Roosevelt Lake - Roundtable Meeting Minutes 12/18/14

[CouesPursuit]

I wrote these minutes up for another effort and figured I'd share them with CWT since the department hasn't shared anything publicly themselves. If anything isn't clear let me know and I will do my best to fill the gaps.

 

The meeting began promptly at 5:59 PM, led by James Goughnour of Rim Country Custom Rods followed with introductions of AZGFD personnel by Chris Cantrell.

Amberle Jones, AZGFD Habitat Specialist, started off with a presentation highlighting her habitat project work in the last 7 months at Roosevelt Lake.

Habitat Surveys: Side-scan sonar units were used to survey the sand, cobble and vegetation characteristics within the lake. Several examples of the sonar scanning images were shared in the presentation, mostly illustrating a lack of structural habitat. This images will be referenced together in a mapping environment and tied to their GPS location for accuracy.

Habitat Implementation Plan: Amberle is the lead on the plan required to implement the ‘what and where’ of habitat work at Roosevelt. The plan is currently circulating around the department internally for comment and finalization. 20 locations (~1 acre areas) at Roosevelt were displayed on a map, spread out evenly across the lake, with the plan to create at least 5 new habitat structures per year over the next 4 years. Points on the map were picked based on “where people fish,” side scan images, contour lines, and biologist opinion. Depths from 15-40ft are being targeted for new habitat based at the surveyed 2090’ water elevation level.

Habitat Types: Concrete fish balls, Mossback safe havens, poly shrubs, and brush piles will be used as the new habitat structures. Regarding concern to potential prop damage and other USFS concerns, any concrete structures would be marked with habitat buoys (not hazard buoys). The department would be limited to amount of concrete structures in any given area and they would be strategically placed to minimize conflict. Attendee Bruce Ivor suggested looking into abandoned citrus orchards as a source of hard word for the brush pile habitat, rather than Christmas trees, which decompose quickly. Juniper/cedar trees were also mentioned as potential brush structure as recent and ongoing grassland habitat restoration efforts by the G&F department could supply another source of hard wood. The price comparison between purchasing habitat, such as the mossback safe haven structures, versus building habitat (both artificial safe havens and concrete fish balls) was discussed. At this point in time, the type of material used by the Mossback company was said to be far more specialized than anything the department could mimic themselves. At $232/structure, the department plans on purchasing 80 mossback safe havens.
The AZGFD has also been creating concrete fish balls at their Region VI office in Mesa. On January 23rd for the pouring of concrete and the 26th for the breakdown of the molds, the department has asked for volunteers to complete another batch of concrete fish balls. Contact Amberle.Jones@azgfd.gov for more information. Attendees offered to construct the fish balls on their own property in Tonto Basin, saving money in transportation and increasing the number of available volunteers. A special concrete mix/specification was discussed along with potential permits required to build the structures. There was a concern for approval to do this off-site, which will be discussed by AZGFD personnel and said Tonto Basin residents.

Christina Perez, Grad Student at the University of Arizona, discussed her ongoing study of environmental DNA (eDNA) to evaluate biomass composition. Upon success (the biomass eDNA of a sampled area matches the fish detected in sampling), the technique could be used as a cost-effective fish species presence/absence indicator. In the last year, fish were sampled by gill net and electroshocking along with the collection of eDNA at various study sites at Roosevelt lake to establish an initial comparison. Results of eDNA portion of this study are not yet complete.
The fish sampling survey results concluded that gizzard shad were the most common fish in the combined surveys, something like 70% of those sampled, followed by largemouth bass in the +- 15% range. Other fish species were not common in the surveys but most were captured in low quantities. It was discussed that survey results were similar those found in recent years and nearly identical to those in 2013. The relative weight, also explained as the condition and/or fatness of the fish, was calculated for each species.
1. Results show the gizzard shad fall way below the average, indicating overpopulation and competition for resources.
2. Largemouth bass appeared to fall just below the national average relative weight but in a generally healthy condition.
3. Crappie were not surveyed based on a minimal catch rate by the sampling methods used.
4. Threadfin shad were also not surveyed based on a minimal catch rate by the sampling methods used.
In a new effort to survey crappie, trap nets were used for the first time in the spring of 2014. In their trial run (4 nets, 2 nights), several crappie were sampled. However, more nets will need to be purchased to get a viable sample size and a more intensive effort was discussed to occur this coming spring.

Chris Cantrell discussed the Florida-strain bass stockings at Roosevelt Lake. 400,000 fry were stocked in the spring of 2014 and another 400,000 fry are planned to be stocked again in the spring of 2015. A low 1% recruitment/survival rate is expected on the fry stocking. Of the $50,000 incentive that was put up by AZGFD for donation price matching, approximately $7,500 was donated as of December 6th, 2014. Donating folks mentioned – Midweek Bass Anglers, Shake Rattle and Troll Radio, Rim Country Custom Rods, Rambo Realty, and other Tonto Basin small business as well as individuals. To special mention, the Arizona statewide chapter of Anglers United donated a generous $25,000. The remaining donation solicitation is still up for matching (approximately $17,500) until December 31st, 2014, for bass only.
The funds raised will be used for Florida-strain largemouth bass subadults in January. Currently, funding will support 30-40,000 bass at 3-5 inches in length with an 80-90% recruitment expectation. In addition, working with Florida Fish and Wildlife, AZGFD personnel were recently trained in brooding genetically pure Florida-strain bass. Plans were discussed to cut out a portion of the trout hatchery and Page Springs and support a brood stock supplied by Florida Fish and Wildlife. A redirected budget of $200,000 will also be used to enhance the warm water hatchery facilities at Bubbling Ponds, including renovating new ponds. These efforts should have the AZGFD producing Fl-strain largemouth of their own in coming years, since FFW cannot brood them for Arizona.

Other fish stocking discussion was raised by attendees. There is no plan to stock fish species other than largemouth bass. Chris Cantrell discussed a new property purchase by AZGFD adjacent to the Bubbling Ponds hatchery and a potential contract with the Bureau of Reclamation to expand some of their contract work with native fish species, moving them off of the hatchery at Bubbling Ponds, and opening facilities for warm water species including crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, and walleye, in addition to largemouth bass. A state-of-the-art warm water hatchery is under long-term investigation but it was clearly stated nothing would happen soon with regard to budget constraints.

After a question about fish harvest by anglers and a potential slot limit, recent creel surveys were discussed. Of surveyed anglers, a total of 5292 hours fished produced 1919 fish caught by 935 anglers surveyed at the boat ramps and 176 rover anglers surveyed (shoreline fishermen surveyed by boat). AZGFD personnel recalled harvest was less than 5% and most fisherman were practicing catch and release. At this time the AZGFD does not recommend or support a slot limit as it could affect the desire for people to fish the lake, specifically bringing bass tournaments to Roosevelt.

Schedule and Timeline discussed. Minutes from last meaning may have had a transmittal issue but would be sent to the email list as they become available.

Other grants were discussed. Folks shared their current organization’s recent attempts and plans to continue requesting money from conservation constituent groups. These are grants the AZGFD cannot request themselves but require tax exempt, 501c organizations to submit an application. The meeting was adjourned at 7:22PM.

[Ringer]

Thanks! I have a trailer in TB and fish Roosevelt and Apache. I am hoping we can get some water in the lake this spring. That will do wonders for the fishery. It is good to see the gizzard shad are running out of food. Maybe the smaller size will make them better bass food. If the Florida strains take hold we could see a reversal in the future of the fishery. Let us know if G&F will do another volunteer habitat work project so we can get the word out. I worked on Apache and Canyon last time and that work is paying off IMO.

[tjhunt2]

Thanks for sharing. It looks like the future for Roosevelt is unclear as to what might happen but I'm hoping it bounces back to the good fishing we had back in the late 1970 and 80s.

 

TJ