Baylor Creek Reservoir - 2015 Survey Report

Prepared by Charles Munger and John Clayton
Inland Fisheries Division – Amarillo District

This is the authors' summary from a 13-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Baylor Creek Reservoir were not surveyed since 2011 due to extreme drought conditions. This report summarizes the history of the reservoir and contains a management plan.

Reservoir Description

Baylor Creek Reservoir is a 600-acre impoundment constructed in 1950 on Baylor Creek, a tributary of the Red River, located 9 miles west of Childress, Texas. There are no official water level records. Water level in the reservoir has declined since 2000 due to drought conditions and the reservoir has been inaccessible by boat since 2008. Since preparation of this report began, rainfall in the watershed has increased water levels approximately 25 feet. Habitat features consisted primarily of silt shoreline. The reservoir has been severely impacted by golden alga (Prymnesium parvum) blooms and related fish kills since 2003.

Management History

Important sport fish have included Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, and catfish. The sport fish populations have only been managed with statewide harvest regulations, but the reservoir had previously been known as a trophy Largemouth Bass fishery prior to 2003. Crappie and catfish were popular secondary species.

Fish Community

No fisheries surveys were conducted in 2015-2016.

Management Strategies

• Reduce scheduled sampling to the required level.
• Since water levels increased during June 2016, an additional electrofishing survey and trap net survey will be conducted in fall 2016 and gill netting in spring 2017.
• Conduct periodic surveys for P. parvum.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-6 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program