Sweetwater Reservoir - 2022 Survey Report

Prepared by Michael Homer Jr.
Inland Fisheries Division - Abilene District

This is the authors' summary from a 25-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Sweetwater Reservoir were surveyed in fall 2019, 2020, and 2022 by using electrofishing, fall 2022 by using trap netting, as well as in spring 2023 by tandem hoop netting. Historical data are presented with the 2019-2023 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

Sweetwater Reservoir is a 630-acre reservoir located in Sweetwater, Texas. The reservoir is in the Brazos River Basin on Bitter and Cottonwood creeks, tributaries of the Clear Fork. The reservoir is owned and operated by the City of Sweetwater for municipal and recreational purposes. The reservoir has a history of severe golden alga blooms and water level fluctuations. After prolonged drought, the reservoir caught substantial water from rains in 2018. Boater access consists of two public-use ramps, and bank access was limited to the park areas near the ramps.

Management History

Historically, important sport fish have included Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, and White Crappie. A 14- to 18-inch slot limit on Largemouth Bass was implemented in September 2001 but reverted to statewide regulations in September 2018 following several golden alga kills and severe droughts. After the reservoir filled in November 2018, sport and forage fishes were reintroduced beginning in 2019, and additional stockings of Largemouth Bass and Bluegilll occurred in 2020 and 2021. Blue Catfish and Channel Catfish were stocked in 2020 and 2021. As of September 2021, Blue and Channel Catfish were managed under a new statewide regulation requiring no minimum length limit, 25 fish daily bag limit with no more than 10 fish ≥ 20 inches.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard Shad, Bluegill, and Green Sunfish were present. Gizzard Shad dominated the prey sample in 2022. Bluegill and Green Sunfish catches were low.
• Channel Catfish: Channel Catfish were present in the reservoir and had low relative abundance in the tandem hoop netting survey. Body condition of sampled individuals was adequate.
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass decreased in catch from 2020 to 2022. Catch rates were low.
• White Crappie: Catch rates of White Crappie in fall trap netting surveys were low.

Management Strategies

• Sampling will be conducted if conditions allow.
• Fall electrofishing and trap netting will be conducted in 2024 and 2026 to monitor Largemouth Bass, White Crappie and prey species.
• Tandem hoop netting will be conducted in late spring/early summer 2026 to monitor Channel Catfish. Access and vegetation surveys will be conducted in summer 2026.
• Low frequency electrofishing will be conducted in spring 2027 to monitor Blue Catfish.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-5 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program