Eagle Mountain Reservoir - 2012 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 36-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 2012 using trap nets, 2013 using gill nets, and electrofished both spring and fall annually from 2009-2013. Historical data are presented with the 2012-2013 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. A TXU Energy steam electric generating plant uses reservoir water for cooling. Operations at the electric plant have greatly 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 at conservation pool is 179,880 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. Blue Catfish condition has also increased. The relative abundance of Channel Catfish has remained high during the past three surveys. Although present, no Flathead Catfish were sampled during 2013 gill netting.
• White bass: White Bass catch rates decreased greatly from the previous survey.
• Black basses: The Spotted Bass population has remained stable during the last four surveys. The Largemouth Bass population has varied in abundance during the last four surveys but remains high. Size distribution is skewed towards smaller fish.
• Crappies: The White Crappie population has declined over the past three surveys while Black Crappie relative abundance has increased greatly since 2004.

Management Strategies

A 36-day, year-long creel survey will be conducted from May 2016-June 2017. Florida Largemouth Bass will be requested for stocking in 2014 and 2015. Genetic analysis will be conducted in 2016 to evaluate stocking success. General monitoring with gill netting, trap netting, and electrofishing will be conducted in 2016-2017, when the next report will be written.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-3 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program