Mountain Creek Reservoir - 2012 Survey Report

Prepared by Raphael Brock and Thomas Hungerford
Inland Fisheries Division
District 2-D, Fort Worth, 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 Mountain Creek Reservoir were surveyed in 2012 using electrofishing and trap netting and in 2013 using gill netting. 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

Mountain Creek Reservoir, a 2,493-acre reservoir located on Mountain Creek (a tributary of the Trinity River), was constructed in 1937 by Dallas Power and Light. It was built primarily as a cooling reservoir for a power plant and is now controlled by Excelon Energy Company. It is located in Dallas County four miles southeast of Grand Prairie, Texas. At conservation elevation (457-ft mean-sea-level), the reservoir contains 22,850 acre feet of water. It has an average depth of 8.5 ft and a maximum depth of approximately 26 ft. The reservoir is located in the Blackland Prairies ecological region. The watershed is primarily industrial and residential. The land on the northwest side of the reservoir is owned by the City of Dallas which purchased the property from the U.S. Navy. Angler and boat access is inadequate. There is no handicap specific facility on the reservoir. At the time of sampling the fishery habitat was primarily rip-rap and native emergent vegetation.

In April 1996, the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) declared Mountain Creek Reservoir a prohibited area for the possession of all fish species due to their contamination with PCB’s. In October 2010, TDSHS changed the fish possession ban to a fish possession advisory which advises anglers to not consume any fish.

Management History

Important sport fish include White Bass, Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, and Channel Catfish. All species have been managed through statewide harvest regulations.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard and Threadfin Shad are present in the reservoir. The catch rate of Gizzard Shad decreased from previous samples while the Threadfin Shad catch rates increased. The total catch rate and the catch rate of bluegills over 6 inches has increased over the past couple of samples.
• Catfish: The catch rate of Channel Catfish decreased slightly compared to the previous sample with the population having good structure. Flathead catfish are present but none were captured this past survey year.
• White bass: Past gill netting surveys revealed a small population of White Bass. In 2009 White Bass were caught at a high rate by gill netting and many were of quality size. In 2013 White Bass catch rates decreased but were higher than historical catch rates.
• Largemouth bass: The Largemouth Bass population has decreased in abundance when compared to previous samples. Population size structure was good.
• White crappie: The White Crappie catch rates were much lower than previous samples.

Management Strategies

Mountain Creek Reservoir receives low fishing pressure because of poor access and the fish possession advisory. Because of these factors, the sport fishes will continue to be managed with statewide regulations and no stockings are planned. General monitoring with standard sampling will occur in 2016-2017. An exotic vegetation survey will be conducted annually to monitor the presence of water hyacinth.

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