Mackenzie Reservoir - 2008 Survey Report

Prepared by John Clayton and Charles Munger
Inland Fisheries Division
District 1-A, Canyon, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 22-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Mackenzie Reservoir were surveyed with electrofishing and trap nets in 2008 and gill nets in 2009. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Mackenzie Reservoir was constructed in 1974 on Tule Creek, a tributary of the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. It is located 12 miles northwest of Silverton in Briscoe County, Texas. The reservoir is owned by the Mackenzie Municipal Water Authority and is used for water supply and recreational purposes. Mackenzie Reservoir is characterized as being a deep, clear, mesotrophic reservoir that experiences strong thermal stratification during summer months. At conservation pool (3,100 feet above mean sea level; FMSL) Mackenzie Reservoir is a 900-acre impoundment. At the time of sampling, the reservoir had a mean elevation of 3020 FMSL and a surface area of approximately 254 acres. Since impoundment, the reservoir has never caught sufficient runoff to fill to capacity. Angler and boat access is adequate, but there are no disabled specific facilities. Habitat consisted primarily of boulder, rock bluff, and flooded terrestrial vegetation.

Management History

Sport fish include largemouth bass, palmetto bass, white bass, white crappie, and catfish. All species have been managed with statewide harvest regulations.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard shad and bluegill were present in the reservoir. Electrofishing catch of gizzard shad was 234.0/h; however, only 16% were considered to be available as prey to sport fish. Electrofishing catch of bluegills was 96.0/h, and most bluegills were less than 4inches
  long making them available as prey.
• Catfishes: The blue catfish gill net catch rate showed an increase from previous years while the channel catfish gill net catch rate declined slightly. Flathead catfish are present in the reservoir; however, only one flathead was sampled during the electrofishing survey.
• White bass: White bass gill net catch rate was 4.4/nn which was slightly higher than in previous years. Past creel surveys indicated that white bass in the reservoir received little angling effort.
• Palmetto bass: Gill net catch rates for palmetto bass have improved over the past four years. Catch rates have improved from 0.4/nn in 2005 to 6.8/nn in 2009, and 82% of the fish sampled were 18 inches or larger.
• Largemouth bass: Largemouth bass were abundant with a catch rate of 143/h; however, the majority of fish sampled were less than 8 inches. 17% of the fish sampled were of legal size for harvest (≥ 14 in).
• Crappie: White crappie were present in the reservoir. Trap net catch rates declined from 9.2/nn in 2000 to 2.0/nn in 2008. Survey results showed that 22% of the fish sampled were 10 inches or greater in length.
• Walleye: The gill net catch rate for walleye in 2004 was 0.2 /NN, down from 2000 (1.0/NN). Growth rates were
  not calculated in 2004 or 2000 because of small sample sizes. Walleye received no directed angling effort, and no fish were documented as being caught in the 2004 creel survey. Mackenzie Reservoir is not currently being managed as a walleye fishery.

Management Strategies

Continue management under current harvest regulations. The proposed sampling schedule is a continuation of the current schedule with the addition of electrofishing in 2009 and 2010 and gill netting in 2011.

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