Red Bluff Reservoir - 2008 Survey Report

Prepared by Mandy K. Scott and Mukhtar Farooqi
Inland Fisheries Division
District 1-C, San Angelo, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 11-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Red Bluff Reservoir were surveyed in 2007 and 2009 using gill nets. Electrofishing could not be performed due to high conductivity. Trap netting was not conducted because crappie, the target species, do not occur in the saline reservoir. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Red Bluff Reservoir is located on the Pecos River 45 miles north of Pecos on the Loving and Reeves County line; the upper end of the reservoir reaches into New Mexico. It was constructed in 1936 for hydroelectric and irrigation water supply. It has a history of severe water level fluctuations. The reservoir has also suffered from toxic golden alga (P. parvum) blooms since the mid-1980s. Since 2001 the algal blooms have suppressed fish populations significantly and prevented the recovery of the fisheries. At the time of sampling, surface acreage was approximately 4,269 acres. The reservoir’s conductivity has consistently been in excess of 4,000 μmhos/cm, making electrofishing ineffective. Habitat consists mainly of rock or gravel shoreline. Shoreline access is good near the dam, and boats can be launched from the gravel shore in the same area.

Management History

Catfishes and largemouth bass were stocked until the 1980s and Palmetto bass were present in Red Bluff Reservoir up until 2002; however, golden alga blooms have prevented any stocking success since then. Sport fishes have been managed with statewide regulations.

Fish Community, All Species

No fish were collected in gill net surveys in either 2007 or 2009.

Management Strategies

Keep monitoring for golden alga presence and toxicity; restock with prey and game fish species if water samples indicate golden alga problem has cleared. Sample with gill nets during report year only to confirm presence/absence of fish populations.

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