Lake Fairfield - 2016 Survey Report

Prepared by Jacob D. Norman and Richard A. Ott, Jr.
Inland Fisheries Division
Tyler South District, Tyler, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 23-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lake Fairfield were surveyed in 2016 using electrofishing and in 2017 using hoop netting. Historical data are presented with the 2016-2017 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

Lake Fairfield is a 2,034-acre impoundment located on Big Brown Creek in the Trinity River Basin approximately 7 miles northeast of Fairfield, Texas. The reservoir serves as the source of cooling water for Big Brown power plant. Annual fish kills from 2008-2013 resulted in a decimated fish population. However, no fish kills have been documented from 2014-present and the reservoir appears to be rapidly rebounding. Boat access is adequate, and public bank access is moderate along the shoreline within Fairfield State Park. Littoral habitat consists primarily of cattails, common reed, lotus and hydrilla.

Management History

Largemouth Bass are the primary sport fish within the reservoir. Red drum historically offered a unique opportunity to anglers, however, annual fish kills from 2008-2013 decimated the population and stocking of Red Drum has been temporarily halted. The management plan from the 2013 survey report primarily involved monitoring the reservoir to identify the continued occurrence of late-summer fish kills and continued monitoring of the Largemouth Bass and Red Drum populations in relation to fish kills. Biennial electrofishing was conducted in 2014 and 2016 to monitor the bass population however Red Drum sampling was discontinued due to low and dwindling population density.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad were present in the reservoir. Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was low, but most were available as prey to most sport fish. Electrofishing catch of Bluegills was very high and most were less than 4 inches long. Blue Tilapia were also abundant in the reservoir.
• Catfishes: Channel Catfish were present. However, the most recent survey produced very few individuals. Hoop nets were used for the first time in this reservoir to survey the catfish population; it is unclear if the low catch rate is a product of the sampling gear or an accurate estimate of relative abundance.
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass were abundant, which indicated the population has recovered from previous fish kills. Few legal-size fish were available to anglers, but a good population of sub-legal (<18 inches) fish were present. Largemouth Bass had fast growth (mean age at 14 inches long was 1.7 years).

Management Strategies

• Inform the public about the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species.
• Monitor water quality (dissolved oxygen) in late summer when fish kills were historically problematic.
• Educate park staff on identifying signs of fish kills and what conditions may cause late summer kills.
• If fish kill is documented, follow up with fish community assessment to determine the overall impact of fish kill within the reservoir.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-2 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program