Northwest Region fisheries management grant.

              W 2800.3 P438
F-6S-D-S 2010 c.1
FINAL PERFORMANCE REPORT
FEDERAL AID GRANT NO. F-65-D-5
NORTHWEST REGION FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
GRANT
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
JANUARY 1, 2010 through DECEMBER 31, 2010
FINAL PERFORMANCE REPORT
State: Oklahoma Grant Number: F-65-D-5
Grant Program: Sport Fish Restoration
Grant Title: Northwest Region Fisheries Management Grant
Grant Period: January 1,2010 - December 31,2010
Project Leader: John Stahl
Project 1: Regional Fisheries Management Operations and Maintenance
I. Objective: To plan, train, coordinate and administer management activities and operate
and maintain all support facilities and all other infrastructure for the fisheries
management crews within the Northwest Fisheries Management Region.
II. Summary of Progress: The Northwest Fisheries Management Region maintained 1
building and 1 nursery pond during this reporting period. Staff held regular meetings
regarding safety and HRDS supervisor training. Lake to lake transfers of native fish
species were performed according to HACCP procedures. Administration of management
activities through reports, time records and invoices were accomplished. Library
materials were processed for the Northwest Regional library.
III. Conclusions: All objectives attained during the period.
IV. Significant Deviations: None
Project 2: Regional Fisheries Management Surveys
I. Objective: To conduct fisheries management surveys and inventories, as well as water
quality sampling appropriate to fisheries management, in Northwest Fisheries
Management Regional Waters, analyze data and prepare survey reports and management
recommendations.
II. Summary of Progress: Fisheries surveys and inventories were conducted on
selected reservoirs and streams periodically using the procedures described in the
document "Standardized Sampling Procedures for Lake, Reservoir and Streams
Management Recommendations, Oklahoma Fisheries Management Program" (SSP). The
following waters were surveyed during this reporting period;
Lake American Horse 2006, 2008-2010 Spring electro fishing
Lake Bluestem 2006 Fall electro fishing
2007 Spring electro fishing
Lake Boomer 2006 Spring electro fishing
2006 Fall electrofishing
Lake Canton 2006-2010 Fall gillnetting
Lake Carl Blackwell 2006 Spring electro fishing
Lake Elmer 2006-2009 Spring electro fishing
Lake Fairfax 2006 Fall electrofishing
Lake Fort Supply 2006-2010 Fall gillnetting
Lake Foss 2006-2010 Fall gillnetting
Lake Great Salt Plains 2006-2009 Fall gill netting
Lake Kaw 2006 Fall gillnetting
2007 Fall electrofishing
Lake Liberty 2007 Spring electro fishing
Lake McMurtry 2006 Fall electrofishing
2007 Fall gillnetting
Shell Creek 2007 Spring electrofishing
2007 Fall gillnetting
Lake Skiatook 2006-2007 Spring electrofishing
2006 Fall electrofishing
Lake Sooner 2006 Spring electrofishing
2006-2007 Fall gillnetting
Lake Vincent 2006-2008 Spring electrofishing
Lake Watonga 2006-2010 Spring electrofishing
Age and growth data (using otoliths as the aging structure) were collected on an "as
needed" basis. The majority of the age data were collected on white and black crappie
populations during trap-net sampling. However, periodic age information was collected
on largemouth bass, small mouth bass, walleye, and blue catfish. The following lakes had
otoliths taken during sampling and analyzed for age structure during this reporting
period:
Lake American Horse
Lake Canton
Lake Fort Supply
Lake Foss
Lake Kaw
Lake Skiatook
Lake Sooner
Largemouth bass
Hybrid striped bass and walleye
Hybrid striped bass and walleye
Hybrid striped bass and walleye
Hybrid striped bass, walleye, and white crappie
Hybrid striped bass, walleye, and white crappie
Striped bass, hybrid striped bass, saugeye and white crappie
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's (ODWC) Fisheries Division
began development of its Standardized Sampling Procedures (SSP) in 1977. The results
of these sampling efforts are the basis for producing meaningful management decision
toward enhancement of Oklahoma sport fish populations. Since that time the SSP
protocol has and continues to undergo change based on regular evaluation. SSP
procedures are not specific to any single management region but are evaluated,
augmented and modified on a Division-wide basis to insure standardization at all levels
of sampling, data analysis and interpretation.
As Oklahoma's fisheries managers become more proficient with sampling techniques,
there arise questions regarding the efficiency and efficacy of the SSP protocol.
Subsequent to this there have been several research efforts during the past five years
aimed at evaluation and modification of SSP practices:
• Seasonal and Habitat-Specific Length Bias of Electrofishing for Blue Catfish F-
74-R
• Electrofishing for Largemouth Bass: An Evaluation of Oklahoma's Standardized
Sampling Procedures F-50-R, Project 29
• Gill net sampling: An Evaluation of Oklahoma's Standard Sampling Procedures
F-50-R, Project 30
With regard to implementation of results from these research efforts, all three are still
undergoing evaluation. It is expected that these research efforts will modify SSP
guidelines to produce more accurate and precise results for formulating future
management decisions.
III. Conclusions: All objectives attained during the period.
IV. Significant Deviations: None
Project 3: Regional Fisheries Habitat Maintenance for Lakes and Reservoirs
I. Objective: Periodically maintain sportfish habitat in Northwest Fisheries Management
Region public reservoirs, lakes, ponds and tailwaters.
II. Summary of Progress: Sport fish habitat maintenance occurred on 9 different waters
in the Northwest Fisheries Region. The locations for these habitat maintenance tasks for
this reporting period included:
Lake American Horse
Lake Canton
Lake Carl Blackwell
Lake Elmer
Lake Fort Supply
Lake Foss
Lake Sooner
Lake Vincent
Watonga
Aquatic vegetation
Aquatic vegetation, brush piles, and spider blocks
Brush piles and fish magnets
Aquatic vegetation and brush piles
Aquatic vegetation
Aquatic vegetation and brush piles
Brush piles
Aquatic vegetation and brush piles
Aquatic vegetation
III. Conclusions: All objectives attained during the period
IV. Significant Deviations: None
Project 4: Regional Technical Assistance to a Public Agency or Organization and
Private Landowners
I. Objective: To make available sportfisheries technical assistance to public entities and
private pond owners that may be provided at the discretion of the Regional Supervisor
based on time, travel and staff availability in the Northwest Fisheries Management
Region.
II. Summary of Progress: Technical assistance was provided to 353 private
landowners during this reporting period. Additionally the following public agencies were
provided technical assistance:
Oklahoma State University
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Woodward NRCS
Oklahoma Parks and Tourism
City of Woodward
City of Ponca City
DeweyNRCS
III. Conclusions: All objectives attained during the period
IV. Significant Deviations: None
Project 5: Regional Fisheries Habitat Development for Lakes and Reservoirs
I. Objective: Develop sportfish habitat in Northwest Fisheries Management Region
public reservoirs, lakes, ponds and tailwaters.
II. Summary of Progress: No activity
III. Conclusions: All objectives attained during the period
IV. Significant Deviations: None
Project Number: 6 Regional Fishing Access Development
I. Objective: To construct and/or repair fishing access facilities on public waters in the
Northwest Fisheries Management Region.
II. Summary of Progress: No Activity.
III. Conclusions: All objectives attained during the period.
IV. Significant Deviations: None
Prepared by:
John Stahl, Regional Fisheries Supervisor
Date: March 23,2011
Approved by:
Fisheries Administration
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Federal Aid Coordinator
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation