Greenbelt Reservoir - 2003 Survey Report

For assistance with accessibility on any TPWD documents, please contact accessibility@tpwd.state.tx.us

Prepared by Charles Munger and Jason Henegar
Inland Fisheries Division
District 1-A, Canyon, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 32-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Greenbelt Reservoir was surveyed in 2003 using trap nets and electrofishing and 2004 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

Greenbelt Reservoir is a 1,990-acre impoundment on the Salt Fork of the Red River five miles north of Clarendon in Donley County, Texas. The reservoir was approximately 1,800 acres in 2003 and 2004. It is owned by the Greenbelt Municipal and Industrial Water Authority and is used for water supply and recreational purposes. It has a history of water level fluctuations. Water levels have remained relatively stable since 2000 with fluctuations of only about 2 ft. Angler and boat access is good. At the time of sampling, the habitat was primarily rocks, sand, water milfoil and flooded terrestrial vegetation.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Electrofishing catch rates for gizzard shad and bluegill were 717/h and 241/h, respectively. Catch rate of gizzard shad increased from a rate of 50/h in 2001 and 120/h in 2000 with the bulk of the increase for 3-4 inch fish. The Index of Vulnerability (91) for gizzard shad indicated most of the fish were available to existing predators. Catch rate of bluegill was higher than the 4-sample average of 176/h. Angler surveys indicate no directed effort toward bluegill, but 4 fish were detected as harvested.
• Catfishes: The gill net catch rate of channel catfish in 2004 was 0.8/NN, slightly lower than seen in previous surveys (2.0/NN in 2002 and 1.0/NN in 1999). Mean relative weight of channel catfish has averaged around 100 since 1997. Directed fishing effort for channel catfish was 0.74 h/acre which was a slight decline from previous angler surveys. Catch (0.113/h) and harvest (0.055/h) rates were similar to previous surveys. The 2004 gill net catch rate of flathead catfish was 1.8/NN, which was similar to previous samples (2.7/NN in 2002 and 1.4/NN in 1999). There was no documented harvest or directed effort toward flathead catfish in 2002.
• Temperate basses: The 2004 gill net catch rate of white bass was 1.0/NN, much lower than the 2002 catch rate of 13.1/NN and the 4-sample average of 8.9/NN. White bass reached legal size by age 2 in 2002. Only 5 fish were collected in 2004 so mean relative weight for the population could not be calculated. Directed fishing effort for white bass was 0.54 h/acre and has been highly variable over past surveys. Catch and harvest rates were both 0.029/h indicating all fish caught were kept. The catch and harvest rates were lower than seen in previous surveys.
• Smallmouth bass: The electrofishing catch rate of 10/h for smallmouth bass was similar to 2001 (9/h) but lower than the 4-sample average of 16/h. Angler surveys conducted in spring 2002 indicated no directed effort toward smallmouth bass and no fish caught by anglers. The sample size was too small to determine growth rates and mean relative weight for the population.
• Largemouth bass: Electrofishing catch rate for largemouth bass (47/h) was lower than the 4-sample average catch rate of 133/h. Growth rates were good as fish reached legal size by age 3 but mean relative weight remained low at 92. Electrophoresis in 2003 indicated a 10.6% frequency of Florida largemouth bass alleles with none of the fish sampled having Florida largemouth bass genotype. Largemouth bass are the most sought species in Greenbelt Reservoir with directed fishing effort of 3.01 h/acre. Fishing effort has declined by half since 1996. Catch and harvest rates were 0.238/h and 0.037/h, respectively.
• Crappie: Trap net catch rate for white crappie was 3.6/NN, lower than the 4-sample catch rate of 6.5/NN. Only three fish stock size and larger were collected in 2003 so relative condition for the population could not be calculated. Directed fishing effort for white crappie was 1.28 h/acre in 2002. Catch and harvest rates were equal at 0.102/h.
• Walleye: The gill net catch rate for walleye was 2.2/NN in 2004, which was much lower than the 4-sample average of 6.4/NN. Sampling of walleye with electrofishing yielded a catch rate of 25/h, lower than the 2001 catch rate of 37/h, but higher than previous samples. Growth of walleye was good as fish reached 16 inches by age 2 even with a low average relative weight for the population of 90. Directed angling effort for walleye was 0.95 h/acre. The only documented catch of walleye was for individuals not seeking that species.

Management Strategies

Based on current information, the reservoir should continue to be managed with existing regulations. Florida largemouth bass alleles were detected at 10.6%. Stocking of Florida largemouth bass is recommended.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-30-R-29 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program