Center Hill Reservoir Fishery Study--Water Level Effects

摘要

Study Conclusions: (1) Water level fluctuations in a deep, steep-sided reservoir like Center Hill are not correlated with sport fish biomass, nor with monthly average creel success. Water levels should be held constant during spawning periods; (2) The daily creel averages showed that the catch of sport fish is poorer whenever the water rises or falls more than one-half foot per day; (3) Long-term trends in the creel data are apparent in that crappie and white bass catches have declined to negligible levels. Smallmount bass catches have declined while Kentucky bass catches have dramatically increased; (4) Long-term trends in water quality reflect a marked decline in total phosphorus and inorganic nitrogen. These nitrient decreases may be related to the decline in certain species in the creel; (5) Water quality parameters are related to the water surface elevation in some cases. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductivity, nitrogen and phosphorus were correlated with surface elevation. There were cross-correlations between temperature and dissolved oxygen, pH and specific conductivity.