,000 walleye fingerlings that were stocked into nine North Georgia reservoirs in May 2011. The production of stock-able walleye fingerlings began at the Lake Burton fish hatchery in 2002 and has grown in size and success over the past nine years. Based on annual electrofishing and gill netting surveys, fishable walleye populations are being maintained by annual fingerling stockings. Targeted fishing effort for walleye in Georgia has increased over recent years as reports of success filter through the angling community.
The Section's six warm water fish hatcheries produced over 475,000 fingerling fish that were provided for stocking in 321 privately owned, newly constructed, or renovated ponds to establish fish populations. Over 1.57 million hybrid striped bass fingerlings were produced and stocked into 14 lakes and reservoirs. Also, over 1.86 million Atlantic and Gulf Coast strain striped bass fingerlings were raised in Georgia hatcheries and stocked into 14 reservoirs. An additional 57,185 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 self-sustaining populations in those river basins. Another 75,705 six to eight-inch Gulf striped bass were stocked into West Point Reservoir as part of Gulf striped bass recovery efforts in the ApalachicolaChattahoochee-Flint River system.
Reintroduction of lake sturgeon to the upper Coosa River system continued in FY2011, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Lake sturgeon were once a unique component of the diverse Coosa River basin fish assemblage, but were extirpated from the system in the late 1960s. This was probably a combined function of habitat degradation, overharvest, 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. A total of 31,197 lake sturgeon fingerlings/juveniles were stocked into the Coosa River system in FY2011. This included a third consecutive stocking of lake sturgeon fingerlings into Allatoona Reservoir (upper Etowah River). These fish will have access to historic habitat in the Etowah River upstream of Allatoona Dam. Anglers continue to report sturgeon sightings at several locations in the greater Coosa River system to include Weiss, Neely Henry, Logan Martin and Lay reservoirs in Alabama. This extends the current range of the species to its' known pre1950 range.
Researchers from Oklahoma State University continued working with the Section to evaluate the impact of shoal bass stockings from 2003-2007 in the Chattahoochee River below Morgan Falls Dam. Initial findings indicated that natural reproduction was repressed below sustainable levels and growth was slowed compared to other shoal bass populations in Georgia. Consequently, the Section re-initiated stocking shoal bass in the Morgan Falls tail-water beginning in May 2011 to maintain this popular fishery. In support of stocking, the Section continues to work with the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to develop a new in-stream temperature criterion specific to the Lanier and Morgan Falls tail-waters. A stakeholder involvement process began in early FY2012 as EPD and WRD work to develop appropriate temperature standards. This new designation will be designed to protect the trout fishery between Buford Dam and Peachtree Creek without imposing the otherwise stringent restrictions of a Primary Trout Water stream designation.
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Alabama shad restoration efforts continued in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River system in FY2011. 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 FY2011 was estimated at 26,193 fish. This adult shad return estimate is smaller than last year, but still the second highest recorded since 2005. Preliminary study results indicate that 25-40 percent of returning shad have been able to navigate through the lock structure at Jim Woodruff Dam and move upstream. Shad genetics research conducted in FY2011estimated the effective population size at 26,150 individuals. This suggests that genetic factors do not appear to be of immediate importance to the short or long-term persistence of Alabama shad in the Apalachicola River. 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 and The Nature Conservancy.
The genetically unique Gulf strain of striped bass was once common to rivers of the Gulf of Mexico. By the 1960's, its population had declined significantly due to poor water quality and loss of habitat from dam construction. The last population of native striped bass survived in low numbers in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) river system in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. For over 25 years, these states and the Federal government have worked together for the protection and restoration of Gulf striped bass in the ACF. As a result of this strong partnership, knowledge of the life history of striped bass has improved, and essential cool water habitats have been protected or rehabilitated. A large cooperative stocking program was implemented, and anglers have set new records. This work has been a catalyst for striped bass restoration throughout the Gulf region. Seven state and six federal fish hatcheries including WRD's Steve Cocke and Cordele hatcheries have produced and stocked over one million fish annually. Other shared accomplishments include cool water habitat restoration, population monitoring, angler creel surveys, the development of special fishing regulations, tagging and telemetry studies, and research efforts to pass striped above existing dams. Future plans include the evaluation of optimum stocking strategies, producing adequate numbers of fish to meet Gulfwide stocking goals, protecting the genetic integrity of this unique fish, and protecting and restoring additional habitat critical to restoration of Gulf striped bass throughout the Gulf coast region. During FY2011, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant through the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership was used to restore Bovine Spring, an important Gulf striped bass summer refuge in the Flint River. Funding was used to fence out livestock, restore the severely eroded stream bank and provide an alternative watering source for the cattle previously entering the spring.
The Satilla River has historically been one of the premier sunfish fisheries in the state of Georgia, with redbreast sunfish being one of the most sought after species by anglers. The presence of illegally introduced flathead catfish in the Satilla River was confirmed in the summer of 1996. Flathead catfish are known fish predators that can negatively impact native fish populations in the areas where they become well established. Public sentiment is overwhelmingly in favor of protecting the redbreast sunfish fishery that still exists in the upper Satilla River. Redbreast sunfish and native catfish populations were reduced 65 and 87percent, respectively, by mid-2000 in the lower Satilla River where flatheads had become established.
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The Section has responded to the expansion of the flathead catfish in the lower Satilla River by annually monitoring the population and conducting removal efforts in hopes of preserving native fish populations upstream. From April through October 2010, Waycross fisheries staff expended 162 hours of electrofishing effort in the removal of 11,101 pounds of flathead catfish from 90 miles of the Satilla River. This was a nine percent decrease in electrofishing effort from 2009, but a 30 percent increase in the total poundage of flathead catfish removed. The average weight of flathead catfish removed increased from 1.4 pounds in 2009 to 1.8 pounds in 2010. This increase is most likely a population response to increased food availability prompted by higher than usual river levels throughout 2009. Flathead catfish age-structure data collected in 2010 revealed a population that has experienced high exploitation. This is characterized by a large proportion of younger and smaller fish. Data indicated over 80 percent of the population was age 2 or younger. Maintenance control of flathead catfish in the Satilla River is possible as evidenced by the changes in size and age-structure noted, but intensive harvest will need to be maintained indefinitely to prevent the flathead population from rebuilding.
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 2010, 38,641 pounds of American shad were commercially harvested from Georgia Rivers. This was approximately a 27 percent increase from the 30,483 pounds harvested during 2009. An estimated 113,492 American shad returned to the Altamaha River to spawn during 2010, a 22 percent decrease from 144,578 fish estimated for 2009. Shad population and harvest levels are lower than those observed during the population's peak in the mid 1990's. However, the overall exploitation rate of 0.236 is also well below the recommended over-exploitation benchmark of 0.41 established by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Thus, there is no evidence that American shad are being overharvested in Georgia rivers.
The Section continued striped bass population monitoring and restoration efforts in Georgia's coastal rivers in support of its goal to re-establish 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. The Savannah River striped bass fishery was reopened for harvest in 2005 after a 17-year closure. Annual monitoring efforts have indicated that current population numbers are near historic levels. However, potential negative impacts of proposed habitat alteration associated with harbor expansion and channel deepening threatens the progress of population recovery and continues to be a concern.
The Section also continues its striped bass restoration efforts in the Altamaha River system with the goal of re-establishing a self-sustaining striped bass fishery. The Altamaha River basin is home to Georgia's striped bass record (63 lbs); however, the population precipitously declined during the last several decades. Population monitoring has shown good growth and survival of stocked fish and the population of older-aged fish continues to increase. As the population expands through stocking of phase II striped bass, biologists will continue to monitor for natural reproduction.
The Stream Survey Team (SST) assesses the status of fish communities in wade-able streams across Georgia using the fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI). This index integrates 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 assessment provide information about potential sources of stream degradation for those streams found to have impaired fish communities. The Stream Survey Team sampled 23 streams in FY2011
6

(Figure 2). These streams were located in five of Georgia's 14 major river basins across three of the state's five major eco-regions: Blue Ridge (3), Piedmont (8), and Southeastern Plains (12).
Fish bio-monitoring reports on all streams surveyed by the SST are provided to Georgia's Environmental Protection Division. 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.)
Research was initiated in FY2011 and aimed at mapping and quantifying in-stream sturgeon spawning habitat using low-cost side scan sonar technology. Sonar research is being conducted on four southeast Georgia Coastal Plain rivers; the Oconee, Ocmulgee, Altamaha and Savannah. During FY2011, efforts were focused on the Oconee, Ocmulgee, and Altamaha with more the 700 river kilometers surveyed and processed into sonar image maps. As of June 2011, approximately 45 percent of the substrate mapping and classification on these three rivers had been completed. A manuscript entitled Using Low-Cost Side Scan Sonar for Benthic Mapping Throughout the Lower Flint River, Georgia, USA was prepared, submitted and subsequently published in the River Research and Applications journal. This publication addressed the adaptation and validation of low cost sonar mapping techniques for use in large river systems. A habitat mapping workshop focusing on sonar data collection and mapping techniques was presented at the St. Marys River Restoration Committee meeting in Palatka, FL, the Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society annual meeting in San Marcos, TX, and the 2010 annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society in Pittsburgh, PA.
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##

#

#

#

#
## # #

Stream Survey Team Effort (FY11)

#

Sampled Sites (23)

N

# #
#
# #
##

# ##
##

Figure 2. Stream Survey Team FY2011 sampling locations.
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Appendix A: Tables showing important facts about fishing in Georgia, information on revenue earned, and expenditures for FY2011.
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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."

10

Table A-2. Revenue (to the nearest dollar) generated by the Fisheries Section from license sales in fiscal year 2011.a

Type of License Lifetime (new issues)

License Sales Fiscal Year 2011 (July 1, 2010 to June 30. 2011)
Number
2,475

Combination Hunt/Fish

72,778

Combination Hunt/Fish 2-Year

3,986

Sportsman's Combination Hunt/Fish

42,242

Sportsman's Combination Hunt/Fish 2-Year

1,702

Resident Fishing

302,568

Resident Fishing 2-Year

29,279

Resident Trout Fishing

85,033

Resident Trout Fishing 2-Year

5,574

Resident 3-Day Combination Hunt/Fish

16,534

Resident 3-Day Trout Fishing

1,217

Non-Resident Combination Hunt/Fish

20,980

Non-Resident Fishing

17,616

Non-Resident 3-Day Combination Hunt/Fish

37,238

Non-Resident Trout Fishing

3,707

Non-Resident 3-Day Trout Fishing

6,547

Revenue 306,958 b 618,613 b
61,783 b 1,161,655 b
89,355 b 2,723,112
468,464 425,165
55,740 28,935 b
4,260 1,049,000 b
792,720 372,380 b
74,140 65,470

Totals

649,476

$8,297,749

a In addition to license sales shown, the Wildlife Resources Division sold 40,726 resident Wildlife Management Area (WMA) stamps for $773,794 and 1,299 non-resident WMA stamps for $94,827. 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.

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Table A-3. Fisheries Section expenditures (thousands of dollars) by region and program with total staff-days in FY2011.a

PROGRAM Private Waters Management

COST BY REGION

TOTAL

TOTAL

HQb

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

COST STAFF-DAYS

Public Waters Management General Technical Guidance Habitat Management Surveys and Inventories Aquatic Education Resource Studies c

1,344.2 317.7 53.3 16.0 346.2 55.9 555.1

504.1 132.3
98.3 18.7 220.2 34.6

484.5 115.6
59.1 26.9 236.2 46.7

619.3 37.5 57.9 10.1
476.6 37.2

1,175.4 700.3 81.2 25.5 82.4 286.0

550.9 146.8
52.5 64.8 255.5 13.8 17.5

765.3 305.9
75.6
275.8 46.3 61.7

313.2 99.9 60.4
128.4 24.5

5,756.9 1,856.0
538.3 162.0 2,021.3 545.0 634.3

13,020 2,424 1,771 500 6,468 1,680 177

Hatchery Production & Stocking Coldwater Hatcheries Warmwater Hatcheries

251.3 114.6 136.7

296.9 269.4
27.5

787.4 774.1
13.3

276.4 276.4

39.4 39.4

391.9 391.9

177.2 177.2

318.6 318.6

2,539.1 1,158.1 1,381.0

7,050 3,203 3,847

Public Fishing Areas
Facility Construction and Maintenance
Capital Outlay & New Construction Operations & Maintenance

187.0
451.4
429.2 22.2

438.8
31.2
16.5 14.7

18.0
8.3 9.7

193.2 385.4

13.9 1,042.9

13.9

939.5

103.4

39.8
11.9 27.9

685.2
79.4
48.3 31.1

20.1
4.4 15.7

1,889.6
1,696.7
1,472.0 224.7

6,586
2,056
1,359 697

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Totals

2,233.9 1,271.0 1,289.9 1,102.8 2,643.1 982.6 1,707.1 651.9 11,882.3 d 28,712

a Figures may differ somewhat from the final June 2011 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 Education,
Resource Studies, and Capital Outlay and New Construction. These four programs include both specific and prorated Headquarters cost. c This category includes per diem/contract expenditures in addition to resource studies conducted by Section personnel. d Total includes $5,239,747 in funding from the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration program.

Appendix B: Table showing information on the Fisheries Section Private Waters Management Program in FY2011.
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Table B-1. Private Waters Program FY2011 fish distribution by Regional location of pond. Fish are provided to pond owners to establish fishable populations in newly constructed or renovated ponds.

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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

I

17 53

18,320

4,580

2,789

4,036

II

12 24

8.3% 29.7%

15,020

3,755

1,878

1,013

III

33 116

3.0% 3.5%

49,540 12,585

5,418 15,548

IV

26 101

3.8% 1.0%

41,040 10,260

5,131

3,818

V

43 164

54,780 14,095

8,135 14,661

VI

78 276

104,040 26,010

12,180 20,465

VII

22 32

12,760

3,190

4,100

6,255

Statewide
totals 231 764

1.3% 1.6% 295,500 74,475

39,631 65,796

6 8 $ 2,633 $ 1,799
29 72 $ 7,778 6 4 $ 5,119
18 27 $ 8,244 20 182 $ 14,324 11 46 $ 2,727

90 339

$42,623

Appendix C: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Public Waters Management Program in FY2011.
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Table C-1. Public Waters - Surveys and Inventory conducted by the Fisheries Section in FY2011.

Standardized Sampling Waterbody type Reservoirs/lakes/ponds Rivers/streams Public fishing areas

Methodology Electrofishing Gill net Electrofishing Scuba Electrofishing Gill net

Waterbodies surveyed 24 27 10 1 24 3

Total stations
236 245
99 10 73 15

Creel Surveys

Dates surveyed

Angler

Angler

Waterbody

(days of fishing)

trips

hours

Altamaha River Duke's Creek1

04/11/2010 - 10/05/2010 (177) 07/01/2010 - 06/30/2011 (365)

12,348 1,136

47,444 5,279

Satilla River Smith Creek2

04/16/2010 - 10/15/2010 (182) 11/01/2009 - 05/14/2010 (195)

9,866 179

32,873 685

Steve Bell Lake Waters Creek3

07/01/2010 - 06/30/2011 (365) 03/27/2009 - 10/31/2009 (95)

7,510 121

22,146 344

1 Restricted access trout stream. Fishing allowed year round by reservation only.

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

Species

Number Samples

Survey type

surveyed

surveyed

of fish collected

Age & growth Broodstock collection1

13

13

2,341

205

6

4

306

24

Contaminant

11

5

288

34

Genetics

9

6

407

73

Harvest

2

2

250

53

Population monitoring Public display2

63

20

7,740

380

7

4

263

10

Radiological

1

2

14

2

Temperature

29

-

-

37

Water quality

11

-

-

86

1 Striped bass, White bass, Shoal bass, and Walleye.

2 Fish displays at Georgia National Fair, Go Fish Georgia Education Center, and Coosa River Basin Initiative Waterfest.

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Table C-2. Fish kills investigated by the Fisheries Section in FY2011.

Category of cause
Industrial

Number of incidents
3

Fish killed Number
16,027

Value $9,300

Municipal a

5

Natural / Disease

5

11,759 331

$3,875
b
$99

Undetermined

5

40,366

$127,713

Total

18

68,483

$140,987

a Includes fish kills caused by sewage discharges from county or city waste treatment facilities.
b Number estimates 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 generally not reported.

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Table C-3. Environmental reviews and assessments conducted by the Fisheries Section in FY2011.

Agency and type of review

Number a

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Requests to build ponds on trout streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4. . . . . . . Requests to stock fish in trout streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Environmental Protection Division Flow and water quality issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2. . . . . . . . .
Georgia State Clearinghouse Project reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
U.S. Government Agency Permits, Projects and Plans Army Corps of Engineers Plans and projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2. . . . . . . . . Federal Energy Regulatory Commission License issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. . . . Tennessee Valley Authority Environmental assessments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1. . . . . . . . U.S. Dept of Interior National Park Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1. U.S. Forest Service Plans and projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Plans and projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1. . . . .
Local & Regional Government Projects Developments having regional impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. . . . . . . . . . .
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. 7.
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.

18

Table C-4. Information - Education activities conducted by the Fisheries Section in FY2011.

Education
Event type Career day Student mentorship Student presentation / workshop

Number of events
4 1 173

Total attendance
1,204 30
11,029

Fishing
Event type Family fishing opportunites Fishing tournaments Handicapped fishing Kids fishing events National Hunting/Fishing Day Senior citizen fishing

Number of events
2 2 5 304 8 13

Attendance
2,959 160 116
25,253 2,833 189

Beginners 639
13 6,263
246 6

Caught a fish 2,674
9 16,834
1,347 84

Information
Event type Fish hatchery / PFA tours Go Fish Georgia Public presentations Special events WRD Public hearing

Number of events
77 125
30 12
1

Attendance
1,649 9,681 1,398 11,360
11

19

Appendix D: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Trout Production Program in FY2011.
20

Table D-1. Trout production (lbs), conversion ratios, and costs at state hatcheries in FY2011.

Hatchery

Species RAINBOW BROWN

Total

Cost a Total

Per lb

Catchables Buford

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

166,405 1.26

26,429 1.00

192,834 1.22

$376,435

$1.95

Burton

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

60,754 1.32

24,161 1.18

84,915 1.28

$241,920

$2.85

Summerville

Net weight gain Conversion ratio

19,142 0.98

19,142 0.98

$87,489

$4.57

21

Total

Net weight gain Conversion ratio b

246,301 1.25

50,590 1.09

296,891 1.22

$705,844

$2.38

Fingerlings Summerville

Cost per pound to stock trout from state hatcheries: Total production and distribution costs per pound:
Production of 761,572 fingerling rainbow trout (3.4 inch mean length) $98,628 weighing 8,293 pounds.

Grand Total Catchable and Fingerling Costs

$804,472

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.

$0.46 $2.84
$11.89
$3.10

Table D-2. Species, number, and weight (lbs) of trout stocked into Georgia's public waters from state and federal hatcheries during FY2011.

Facility

_______R_A_I_N_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

453,750 12,740

177,390 606

184,384 15,697

73,317 1,308

62,458

21,801

62,282

24,145

166,965

57,940

516,032 12,740

201,535 606

351,349 15,697

131,257 1,308

62,458

21,801

FEDERAL HATCHERY
Chattahoochee Forest catchables fingerlings

272,669 20,400

90,288 1,020

272,669 20,400

90,288 1,020

22

TOTAL
catchables fingerlings

973,261 48,837

362,796 2,934

229,247

82,085

1,202,508 48,837

444,881 2,934

Table D-3. Species, number, and weight (lbs) of catchable trout by habitat stocked from all hatcheries in FY2011.

Locations stocked

RAINBOW Number Weight

BROWN Number Weight

TOTAL Number Weight

STREAMS BY COUNTY Bartow Catoosa Chattooga Cherokee Dawson Fannin Floyd Gilmer Gordon Habersham Haralson Lumpkin Murray Paulding Pickens Polk Rabun Stephens Towns Union Walker White
------------------------------Total
------------------------------TAILWATERS
Blue Ridge Hartwell Lanier --M---o-r-g--a--n--F--a-l-l-s-------------

13,350

4,655

4,013

1,395

5,961

2,045

800

286

26,822 10,212

106,734 35,988

38,985 13,759

15,695

5,405

500

179

22,924

8,597

8,207

2,820

55,347 19,031

15,253

5,548

5,057

1,659

8,283

3,046

1,898

630

87,893 34,471

29,465 11,691

19,226

7,206

82,200 26,777

10,409

3,567

67,499 25,609 -------------- --------------

626,521 224,576 -------------- --------------

29,085 10,748

9,214

3,467

236,097 94,558

-----3--6--,-7-8--3- -----1--6--,-3-3--3-

1,950

754

800

237

3,130 5,070
800 9,610

1,118 1,753
237 3,376

8,873

3,107

2,500

853

1,300

464

100

30

200

71

79,450 27,939

2,400

857

14,360

5,132

3,586

1,231

780

279

25,895

9,234

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

160,804 56,672 -------------- --------------

10,435 13,560

3,292 4,184

-----1--7--,-4-4--8- -------7--,-9-0--7-

15,300

5,409

4,013

1,395

5,961

2,045

1,600

523

26,822 10,212

106,734 35,988

42,115 14,877

20,765

7,158

1,300

416

32,534 11,973

8,207

2,820

64,220 22,138

17,753

6,401

6,357

2,123

8,383

3,076

2,098

701

167,343 62,410

31,865 12,548

33,586 12,338

85,786 28,008

11,189

3,846

93,394 34,843 ---------------- ---------------

787,325 281,248 ---------------- ---------------

39,520 14,040

22,774

7,651

236,097 94,558

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

--T--o--ta--l----------------------- ----3-1--1--,-1-7--9- ----1-2--5--,-1-0--6- -----4--1--,-4-4--3- -----1--5--,-3-8--3- ------3-5--2--,-6-2--2- -----1-4--0-,-4--8--9-

RESERVOIRS AND SMALL LAKES

Black Rock

2,050

797

2,050

797

Burton

25,000

9,246

25,000

9,246

Dockery

5,625

1,998

5,625

1,998

Go Fish Georgia Center

406

150

406

150

Nancytown

4,975

1,944

4,975

1,944

Rock Creek

10,285

3,762

10,285

3,762

Seed

2,000

784

2,000

784

Vogel

2,525

950

2,525

950

Winfield Scott

9,695

3,513

9,695

3,513

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

Total

35,561 13,114

27,000 10,030

62,561 23,144

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

GRAND TOTAL

973,261 362,796 229,247 82,085 1,202,508 444,881

23

Table D-4. Species, number, and weight (lbs) of fingerling trout by habitat stocked from all hatcheries in FY2011.

Locations stocked

RAINBOW Number Weight

STREAMS BY COUNTY

Rabun

7,000

748

Total

7,000

748

TAILWATERS Blue Ridge Lanier
Total

20,400 4,400
24,800

1,020 208
1,228

RESERVOIRS AND SMALL LAKES

Burton

17,037

958

Total GRAND TOTAL

17,037 48,837

958 2,934

BROWN Number Weight

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

TOTAL Number Weight

7,000

748

7,000

748

20,400 4,400
24,800

1,020 208
1,228

17,037
17,037 48,837

958
958 2,934

24

Appendix E: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Warmwater Hatchery Production Program in FY2011.
25

Table E-1. Total numbers and cost per fish of warmwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY2011.

Species

Acres

Number

Number per acre

Cost pera fish ($)

Black crappie Fingerling
Bluegill Fingerling
Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable
Golden shiner Fingerling
Goldfish Fingerling Intermediate
Hybrid white-striped bass Fry Fingerling Intermediate
Lake chubsucker Intermediate
Lake sturgeon Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable
Largemouth bass Fry Fingerling
Redear sunfish
Fingerling
Shoal bass Fingerling Adv. Fingerling
Striped bass Fry Fingerling Intermediate
Walleye Fingerling Intermediate

0.42
12.81
7.30 6.29 22.67 9.68
1.59
2.45 3.93
b
18.70 0.01
0.48
c c c
1.27 5.89
3.84
1.10 1.10
b
21.00 12.65
11.26
e

13,250
2,867,914
1,132,700 501,874 544,366 50,909
63,000
303,171 98,487
4,500,000 1,570,963
611
9,338
31,197 1,373 336
296,000 263,307
818,084
59,091 10,460
10,113,000 2,091,913 104,773
768,743 2,061

31,548
223,881
155,164 79,789 24,013 5,259
39,623
123,743 25,060
b
84,009 61,100
19,454
c c c
233,071 44,704
213,043
53,719 9,509
b
99,615 8,282
68,272
e

0.447
0.042
0.049 0.175 0.517 2.243
0.247
0.057 0.483
0.006 0.042
d
0.346
1.569
d d
0.011 0.060
0.061
0.038 0.259
0.006 0.031 1.279
0.041 0.234

Totals (all sizes)

144.99

26,203,881 f

79,787 g

0.102 g

a Cost of each production phase includes cost of previous phase. b Not applicable, fry were hatched in jars and placed in aquaria and/or vats inside the hatchery. c Sturgeon fingerlings were raised in trout raceways at Summerville Fish Hatchery. Intermediate
and harvestable fish were raised in concrete vats inside the Go Fish Center hatchery. d Costs were not tracked since production of these sizes is considered experimental. e Walleye intermediates were raised in vats at Walton Fish Hatchery. f 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 by federal hatcheries. g Weighted mean. Striped bass fry, hybrid white-striped bass (fry and intermediate),

26

Table E-2. Number of each warmwater fish species produced at state hatcheries in FY2011.

Bowens Mill Burton Cordele Go Fish McDuffie Richmond Hill Steve Cocke Summerville Walton

Species

Total

Black crappie

Fingerling

13,250

Bluegill

Fingerling

834,114

Channel catfish

Fry

Fingerling

56,965

Intermediate

Harvestable

2,655

Golden shiner

Adv. Fingerling

63,000

Goldfish

Fingerling

Intermediate

98,487

Hybrid white-striped bass

Fry

Fingerling

Adv. Fingerling

Lake chubsucker

Intermediate

Lake sturgeon a

Fingerling

Intermediate

Harvestable

674,000 34,000
170,150 23,500

637,285
458,700 238,453
33,268 15,254

157,104 970,636

64,604 114,530

107,852 189,524
9,500

105,971 197,200

201,247 611

4,500,000 853,289 516,427

9,338

13,250

268,775 2,867,914

36,894

1,132,700 501,874 544,366 50,909

63,000

303,171 98,487

4,500,000 1,570,963
611

9,338

1,373 336

31,197

31,197 1,373 336

Largemouth bass

Fry

296,000

Fingerling

92,850

Intermediate

Redear sunfish

Fingerling

177,231

Shoal bass
Fingerling Adv. Fingerling
Striped bass b

Fry Fingerling Intermediate

818,071

Walleye

Fingerling Intermediate

Total

2,452,623

8,400 131,371 30,686

287,500

35,960 317,393
59,091 10,460

296,000

263,307

210

210

818,084

59,091 10,460

71,597

10,113,000 644,209 558,036
58,198

46,575

10,113,000 2,091,913 104,773

66,540

100,000 183,130

89,817 329,256 2,061

768,743 2,061

66,540 1,174,494 102,320 2,515,537 16,692,063 2,455,344 121,014 637,196 26,217,131

a Production of sturgeon for species restoration stockings in the Coosa River. Fish were raised in concrete vats and raceways. b Numbers produced include 118,172 Gulf Coast strain striped bass raised at Cordele and Steve Cocke state fish hatcheries.

27

Table E-3. Cost per fish (dollars) for warmwater fish species produced at state hatcheries in FY2011.

Bowens Mill Burton Cordele McDuffie Richmond Hill Steve Cocke Summerville Walton

Species

Black Crappie Fingerling 0.447

Bluegill Fingerling 0.037

Channel catfish Fry
Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable

0.375 9.265

Hybrid white-striped bass Fry
Fingerling

Golden shiner Adv. Fingerling 0.247

Goldfish Fingerling
Intermediate

0.483

Lake chubsucker Adv. Fingerling Intermediate

Lake sturgeon Fingerling

Largemouth bass

Fry 0.011 Fingerling 0.036

Redear sunfish Fingerling 0.093

Shoal bass Fingerling
Adv. Fingerling

Striped bass Fry
Fingerling Intermediate

0.024

Walleye

Fingerling Intermediate

0.051

0.058 0.088 0.470 1.866 0.054
0.037

0.027 0.038 0.124 0.972 2.045
0.346
0.197 0.030
0.024 0.023

0.157 0.247 0.465 0.006 0.036
0.087
0.061 0.205
0.006 0.049 1.778

0.034 0.164 0.250 1.532 0.047
0.042
0.094 0.055 0.038 0.259
0.656

1.569 0.080

0.056 1.853
0.051 0.234

Total
0.447
0.042
0.049 0.175 0.517 2.243
0.006 0.042
0.247
0.057 0.483
0.346
1.569
0.011 0.060
0.061
0.038 0.259
0.006 0.031 1.279
0.041 0.234

28

Table E-4. Warmwater fish distributed from state hatcheries in FY2011. Totals include fish provided by federal hatcheries, surplus brood stock, and fish available as by-products of other programs.

Species

Kid's fishing events

Black crappie

Fingerling

Bluegill

Fingerling Adv. Fingerling

173,524

Chain pickerel

Harvestable

Channel catfish

Fry Fingerling Adv. Fingerling Intermediate Harvestable

26,121 500
324,819 34,223

Golden shiner

Adv. Fingerling

Goldfish

Fingerling

Intermediate

Grass carp

Harvestable

80

Lake chubsucker

Intermediate

Lake sturgeon

Fingerling

Adv. Fingerling

Intermediate

Largemouth bass

Fingerling

645

Intermediate

50

Redear sunfish

Fingerling

1,440

Striped bass - Atlantic strain

Fry

Fingerling

Intermediate

Striped bass - Gulf strain

Fry

Fingerling

Intermediate

White-striped bass hybrid

Fingerling

Adv. Fingerling

611

Walleye

Fingerling

Adv. Fingerling

Total (all sizes)

562,013

Other fisheries agencies
1,400
336 1,200,000
1,201,736

Private waters
295,500
65,796 7,000

Public fishing areas

Publicly owned small lakes

Reservoirs

13,250

802,960 148,400

552,808

50

6,700 5,121

163,847

10,600

41,437 7,186

81,752 500

5,000

63,000

45,834 174,027

1,398

9,338

3,859

39,631 74,475

48 330,901

112 81,110

197,929

1,753,004

344,581 40,992 75,805

175

1,550,617

482,402

9,503 2,061 1,648,139

893,379

718,338 4,700,725

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

Rivers & streams
65,000 57,933
25,338 1,373 8
2,820,000 57,185
3,026,837

Totala
13,250
1,824,792 148,400
50
71,700 330,818
500 460,008
41,909
63,000
45,834 174,027
1,478
9,338
29,197 1,373 344
238,205 210
487,926
4,020,000 1,753,004
57,185
344,581 40,992 75,805
1,550,792 611
727,841 2,061
12,515,231

29

Appendix F: Table showing information on the Fisheries Section Public Fishing Area Program in FY2011.
30

Table F-1. Public Fishing Area operational costs for FY2011.

Region

Area

Ownership

Number of
lakes

Acres open to public fishing

Total operating
cost ($)

I

Rocky Mountain a

Private

2

559

438,773

III McDuffie

State

7

109

192,781

IV Big Lazer

State

2

195

28,890

IV Flat Creek

State

1

106

90,422

IV Ocmulgee

State

1

106

86,092

IV Marben Farms

State

13

284

180,081

VI Dodge County

State

1

104

132,631

VI Evans County

State

3

122

133,070

VI Hugh M. Gillis

State

1

109

150,864

VI Paradise

State

60

525

268,599

Total

91

2,219

1,702,205

a Operational costs of public fishing area, campground, and swimming beach is annually funded through a contract with Oglethorpe Power Corporation and user fees.

31

Appendix G: Tables showing information on the Fisheries Section Resource Studies in FY2011.
32

Table G-1. Expenditures on resource studies and contracts by Region during FY2011.

Region

Study Title / Work Contracted

West Central Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters
Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters Headquarters

Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center - prison work detail
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
University of Georgia, Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit - research and education of fishery students
University of Georgia - Limnological Classification of Sportfish Production in Georgia Public Fishing Area lakes
Georgia Public Broadcasting - in support of the production of "Georgia Outdoors" television program
Georgia Dept. of Law - legal fees for services as pertaining to submerged log mining court case
Bronner Group, LLC - internal audit of DNR financials
Land survey and appraisals of two proposed boating access sites
Go Fish Center - fees for engineering and survey in support of the Exhibits Construction Phase
Dr. Carl Quertermus - compilation and analysis of B.A.S.S. fishing tournament catch data
Mountainbrook Environmental LLC - Otolith ageing of fish from Allatoona and Carters reservoirs, Coosa and Etowah rivers
Janice Gale - tagging of American Shad on Altamaha River in support of annual mortality estimates of returning adult stock
Georgia Environmental Finance Authority - management of the underground storage tank maintenance program
Employee Assistance Program - consulting fees
Dr. Carol Johnson - verification of minnows and darters captured and identified by Stream Survey Team personnel
Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP) - support of Southeastern States coordinator
Delegal Creek Cable - diver exploration of creek bed for location of power cable prior to dredging operations by The Landings Association - Boating Infrastructure Grant.
Holiday Marina vessel pump-out station installation on Lake Allatoona funded through a Clean Vessel Act Program Grant
City of Savannah - purchase and installation of floating docks on Savannah River funded through Boating Infrastructure Grant
Re-design of artwork for the automotive Trout Unlimited Tag
Lamar Institute - Flint River/Spring Creek navigability study
Administrative project review and support services

Cost 9,875 12,000 20,000 13,334 42,532 3,489 58,142 8,381 5,640 27,383 2,780 1,084 1,870 9,000 1,155 2,425 104,066 100,000
44,268 73,725
1,250 3,979 8,698

Total

$555,076

33

Table G-2. Final reports and publications completed by the Fisheries Section in FY2011.

Author
Bonvechio, T. F., K. I. Bonvechio, and R. L. Cailteux
Flowers, H. J., T. F. Bonvechio, and D. L. Peterson
Oconee River Technical Working Group

Publication
Proposed Standard Weight Equation (Ws) and Standard Length Categories for Suwannee Bass. N. Am. Jour. Fish. Mangt. 30(4):983-988.
Observations of Atlantic Sturgeon Predation by a Flathead Catfish. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 140(2):250-252.
Management Plan for the Oconee River Robust Redhorse Population. Robust Redhorse Conservation Committee, 20pp.

Young S.

Spawning Population Size and Upstream Passage of Alabama Shad at Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam, Apalachicola River, Florida 2010. Clemson University, 32pp.

34

Appendix H: Table showing the Fisheries Section maintenance and construction projects in FY2011.
35

Table H-1. Facility maintenance and construction projects statewide during FY2011

36

Project Boat Ramp Construction (statewide)
Boat Ramp Repair and Maintenance (statewide)

Project Description
Oostanaula River/Gordon County off State Route 156 - A double lane boating access ramp w/ canoe steps, paved driveway and acre paved parking area completed. Chattahoochee River/Hall County/Mossy Creek Access Improvements to the entrance road and parking area were completed to provide access for further construction projects.
Site inspections were completed on all ramps statewide during the year. Many were inspected on numerous occasions. Routine litter collection, trash removal, and mowing were conducted on these visits. Ramp renovations and improvements: Satilla River/Pierce County off State Route 221 - replaced existing double lane ramp, constructed double concrete handicap parking space, spread additional aggregate on parking area. Satilla River/Charlton County/Burnt Fort Access - replaced existing double lane ramp and spread additional aggregate on parking area. Silver Lake/Decatur County/Panic Pond Access - Curb added to the handicap parking space to correct an erosion issue. Chattahoochee River/Fulton County/Morgan Falls Access - replaced existing double lane ramp and spread additional aggregate on parking area. Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center/Jasper County/Shepherd Pond Concrete poured near ramp to correct erosion issue. Chattahoochee River/Fulton County/Campbellton Bridge Access Headwall was erected at driveway culvert to correct damage caused by Spring floods. St. Marys River/Charlton County off State Route 94 Repairs to the ramp were competed this year. Chattahoochee River/Muskogee County/Rotary Park Access Foundation repairs completed to correct erosion issues threatening ramp and service pier. Paving and striping: Chattahoochee River/Harris County/Bartletts Ferry Landing Access Restriped parking area for vehicular traffic and handicap parking. Ocmulgee PFA - Entrance road repairs and paved parking lot. Aggregate: Maintenance aggregate delivered and stock-piled for use on access roads at McDuffie PFA, Paradise PFA, Marben PFA, Flat Creek PFA and Big Lazer PFA. St. Marys River/Charlton County/Traders Hill Landing Access - Aggregate delivered for maintenance of parking area. Oconee River/Laurens County/Beaverdam Access Major improvements were to the entrance road and parking area. Drain pipes were installed at five different locations to correct problems with access during flood conditions. Dirt was hauled, spread and compacted to widen portions of the road. Aggregate was added to 2.5 miles of road to stabilize the surface. Service piers: Satilla River/Charlton County/Burnt Fort Landing Access Service pier purchased and installed. Other service piers were purchased for later installation. Handrail extensions were purchased and installed on service piers at Marben PFA-Bennett Pond and Paradise PFA-Lake Patrick to aid boaters. Fish Cleaning Stations: McDuffie PFA New shed constructed to house free standing fish-cleaning unit. A septic system, utilities, handicap parking, and graveled parking were also completed. Restrooms: Marben PFA-Fox Lake Door hardware replaced to correct restroom access problems. Marben PFA-Shepherd Pond - Headwall constructed behind restroom to control erosion issues. Equipment: Trailers (2) purchased for equipment and materials transport to project sites. Mower purchased for maintenance of boat ramps at McDuffie PFA. Truck purchased for the boat ramp construction program. Front loader assembly purchased for the tractor at Flat Creek PFA for boat ramp and parking area maintenance. Signs: Boating access entrance sign post was designed and constructed using native cypress logs for new installations and renovations. Completed sign kits stocked for later distribution to Regions.

Total Cost 82,762
959,558

Table H-1 (continued). Facility maintenance and construction projects statewide during FY2011.

Project Summerville Fish Hatchery Lake Hartwell Boating/Fishing Access
Buford Fish Hatchery
McDuffie Public Fishing Area
Walton Office
Go Fish Center
Flat Creek PFA
Ocmulgee PFA Steve Cocke Fish Hatchery
Richmond Hill Hatchery
HQ Administrative costs Total Expenditures

Project Description

Total Cost

Installation of pole barn overhang (42 ft.x24 ft.x15 ft.) attached to existing hatching house for equipment storage.

10,600

Final payment on two boating access facilities and a fishing pier constructed on Lake Hartwell with funding from the Sangamo PCB settlement.

212,969

Replacement of hatchery raceway water supply pump.

761

Engineering fees (Walden, Ashford & Associates) for the construction and installation of new entrance sign to the public fishing area.

4,746

Replacement of HVAC unit at Walton Regional Office.

4,892

Variable frequency drives for facility deep-well ($28,488). Engineering fees for deep-well repair ($495). Telecommunications charges - Georgia Technology Authority ($395).
Replacement of two existing HVAC units at facility residences ($8,920). Replacement of bathtub and plumbing in PFA residence ($4,425).
Consulting fees ($325) and installation of handrails at the Kids Fishing Pond ($1,450).

29,378 13,350
1,775

Replacement of HVAC unit on hatchery residence ($9,788). Roof repairs to hatchery residence ($4,778).

14,566

Replacement of existing HVAC units on the hatchery office (3-ton) and barracks (4-ton) with high efficiency (16 SEER) heat pumps.
Pro-rated expenses of headquarters staff to manage capital outlay repairs and maintenance projects.

18,480 114,550

$1,468,387

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