Livingston Reservoir - 2016 Survey Report

Prepared by Todd Driscoll and Dan Ashe
Inland Fisheries Division
Jasper District, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 35-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lake Livingston were surveyed in 2016-2017 using electrofishing and gill netting. Anglers were surveyed from June through August 2016 with a creel survey. 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 Livingston is an 83,277-acre mainstream impoundment on the Trinity River in Trinity, Polk, San Jacinto, and Walker counties. The reservoir was constructed in 1969 by the Trinity River Authority (TRA) and the City of Houston for municipal, agricultural, and industrial purposes. Private and commercial real estate development, Lake Livingston State Park, and several TRA public parks are present in the lower half of the reservoir. Primary fish habitat is standing timber and woody debris.

Management History

Important sport fish include catfishes, White Bass, Largemouth Bass, and crappies. All recreational fisheries are regulated with statewide length and bag limits, with the exception of the bag limit for Blue and Channel Catfish (50 fish/day; commercial harvest is allowed).

The management plan from the 2011 survey report suggested exploring funding opportunities and volunteer efforts to increase littoral vegetation. Since 2013, Lake Livingston Friends of Reservoirs (LLFOR), with support from 6 independent school districts and numerous other local partners, propagated and introduced over 10,000 water willow plants. Striped Bass are stocked annually to provide TPWD hatcheries a source of broodfish for temperate bass production. Primary management challenges include siltation and habitat loss, and control of invasive species, primarily giant salvinia and water hyacinth.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard Shad and Threadfin Shad were abundant and provided ample forage for sport fish. Bluegill were the most abundant sunfish. Although catch rate increased in 2016, abundance was low (116.3/h) and no fish > 6 inches were collected.
• Catfishes: Blue Catfish abundance was relatively high and stable over the last three survey years, and high numbers of fish 12 to 20 inches were available to anglers. Channel Catfish numbers were also similar over the same period, but abundance was considerably lower. Catfishes were the most popular sportfish during most creel survey years.
• Temperate basses: White Bass abundance has varied over the last three survey years, but numbers were high in 2017. Size structure and fish condition were desirable. The White Bass fishery was the most popular during the summer of 2016, and the angler catch rate was 2.4/h. Striped Bass abundance was relatively low and stable. No directed angling effort for Striped Bass was observed during the last two creel surveys.
• Largemouth Bass: Historically, Largemouth Bass abundance has been relatively low. Electrofishing catch rates did increase in 2016, but few legal-size fish were available to anglers. Largemouth Bass had adequate growth rates (age at 14 inches was 2.3 years).
• Crappie: Trap net catch rates of crappies have been historically low, and trap net surveys were discontinued in 2016. Few anglers target crappies.

Management Strategies

Continue to support habitat enhancement efforts by LLFOR and Texas Black Bass Unlimited. Stock Striped Bass annually to maintain hatchery broodfish for temperate bass production. Support TRA as needed with control of invasive aquatic vegetation. Conduct standard fall electrofishing and gill netting in 2020-2021 and a summer quarter creel survey in 2020.

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