Red Bluff Reservoir - 2004 Survey Report

Prepared by Mandy K. Scott and Brian E. Van Zee
Inland Fisheries Division
District 1-C, San Angelo, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 10-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Red Bluff Reservoir was surveyed in 2003, 2004, and 2005 using gill nets. Electrofishing could not be performed due to high conductivity. Trap netting was not conducted because crappie have not historically occurred in the reservoir. This report summarizes survey results and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on these findings.

Reservoir Description

Red Bluff Reservoir is located on the Pecos River 45 miles north of Pecos on the Loving and Reeves County Line. It was constructed in 1936 for hydroelectric and irrigation water supply. It has a history of severe water level fluctuations. The reservoir has suffered from toxic golden alga blooms at least since the mid-1980s. Since 2001 the algal blooms have devastated most fish populations and prevented recovery of the fishery. At the time of sampling, surface acreage was approximately 6,300 acres. The reservoir’s conductivity has consistently been in excess of 4,000 μmhos/cm2, making electrofishing ineffective. Habitat consists mainly of rock or gravel shoreline. Boat and shoreline access are adequate.

Fish Community, All Species

No fish were collected in gill net surveys in 2003-2005.

Management Strategies

Continue monitoring golden alga in water samples on a regular basis, and restock the reservoir with prey and sport fish species when water samples indicate low toxicity.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-30-R-29 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program