Sulphur Springs Reservoir - 2009 Survey Report

Prepared by Aaron K. Jubar and Kevin W. Storey
Inland Fisheries Division
District 3-B, Tyler, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 18-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Sulphur Springs Reservoir were surveyed in 2009 using electrofishing and trap netting, and in 2010 using gill netting. Aquatic vegetation and habitat surveys were conducted during August 2009. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Sulphur Springs Reservoir is a 1,766-acre impoundment located in Hopkins County, Texas, on White Oak Creek, a tributary of the Sulphur River. It was constructed by the City of Sulphur Springs in 1973 as a municipal water supply. Habitat consists primarily of featureless mud banks with very little structural cover. Water clarity in the reservoir is extremely low due to high levels of suspended solids in the water column.

Management History

Important sport fish include white crappie and blue catfish. The management plan from the 2006 survey report included maintaining the catfish population at its current status. Fisheries utilization is limited; however, anecdotal information suggests passive-gear and active-gear catfish fisheries are present in the reservoir.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Predominant prey species in the reservoir include gizzard shad and bluegill. Electrofishing catch of gizzard shad was moderate, with the majority being available as prey to most sport fish. Electrofishing catch of bluegill was low and no bluegill measured over 6 inches long. Threadfin shad historically provided additional prey for sport fish in the reservoir, but none were collected during the past three surveys (2001, 2005, and 2009).
• Catfishes: Gill net catch rate of blue catfish was relatively low, but most fish were of legal size. Channel catfish were historically caught in previous surveys of the reservoir, but have not been caught since 2002.
• Largemouth bass: No largemouth bass were sampled during 2009, 2005 or 2001. This indicates that largemouth bass were either extremely rare or the high lake turbidity makes it difficult to observe fish during electrofishing sampling.
• White crappie: White crappie were present in the reservoir, and the population was dominated by small fish. Very few legal-sized white crappie were sampled in 2009.

Management Strategies

Conduct monitoring with electrofishing, trap netting, and gill netting surveys in 2013-2014. Conduct aquatic vegetation and habitat surveys in 2013.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-30-R-35 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program