Sulphur Springs Reservoir - 2013 Survey Report

Prepared by Dan Bennett and Kevin Storey
Inland Fisheries Division
District 3-B, Tyler, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 24-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 2013 using electrofishing and trap netting and in 2014 using gill netting. A vegetation survey was conducted in August 2013. Historical data are presented with the 2013 to 2014 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

Sulphur Springs Reservoir is a 1,340-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 banks with some emergent vegetation and inundated terrestrial vegetation. Water clarity in the reservoir is extremely low due to high levels of suspended, colloidal particles.

Management History

Important sport fishes include Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, and Blue Catfish. Turbid conditions in the reservoir have limited the fishery and the effectiveness of management activities. Anecdotal evidence suggests a limited fishery for catfish exists with anglers employing rod and reel and passive gears.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard Shad and sunfishes provided forage for sport fish populations. Threadfin Shad were historically present, but have not been collected in the past four surveys.
• Catfishes: A low density Blue Catfish population provides a limited fishery.
• Largemouth bass: A population of young (< age 2) Largemouth Bass was observed in the 2013 survey. Largemouth Bass had not been collected since a 1998 survey. The population is believed to have been limited by high turbidity.
• White crappie: White Crappie were present in the reservoir; however, the population is dominated by small fish.

Management Strategies

Conduct monitoring with standard daytime electrofishing survey in 2017, and additional monitoring with low-pulse electrofishing and trap netting in 2017. Conduct standard angler access, habitat and aquatic vegetation surveys in 2017.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-4 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program