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Lake Findley 2008 Survey Report media download(PDF 393.9 KB)

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Lake Findley - 2008 Survey Report

Prepared by John Findeisen and Greg Binion
Inland Fisheries Division
District 1-E, Mathis, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 23-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lake Findley were surveyed in fall 2008 using trap nets and electrofishing and spring 2009 using gill nets. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Lake Findley is a 200-acre reservoir located on Chilitipin Creek, in the San Fernando Creek Basin, one mile north of Alice. It receives water from Chilitipin Creek and from Lake Corpus Christi via pipeline, and is used for water supply and recreation. Shoreline access is adequate, whereas challenged and boat access are inadequate, as there are no challenged specific facilities and no improved boat ramp. A unimproved boat ramp is located on the west side of the reservoir but can only accommodate small vessels. The lake is shallow and turbid with substrate comprised of small rock, clay, sand, and silt. Littoral habitat at the time of sampling consisted of spatterdock, fallen timber, and rip rap.

Management History

Important sport fish species include largemouth bass, channel and blue catfish, and crappie. Palmetto bass were an important sport fish in the late 1990s but became nonexistent shortly after stockings were halted. The 2005 management plan focused on addressing fish kills due to anoxic water trapped in the pipelines from Lake Corpus Christi, working with the city of Alice on improvements to the reservoir, stabilizing water level and recreating a palmetto bass fishery. The city of Alice constructed a barrier at the influent canal/reservoir interface to prevent fish from entering the canal during pumping periods when anoxic water can be present. Since the construction of the barrier, there have been no additional fish kills at Lake Findley. Water levels remained fairly consistent since the last report primarily due to rainfall events. Palmetto bass were requested in 2005 and 2009, with the 2009 request being approved. Stocking occured in the spring 2009.

Fish Community

Management Strategies

Sport Fish Restoration Logo

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-30-R-34 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program



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