Eagle Mountain Reservoir - 2020 Survey Report

Prepared by Thomas Hungerford, Raphael Brock and Cynthia Fox-Holt
Inland Fisheries Division
Dallas-Fort Worth District

This is the authors' summary from a 32-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Eagle Mountain Reservoir were surveyed in 2020 using trap nets and electrofishing, and in 2021 using gill nets. Historical data are presented with the 2020-2021 data for comparison. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Eagle Mountain Reservoir is an 8,504-acre impoundment constructed on the West Fork Trinity River by the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) in 1932 for municipal and industrial purposes. The reservoir is located in northwest Fort Worth, is approximately 10 miles long and 3.5 miles wide (widest point), drains 1,970 square miles of watershed, and has 93.5 miles of shoreline. Conservation pool elevation is 649 feet above mean-sea-level resulting in a storage capacity at conservation pool of 179,880 acre-feet. Water level has remained near conservation pool since 2015. Boat access is good but shoreline angling access is limited. There is one ADA compliant fishing pier on the reservoir. Fishery habitat consisted primarily of natural banks, rocky shorelines, and boat docks. Eagle Mountain was deemed as infested with Zebra Mussels in 2016.

Management History

Important sport fishes include Largemouth Bass, crappies, White Bass, and Blue and Channel Catfish. All species are managed with statewide regulations. Florida Largemouth Bass were stocked in 2014 and 2015.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard and Threadfin Shad were in high relative abundance in the reservoir. Bluegill and Longear Sunfish are also available as prey. Some Bluegill over 6 inches are available for anglers.
• Catfishes: Blue Catfish relative abundance remained high and produced some large individuals. The relative abundance of Channel Catfish was variable during the past three surveys but remained low. Although present, no Flathead Catfish were sampled during 2021 gill netting.
• White Bass: White Bass catch rates remained relatively stable compared to the three previous surveys.
• Black basses: The Spotted Bass population has decreased during the last three surveys. The Largemouth Bass population has also decreased in abundance during the last three surveys, however, a new waterbody record of 13.08 pounds was caught and donated to the Toyota Sharelunker Program in March of 2021.
• Crappies: The relative abundance of White Crappie sharply increased since the 2016 survey. Black Crappie relative

Management Strategies

Monitor zebra mussels in Eagle Mountain Reservoir. General monitoring with gill netting, trap netting, and electrofishing will be conducted in 2024-2025.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-2 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program