Mackenzie Reservoir - 2004 Survey Report

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

This is the authors' summary from a 24-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Mackenzie Reservoir was surveyed in the fall of 2004 using electrofishing and trap nets and in the spring of 2005 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

Mackenzie Reservoir was constructed in 1974 on Tule Creek, a tributary of the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. It is located 12 miles northwest of Silverton, west of State Highway 207, in Briscoe County, Texas. The reservoir is owned by the Mackenzie Municipal Water Authority and provides water to four member cities. Mackenzie Reservoir is characterized as being a deep, clear, mesotrophic reservoir that experiences strong thermal stratification during summer months. At conservation pool (3,100 feet above mean sea level; FMSL) Mackenzie Reservoir is a 900-acre impoundment. Mackenzie Reservoir currently has an elevation of 3,032 FMSL and a surface area of approximately 600 acres. Since impoundment, the reservoir has never caught sufficient runoff to fill to capacity. Angler and boat access is adequate but there are no handicap specific facilities. Habitat consisted primarily of boulder, rock bluff, and flooded terrestrial vegetation.

Fish Community

• Prey species: The electrofishing catch rate for gizzard shad in 2004 was 272.0/hour (h), higher than 2002 and 2000 (157.0/h and 69.0/h respectively). The gizzard shad population had an index of vulnerability (IOV) of 89% in 2004, which indicates that the majority of the population is available to most predators. The index of vulnerability has improved from 33% since 2000. The electrofishing catch rate for bluegills in 2004 was 59.0/h, lower than the catch rate in 2002 (123.0/h). The size range of sampled bluegills indicated good availability to existing predators. There was no directed angling effort for bluegill in the 2004 creel survey.
• Blue catfish: The gill net catch rate for blue catfish in 2005 was 0.2/net night (NN), lower than the 2001 catch rate of 0.8/NN. There was no directed angling effort for blue catfish. However, there was one individual documented in the 2004 creel as harvested. Any blue catfish harvest was by anglers targeting catfish in general or by those not targeting any particular species of fish. No age and growth analysis was done from 1996 to 2005 because of small sample sizes.
• Channel catfish: The gill net catch rate for channel catfish in 2005 was 4.4/NN, higher than 2003 (3.0/NN) and similar to 2001 (4.8/NN). The population size structure for channel catfish was favorable as 82% of the fish collected were of harvestable size. No age and growth analysis was done during 2003 and 2005 because of small sample sizes. Channel catfish received 4.72 h/acre of angler directed effort during the 2004 creel survey. The catch rate for anglers seeking channel catfish was 0.05/h and the harvest rate was 0.04/h. Channel catfish were the most ( 45% of angler hrs) targeted species by anglers.
• White bass: The gill net catch rate of white bass in 2005 was 4.4/NN, up from 2003 (3.0/NN) and 2001 (1.6/NN). White bass received no directed angling effort, and no fish were documented as being caught in the 2004 creel survey.
• Palmetto bass: The gill net catch rate of palmetto bass in 2005 was 0.4/NN, down from 2003 and 2001 (8.2/NN and 11.4/NN, respectively). Catch rates may have declined from previous years, due to record low water levels during 2004 or a missed stocking in 2001 due to a fish kill at the hatchery. Palmetto bass received 1.73 h/acre of angler directed effort during the 2004 creel survey. The catch rate for anglers seeking palmetto bass was 0.28/h and the harvest rate was 0.09/h. Results from 2004 creel, indicated that palmetto bass were the fourth most target species (12% of angler effort) in Mackenzie Reservoir.
• Largemouth bass: The electrofishing catch rate of largemouth bass in 2004 was 266.0/h, higher than 2003 (68.0/h) and 2000 (141.0/h). In 2004, Electrophoresis indicated a 22% frequency of Florida largemouth bass alleles with 0% of the population having Florida largemouth bass genotypes. This is above the target range of 20% Florida largemouth bass alleles. Directed angling effort for largemouth bass was 2.03 h/acre during the 2004 creel survey. The catch rate for anglers seeking largemouth bass was 0.32/h and the harvest rate was 0.01/h.
• White crappie: The trap net catch rate for white crappie in 2004 was 7.9/net night, lower than the 2000 catch rate of 9.2/NN. White crappie received 0.49 h/acre of angler directed effort during the 2004 creel survey. The catch rate for anglers seeking white crappie was 0.81/h and the harvest rate was 0.00/h.
• Walleye: The gill net catch rate for walleye in 2004 was 0.2 /NN, down from 2000 (1.0/NN). Growth rates were
  not calculated in 2004 or 2000 because of small sample sizes. Walleye received no directed angling effort, and no fish were documented as being caught in the 2004 creel survey. Mackenzie Reservoir is not currently being managed as a walleye fishery.

Management Strategies

Based on current information, the reservoir should continue to be managed with existing regulations. A quality palmetto bass population has existed in Mackenzie Reservoir. Catch rates for the 2005 gill net survey could have been a result of record low water levels during 2004. In addition, palmetto bass populations need to be maintained by stocking. Thus, it is recommended that palmetto bass be stocked on the current schedule of every other year at a 5-10 per acre. The palmetto bass fishery should be promoted to the public through the use of press releases.

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