White Rock Reservoir - 2011 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 23-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in White Rock Reservoir were surveyed in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 using electrofishing, in 2011 using trap nets and in 2012 using gill nets. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

White Rock Reservoir, a 1,088-acre impoundment located on White Rock Creek (a tributary of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River), was constructed in 1910 by the City of Dallas as a municipal water supply; presently it is used only for recreation and flood control. The upper portion of the reservoir was dredged in 1998 and 1999 increasing the average depth of that area to 5 feet. Angler and boat access is adequate. Outboard motors on White Rock Reservoir can be no more than 10.5 HP. However, boats with larger motors can utilize the reservoir using their trolling motors. There are two handicap specific facilities on the reservoir. At the time of sampling the fishery habitat was primarily shoreline native emergent vegetation.

Management History

Important sport fish include largemouth bass, white crappie, and channel catfish. All fish species are managed under statewide length and bag limits. White Rock Reservoir is an urban fishery with the majority of fishing pressure being bank angling (Brock and Hungerford 2008).

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard and threadfin shad were present in the reservoir. Electrofishing catch rates of these species were above averages of other district reservoirs. The total catch rate of bluegill increased over the past couple of years, while the catch rate of longear sunfish fluctuated over the last three years.
• Catfishes: Channel catfish were present in the reservoir. Catch rates were higher than historic averages. Blue catfish were collected for the first time since their stocking in 2007. Although only two fish were collected they were very large.
• White bass: Past gill netting surveys have indicated a small population of white bass present in White Rock Reservoir. Spring gill netting surveys conducted in 2012 continued to confirm this fact with white bass being caught at a low rate.
• Largemouth bass: The electrofishing catch rate of largemouth bass varied in abundance but the rates were above the district average. The catch rate of fish > 14 inches in length decreased from previous samples.
• White crappie: The white crappie population was high in abundance and quality. The population exhibited fluctuations in abundance with trap net catch rate slightly lower than in previous years. However the catch rate of fish > 10 inches in length was high.

Management Strategies

• General monitoring with electrofishing and trap netting will be conducted in 2015 and gill netting surveys will be conducted in 2016. We also plan to work with the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department to improve fish habitat near fishing piers.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-2 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program