H-4 (Gonzales) Reservoir - 2023 Survey Report

Prepared by Spencer Dorsey and Dusty McDonald
Inland Fisheries Division – Corpus Christi District

This is the authors' summary from a 14-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lake Gonzales (H-4) were last surveyed in 2021 with a low-frequency electrofishing survey. These data will not be presented due to current reservoir conditions. In August 2021, the dam structure suffered a gate failure after being lowered to pass flood waters and the reservoir receded back to the historical river channel. Engineers deemed the dam not repairable and would require dam replacement. A management plan for the reservoir has been prepared and will be initiated if the dam structure is repaired (undetermined timeline) and the reservoir fills to conservation pool elevation.

Reservoir Description

H-4 Reservoir (696-acre) was located on the Guadalupe River in Gonzales County and was constructed in 1931 to provide water for hydroelectric generation and recreation. The substrate was primarily silt, sand, clay with some gravel and rock. Angler and public boat access were limited to one pay-to-use boat ramp and there were no handicap-specific facilities. Primary habitat was composed of boat docks and piers, timber, native floating-leaved and submersed vegetation, hydrilla, and water hyacinth.

Management History

Important sport fish species included Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, and crappie. Anglers have reported catching White Bass, Palmetto Bass, and Striped Bass from this reservoir, but these species have not been collected in any survey. Blue Catfish were stocked historically, but relative abundance remains low. The 2020 management plan focused on monitoring the expansion of hydrilla and anticipation of dewatering by Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) due to recent dam failures of Lake Dunlap (2019) and Lake Wood (2016).

Fish Community

• Due to reservoir conditions, fish community data are not presented. Historical fisheries data are available in the H-4 Fisheries Management Survey Report (McDonald and Binion 2020).

Management Strategies

• Continue to manage sport fish populations with existing regulations. If dam infrastructure is determined feasible to repair, work with GBRA on habitat enhancement initiatives prior to reservoir refilling. If the dam infrastructure is repaired and the reservoir refills, stock with sport fish and forage species. Maintain cooperative relationship with GBRA to monitor and control nuisance aquatic vegetation.

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