Delta Lake 2012 Survey Report (PDF 86.4 KB)
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Delta Lake - 2012 Survey Report
Prepared by John Findeisen and Greg Binion
Inland Fisheries Division
District 1-E,
Mathis, Texas
This is the authors' summary from an 11-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.
Fish populations in Delta Lake were not surveyed in 2012 and 2013 due to low water level as a result of extreme drought conditions. This report summarizes the history of the reservoir and contains a management plan.
Reservoir Description
Delta Lake is a 2,261-acre reservoir located in Hidalgo County, 2.5 miles north of Monte Alto. The reservoir is divided into a public section (approximately 1,500 acres, east side) and a private section (approximately 761 acres, west side). The two sections of the reservoir are divided by State Highway 88 and are connected by concrete culverts. The reservoir is owned and operated by the Hidalgo-Willacy Counties Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 and used for irrigation and recreation. The lake is very shallow and turbid. Substrate is composed primarily of small rock, clay, sand and silt. Littoral habitat consists of periodically flooded terrestrial vegetation, large stands of bulrush and cattail, and standing timber.
Management History
Important sport fish species included Channel Catfish, White Bass, Largemouth Bass, and White Crappie. Exotic species present include Grass Carp and Suckermouth Catfish. The previous fisheries management plan focused on using winter drawdowns and subsequent spring rises to increase habitat for improving spawning and recruitment success; use of winter drawdowns to control exotic flora and fauna by exposing them to temperatures below their lower thermal tolerances; and writing and distributing press releases concerning Blue Catfish angling opportunities.
Fish Community
No fisheries surveys were conducted in 2012-2013.
Management Strategies
- Continue managing the fish populations under current regulations.
- Remove Delta Lake from the 4-year rotation list of reservoirs because of its low fisheries potential.
Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-3 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program