Eagle Mountain Reservoir - 2008 Survey Report

Prepared by Thomas Hungerford and Raphael Brock
Inland Fisheries Division
District 2-D, Fort Worth, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 24-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 2008 using electrofishing and trap nets and in 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

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. A TXU Energy steam electric generating plant uses reservoir water for cooling. Operations at the electric plant have decreased in recent years. The reservoir is approximately 10 miles long and 3.5 miles wide (widest point), drains 1,970 square miles of watershed and has 200 miles of shoreline. Conservation pool elevation is 649 feet mean-sea-level and storage capacity is 19,460 acre-feet. Angler and boat access is fairly limited. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sold a tract of land that was proposed to be developed into a state park on the reservoir to the TRWD in 2008. TRWD has developed some hiking and biking trails but no angler access was incorporated. There is one handicap fishing pier on the reservoir. Fishery habitat consisted primarily of natural banks, rocky shorelines, and boat docks.

Management History

Important sport fish include largemouth bass, crappies, white bass, and blue and channel catfish. All species are managed with statewide regulations. The reservoir has a population of large blue catfish. Florida largemouth bass were stocked in 2006 and 2007.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard and threadfin shad are in great abundance in the reservoir. Bluegill and longear sunfish are also abundant as prey. Some bluegill over 6 inches are available for anglers.
• Catfishes: The blue catfish population continues to increase and produces some large individuals. The relative abundance of channel catfish has also increased over the past three surveys. The size structure of channel catfish is excellent. Although present, no flathead catfish were sampled during 2009 gill netting.
• White bass: White bass catch rates increased greatly from the previous two surveys.
• Black basses: The spotted bass population has increased since the last survey and the size structure continues to improve. The largemouth bass population has increased in abundance from the previous surveys, likely due to a major water level increase coupled with two stockings of Florida largemouth bass. Size distribution is skewed towards smaller fish.
• Crappies: The white crappie population declined greatly over previous surveys. Black crappie relative abundance has remained low.

Management Strategies

General monitoring with gill netting and trap netting will be conducted in 2012-2013, when the next report will be written. Electrofishing surveys will be conducted every year.

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