TEXAS
CHAPTER, TROUT UNLIMITED
703
VANGUARD AUSTIN, TEXAS 78734
MARCH 1990
Dear Members:
This letter has several purposes; to provide
notice of the annual meeting and election of directors, to transmit the
enclosed "Report To Members" and, together with its enclosures,
replace the newsletter normally scheduled for April distribution.
The annual meeting and election of directors
will be held in Sattler, Texas on April 28th, 1990. Place of the meeting will
be St. Thomas Parish Activity Center, adjacent to the Church just below Canyon
Dam. Registration begins at 10 :00 AM. The meeting is scheduled from 10:30‑11:45
AM which will include the election, a program and a raffle drawing. Lunch will
be served following adjournment of the meeting.
We trust that the enclosed "Report To
Members" is informative and motivating. Thank you for taking the time to
read it.
Please consider making a donation, the pending
food chain study makes your support imperative!! A “donation card" is
printed on the back of the enclosed raffle flyer. Please indicate your
preference as to application of your donation. Make your checks payable to
TEXAS CHAPTER, TROUT UNLIMITED and mark them "Donation" for your tax
deductible credit.
You support the projects of the Chapter when you
participate in our raffles and other fund raising activities. Through the
generosity of THE AUSTIN ANGLER not one, but two $100.00 gift certificates will
be raffled at the meeting on April 28th. See attached raffle flyer for details.
You do not have to be present to win one of the $100.00 gift certificates
For the future of trout fishing in Texas, I
remain
Howard Itten
President
PS: We greatly appreciate those advertisers who
support us by taking space in our Newsletter. We want you to know them and when
its possible, to let them help you with your needs. They are listed on the back
of this letter.
This report deals with the Chapter's efforts
toward developing a sell‑sustaining tailwater fishery in the Guadalupe
River below Canyon Dam.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Canyon Dam was completed in 1963. Soon afterward
Texas Parks and Wildlife began stocking put‑and‑take rainbow trout.
Their program continues to date. Across the state, the total number of trout
and sites stocked have greatly increased as a result of trout stamp sales.
Information in support of development of a
tailwater fishery below Canyon Dam may be found in two reports of studies made
on the area. One was conducted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department from
February 1, 1967 to January 31, 1968. This study indicated a suitable habitat
for rainbow trout and verified over summer survival of stocked trout. The
second study was initiated by the Chapter and its findings are utilized in
preparing this report to our members.
In 1970 the Chapter invited Howard A. Tanner to
study the Guadalupe River below Canyon Dam. Tanner was, at the time of his
report, Director of Michigan State University College of Agriculture and
Natural Resources and nationally recognized for his work with trout habitat and
stream enhancement.
Here are some quotes from his report:
"I am impressed with the resource presented
by the tailwater area of the Guadalupe River below Canyon Dam."
"It is far
below its potential as a trout fishing area."
"The Guadalupe River, for some ten to
fifteen stream miles below Canyon Dam, is a first class trout stream."
"That it is the only trout water within
hundreds of miles makes it of far greater significance to Texas.
His report contained observations and
recommendations that have, since 1970, inspired the Chapter's efforts toward
enhancement of the Guadalupe River fishery. It found the water quality to be
good, water temperature favorable, food supply marginal, more public access
needed, a need to introduce fish food organisms and insects, stock brown trout
for the best chance to establish carryover trout, consider brook trout as
secondary
target, rainbow trout have less potential for
carryover most hatchery developed strains of rainbow trout have poor potential
for natural reproduction and for development of self‑sustaining stocks,
favorable pH, dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations, high water
hardness, 175‑220 ppm, reflects limestone nature of the watershed. Level
of hardness plus other factors of water quality are convincing factors that the
stream has a very high productive capacity.
Current monitoring of water quality, temperature
and other factors indicate conditions today are generally favorable as observed
by Tanner in 1970. However, several events have occurred in the past few years
which have changed ecological conditions in the fishery below Canyon Dam.
The Guadalupe‑Blanco River Authority was
authorized to sell water downstream. In filling orders, little consideration
was given to the effects of rate release practices on the ecology. Releases
varied from bottom scouring 3,000 cfs to lows of 50 cfs. In 1987‑1988, a
hydro‑electric generating plant was constructed. During construction, a
number of no-flow periods occurred which may have had drastic effects on the
macroinvertebrate populations which form the food base for trout.
During the licensing hearings before state and
federal authorities, the Texas Chapter joined with others to fight against
proposed flow and other regulations that would have seriously injured or
destroyed the Guadalupe trout fishery below Canyon Dam. The regulations now in
effect, while not ideal, represent concessions won for the fishery.
WHAT HAS, AND IS, GOING ON:
Over the years following Tanner's report, the
Chapter has aspired to establish a carryover fishery in the Guadalupe River. If
the state is stocking thousands of rainbow trout, aren't they maintaining the
fishery?
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is
providing a "put‑and‑take" fishing program that offers
Texans the unique opportunity to fish for rainbow trout. However, such a
program is not directed toward development of self‑sustaining cold water
fisheries. The fish they stock are apparently from hatchery developed rainbow
strains, generally of poor quality and smallish size <9 inches, more or
less) and, as noted by Tanner, not likely to carryover. The Department has not,
as yet, acknowledged the potential of the Guadalupe River as a self‑sustaining
trout fishery or the value of such a fishery to Texas.
The Chapter has stocked adult rainbow and brown
trout, brown trout fingerlings and both rainbow and brown fry hatched in
streamside incubators, (program initiated in 1989). We do not have reasonable
opportunity to acquire captured wild adult fish, or, eggs from same, which would
be ideal for our purposes. However, we have had success in obtaining healthy
and strong adults from selected private hatchery sources. We are excited about
the results, though evidence is limited at this time, from the streamside
incubator program. The fry are hatched in the river water and released into the
ecology of the river at a stage which may result in natural adaptation.
... In the early eighties a 6 1/2 pound brown
was taken and in 1986 the state record 7 1/2 pound brown. Since the Chapter has
been the only party stocking browns, it is reasonable to judge that these fish
survived from brown fingerlings introduced in 1972.
In May of 1986, a five pound 12 ounce rainbow
was caught and on November 24th, 1989 a new state record rainbow was caught, twenty
three inches, five pounds 15.2 ounces. Both of these fish had survived for some
time in the river. We are not the only
parties stocking rainbows. However, in January 1989 we stocked some very
strong and healthy fish (rainbows, browns and a few brookies) of large sizes,
in the sixteen to twenty inch size range. Likewise, earlier rainbow stocking of
twelve to fourteen inch fish, in 1987 and 1988, was done by the Chapter. The
state record rainbows, past and present, certainly were carryover fish.
... As late as November of 1989, our members
reported catching several sixteen to twenty inch rainbows that survived the
heat and low water of last summer.
... In February and March of 1989, our first
streamside incubator hatched rainbow fry were entering the river. Beginning in
June, and to the present time, many very small rainbows, 3 1/2 to 7 inches,
have been reported caught near one of our incubator sites. These fish, we
believe, were hatched in the streamside incubator. They have grown and survived
the low water and high summer temperatures of the 1989 season.
Isn't there then, significant encouragement that
can be drawn from our enhancement efforts?
Put‑and‑take stocking is being done
on the Brazos River below Possum Kingdom Dam by Texas Parks and Wildlife. There
has been, in the past, references to potential for this tailwater resource.
However, we have no first hand current information in this regard. Assuming the
potential exists, success with the Guadalupe should be beneficial to possible
development there, as well.
This year we hope to initiate a trout food chain
study for the Guadalupe, the first phase of a program to improve and expand its
food sources. The importance of this project to our objective is found in the
two studies, 1967‑68 and 1970. Both indicated the trout food supply to be
marginal. These findings coupled with unknown effects on the river ecology
following the hydro‑electric plant construction, justify the proposed
food chain study. We have made an application to Trout Unlimited for a grant
under the national Embrace‑A‑Stream program. Estimated cost of the
project is $21,000. 14 awarded, we must come up with about $3,000.00 in cash as
our share of the project, over and above, earned credit for member voluntary
hours spent on the project.
Unfortunately, there have been highs and lows in
the Chapter's dedication to the enhancement programs over the intervening
years. The highs occur when those among our membership, who support the view
that the Guadalupe has the potential for developing a self‑sustaining
trout fishery, are the dominant voice. Lows occur when the dominant voice is
that of members wanting to stock large fish principally for the sake of
recreational fishing. For the past several years, we have attempted to mollify
both views while keeping in mind, that as a chapter of Trout Unlimited, we have
adopted, by such association, our parent's credos relating to restoration,
preservation, protection and enhancement of cold water streams and their
fisheries. In this posture, we are not just fishing club.
For the current fiscal year, expended
approximately $5300 enhancement (stocking fish, incubator operations and access
lease expense). Should the grant for the food chain study be awarded, we must
raise new funds if we are to maintain the fishery enhancement programs already
in place and meet our share of the proposed study.
we have to date for fishery.
For now, the only trout stream enhancement game
in Texas is being played by the Texas Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Will we be
successful in creating a self‑sustaining trout fishery in the Guadalupe?
Tanner felt it was possible in 1970. We think
there is recent evidence that indicates the effort is worthwhile. It will take
dedicated effort, financial support, education of the public and political
sectors and regulatory policies that protect the habitat, ecology and
environment of the Guadalupe. We must enlist the favorable support of federal
and state agencies that regulate the Guadalupe‑Blanco River Authority and
action by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in initiating regulations to
protect the fishery from abusive trout fishing practices. A tall order for old
men like myself but made to order for the young of you who cherish the
privilege of fly4ishing for cold water trout in your home state.
All persons residing in Texas who join our
parent organization, Trout Unlimited, are presently designated by national as
members of the Texas Chapter, the only existing chapter organization in Texas
at this time. Across the state, as of January this year, our chapter roster
reflected 861 members assigned to the Texas Chapter. As of January 27th we
listed 174 members who support the Chapter activities through donations. Sadly,
only 20% of the Chapter's general membership.
We must increase this level of support if our
enhancement goals are met. You, our members, can
make the difference, for the present and future
cold water trout fishing in Texas.
President
Howard Itten