canyon lake - labarge cove fish habitat project

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IMPLEMENTATION REPORT I
CANYON LAKE - LABARGE COVE
FISH HABITAT PROJECT
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ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT
REGION 6
BY
JIM WARNECKE, REGIONAL FISH SPECIALIST
TOM MCMAHON, FISHERIES ASSISTANT
DECEMBER 1988
INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE:
The Canyon Lake study area is located 42 miles east of
Canyon Lake was
Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona (Map 1).
formed in 1925 as a result of the construction of Mormon Flat Dam
on the Salt River. The lake operates at water levels averaging
1665 feet above mean sea level and encompasses an average of 850
LaBarge Cove (also known as Boulder Creek
surface acres.
Recreation Area) is located in the southeast portion of the lake,
directly south of the Canyon Lake Resort (Map 2).
Previous habitat investigations have revealed that Canyon
Lake is nearly devoid of any submerged vegetation within the
littoral (shallow) areas of the lake. Escape cover utilization
by game (i.e. largemouth bass) and forage (threadfin shad) fish
species is a major limiting factor on this lake.
Earlier attempts of artificial habitat development on Canyon
Lake were undertaken in 1985 when 2,000 Berkley "FISH HAB"
Although
modules were stocked in Tortilla and LaBarge Coves.
affecting a relatively small area (less than 1/2 acre total),
gillnetting surveys conducted in 1986 indicated regular
orientation to the covered areas by largemouth bass.
The Canyon Lake - LaBarge Cove Fish Habitat Project (CLLCFHP)
is an extension of the U.S. Forest Service Boulder Creek
Recreation Area and Fish Pier Project initiated to improve the
recreational fishery opportunities in the area. The CLLCFHP
involved the construction and placement of artificial habitats
utilizing "Crappie Condos" (Designed by Arizona Game and Fish
Department Region VI and Forest Service personnel), "FISH 'N
TREES" (commercial product), and "Catfish Houses" throughout the
cove (Figure 1).
In coordination with the United States Forest Service (USES)
and Anglers United, a nonprofit fisheries conservation
▪
▪
County, Arizona.
Map 1. - General Vicinity Map of Canyon Lake, Maracopa
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Map 2. - Reservoir Map of Canyon Lake and La Barge Cove Habitat Placement
Sites.
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Figure
1. - Habitat Structure Description.
(Rendering drawn by Marilyn Hoff Stewart)
ARTIST'S UNDERWATER VIEW OF
BOULDER CREEK AREA OF CANYON LAKE
WITH ARTIFICIAL STRUCTURE IN PLACE.
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organization, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) agreed
to assist in the design, construction, and placement of the
various artificial habitats. Specifically, the USFS and Anglers
United purchased materials and volunteered labor throughout all
aspects of the project.
Objectives for both projects included the opportunity to
improve the anglers fishing experience as well as increase
resting, nesting, and escape cover for sport fishes.
Implementation of the CLLCFHP commensed on November 2, 1988 and
ended on November 22, 1988.
PARTICIPANTS:
The following agencies, organizations, and businesses
volunteered time, equipment, and labor in completing the Canyon
Lake-LaBarge Cove Fish Habitat Project:
Anglers United
Arizona Game and Fish Department
Arizona State Unversity Wildlife Society
Boy Scouts of America
Fish America Foundation
Plastic Research and Development Corp. (PRADCO)
Recker-Miles Associates (Canyon Lake Resort)
United States Forest Service
DESCRIPTION OF WORK DONE:
The artificial habitats were strategically placed throughout
LaBarge Cove by Arizona Game and Fish personnel and volunteers
(Figure 2). A 24 foot pontoon boat donated by Anglers United to
AGFD Region IV for use on fisheries projects was used. Most of
the habitat structures (75%) were placed within casting distance
from shore or the fishing pier. The locations and depths were
determined by a chart-graph recorder (Lowrance X-16) and tempor-
Figure 2. Working sketch of habitat placement sites in
La Barge Cove, Canyon Lake.
f
\ Fishing
Dock...3r
Fish Habitat
and Angling
Improvement Plan
-Boulder Creek
Recreation Area
Fish 'N Forests
Crappie Condo
Catfish Houses
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arily marked with a bouy for rapid installation from the pontoon
boat.
The "Crappie Condos" were constructed to provide structure
for bluegill and green sunfish and shelter for young sportfish
They will also furnish a surface for
and threadfin shad.
periphyton attachment and zooplankton production, thus providing
a concentrated food source for the young fish. The individual
modules were comprised of plastic snow fencing (5 ft. tall), two
cinder blocks (measuring 16" x 16" and weighing 42 lbs.), and a
plastic cap (opaque for light transmittance or gray) that fit
over the top to enclose the structure. All these components were
tied together with plastic tie-raps (Photos 1, 2 & 3).
Twenty-one individual "Condos" were attached together (3 rows
x 7 columns) on the pontoon boat with polypropylene rope to
The
ensure they sank to the bottom as one "Complex".
"Complexes" were placed on three, 4 x 8 foot pieces of plywood
situated on the deck and supported by two, 10 foot 2 x 4's which
created a tilting installation structure (TIS). When the boat
reached the marker bouy, one side of the TIS was lifted straight
up, dropping the "Crappie Condo Complex" into the water. These
"Complexes" were deposited in 13 to 20 feet of water to allow for
annual lake fluctuations and still remain within the usable light
and temperature zones for the target species (Photos 4 & 5).
One "Complex" covered approximately 4,000 cubic feet (113
There were 27 "Complexes" comprised of 580 individual
m3).
"Condos" installed in a seven day period.
designed by Dr. Loren Hill, were
The "FISH N' TREES",
constructed to provide cover and resting areas for largemouth
bass, bluegill, and crappie and look similar to plastic "banana
trees". The large, palm-like leaves are bouyant and will rotate
freely to allow lures and hooked fish to pass without snagging.
These leaves were attached to plastic stems which are eight-sided
Stems were then filled with plastic foam bars to
and hollow.
allow the trees vertical bouyancy on all contours of the lake
One "FISH N' TREE" section is composed of twelve
bottom.
perpendicular leaves attached to a three foot tall stem (Photos 6
& 7).
The trees were sunk in "Forests" of seven "FISH N' TREES" and
plastic strapped to a 5 ft. x 10 ft. frame of weighted 2 inch
diameter black PVC piping. The piping was weighted by approximately 80 lbs. of rebar placed in all sections of the base
(Photos 8 & 9).
These "Forests" consisted of differing heights of trees due
Four
to the placement at various depths (12 ft. to 29 ft.).
types of "Forests" were placed; #4 forests consisted of one
section per tree (12 ft. deep), #3 forests had 2 sections per
tree (19 ft. deep), #2 forests had 5 sections per tree (23 ft.
deep), and #1 forests (seven are to be installed in spring, 1989
with the fishing pier) will have 7 - 8 sections per tree (29 ft.
deep). A total of 70 "Forests" were placed in the cove over a
three day period (Photo 10).
The "Catfish Houses" were constructed to provide shelter and
nesting areas for channel catfish. These houses were placed in
10 to 15 feet of water directly on the bottom to provide the
crevices and cavities that these fish utilize.
The "Catfish Houses" consisted of six, 3 foot long, 6 inch
diameter PVC pipes tied together in a pyramid shape with plastic
stapping. One end of each pipe was plugged with four inches of
cement to allow for one way entry and alternated in the pyramid
Nineteen "Catfish
to provide three open ends on each side.
Houses" were assembled and placed in one day (Photos 11, 12, 13 &
14).
Agency divers (AGFD and USFS) attempted to check placement of
all structures one week after installation. The nine structures
located were in good position and being used by small fish. The
murkiness of Canyon Lake allowed limited sightings of structure
(one to six foot visibility).
Television coverage came on two separate days in November.
Channel 3, Phoenix ABC affiliate, covered the project in its
early phases and Channel 12, the Phoenix NBC affiliate, covered
the project on November 19 and was able to show all phases of
implementation.
Anglers United provided the project with
coverage in its Summer 1988 "FISHLINE" publication. Statewide
newspaper press releases sponsored by the AGFD Information and
Education Division (Article 1) and articles in the AGFD "Wildlife
Views" (Article 2) also publicized the project.
The following photographs depict the work process during the
implementation project:
Article 1. - Reproduced from "The Arizona Republic", 11-25-88.
Artificial habitat
at La Barge Cove
should be successful
The Arizona Republic
NOTES
La Barge Cove at Canyon Lake is
barren no more. A bunch of humans
helped Mother Nature with her work.
Anglers United, the Arizona Game
Even with Canyon's normal fluctuand Fish Department, the U.S. Forest
ations, the tops of the artificial trees
Service, several scouting organizations
will be at least 3 feet under water,
and local volunteers combined to
Warnecke said.
complete an artificial fish habitat
According to surveys done by the
project at the lake.
department, La Barge was an ideal
About 40 percent of the cove now
site for improvement. It already was a
is covered with habitat, according to good place to fish and should be made
biologist Jim Warnecke, who is in
better by this help.
charge of the project for Game and
After the dock is built at Canyon,
Fish. Most of the cover was placed so workers will turn to Saguaro where
shoreline anglers can take advantage habitat work should be completed by
of it.
October.
By March, a 100-foot fishing dock
"We've learned a lot from Canyon,
will be built among the habitat and we hope to use a wide diversity of
structures. It will accommodate hand- things at Saguaro," Warnecke said.
icapped anglers.
"I'd like to experiment with real
Anglers United, a non-profit orga- hardwood trees and maybe some tire
nization dedicated to improving fish- reefs.
ing, was a major player in the project,
"It'd also like to do some seeding
purchasing most of the materials, and while the lake is down. Grasses such
will be involved again in an even as rye can suck up nutrients that are
bigger habitat project at Saguaro wasted in the lake soil and put them
Lake.
back into production. The grasses are
The habitat installed at La Barge excellent habitat for fish."
Cove includes "catfish houses" made
Since the lake will be down on and
of bundled PVC pipe, "crappie off for several years while the dam is
condos" made of cylindrical bundles repaired, Warnecke said more extenof plastic snow fence and "fish sive habitat work will be done to
forests" made of artificial underwater cover a variety of depths.
trees manufactured commercially.
He said work on the fishing dock
Canyon has few crappie. The can't be started until the lake is stable
condos actually will attract bass and again. That would mean late 1991 or
bluegill for the protection the condos early 1992.
offer.
Article 2.
.
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Housing
development
completed
at Canyon
Lake!
,
..".1,2.• ..-.10,..,.:,'....‘,. i. .._.
by Mark Jecker
1
Those strange-looking things being placed in Canyon Lake's La Barge Cove are
plastic "trees" to provide fish cover.
(underwater housing for fish, that is)
C
anyon Lake's La Barge Cove was
the scene of considerable activity
during November, when the
Game and Fish Department, Anglers
United, the U.S. Forest Service, scouts
and other volunteers engaged in the last
of three projects to install artificial
habitat for gamefish there.
The habitat placement was done in
preparation for construction of a public
fishing pier in the same general location
between now and spring.
This time around the crews
assembled and sank "catfish houses,"
bundles of 8-inch-diameter plastic
(PVC) pipe which will be used as
nesting cover by channel catfish.
During the two previous November
weekends, Department personnel and
volunteers built and installed "crappie
condos," cylindrical bundles of plastic
snow fencing, and "Fish Forests" of
artificial underwater trees manufactured
by the Plastics Research and
Development Corporation.
The "crappie condos" are intended to
attract sunfish and young-of-the-year
gamefish as well as the reservoir's
relatively few crappies. Largemouth
bass and large bluegills are expected to
utilize the cover provided by the fish
forests.
According to Mesa Regional Fishery
Specialist Jim Warnecke, the project
was conducted with shore-bound
anglers in mind. He says that about 75
percent of the shoreline in LaBarge
Cove is accessible by foot, and about 70
percent of the newly placed fish habitat
is within casting range of shore.
Warnecke noted that the habitat
materials, including 68 fish-forest
frames containing 475 individual
"trees" were paid for by Anglers United
(AU), a private organization which
raises funds to help Game and Fish
improve fishing opportunities around
Arizona. Over and above the
Department's cost of putting its
personnel in the field, approximately
$68,000 of the cost of the project has
been paid for by AU.
The majority of the material
transportation and assembly was done
by volunteers recruited by AU. These
included AU members, Boy Scouts and
retirees from the Apache Junction area.
Actual assembly of the habitat
structures constituted the bulk of the
work. Installation was done by Game
and Fish and Forest Service personnel.
Warnecke says the placement of the
structures was calculated to take
fluctuations in the lake's water level
into account, as well as the optimum
depth for use by the desired fish
species.
He says the tops of the artificial trees,
for instance, will be at least 3 feet under
the surface at all times.
Because of the way the structures are
designed, anglers are not likely to lose
too many hooks on the fish forests or
the catfish houses. The artificial leaves
of the former are designed to spin
around so they will release hooks, says
Warnecke, and the rounded surfaces of
the catfish-house pipes won't snag
tackle.
The crappie condos will provide
about the same risk of hang-ups that
anglers would face in real submerged
brushpiles. Warnecke suggests that
these could be fished effectively with
live minnows or worms under bobbers.
Even before placement of the
artificial habitat, La Barge Cove was a
potentially good place to fish.
Warnecke says three gill nets were set
in the cove November 1 to sample the
fish population. One net set right next
to shore yielded 13 walleyes from 1-1/2
to 3-1/2 pounds in weight, a 2-1/2
pound rainbow trout and two channel
catfish that weighed 7 and 9 pounds.
The site of the habitat placement and
the future fishing dock is only about
150 yards from where a 15-pound
largemouth bass was illegally killed
with dynamite a few years ago.
Warnecke says this same type of
habitat project is planned for Saguaro
Lake, downstream from Canyon on the
Salt River, in 1989 when the water level
there is lowered by 45 feet to
accommodate improvement work on
Stewart Mountain Dam. The Saguaro
Lake habitat project is planned to be
about ten times as extensive as the work
done this month at Canyon.
JANUARY 1989 • ARIZONA WILDLIFE VIEWS • Page 29
KI)
4
1IF.,
Photoby L.
0
1
Photo by J.
Photo 1. Larry Forbis (USFS), Paul Delaire (Volunteer), and Tom
McMahon (AGFD) cut desired length of snow fencing and
weave through "stays" for stabilization of the "Crappie
Condo".
Photo 2. ASU Volunteer Tony Velasco attaches opaque plastic cap
to cover a "Crappie Condo".
-12-
Photoby J.
Photoby J.
Photo 3. Volunteer John Forbis attaches cinder blocks to bottom
of unit. Note stabilizing "stay" in foreground of
"Condo".
Photo 4. "Crappie Condos" are loaded onto TIS on AGFD Region Iv
pontoon boat for transport to dumping sites.
-13-
Photoby J.
Photoby J.
Photo 5. James Fiedler (AGFD), Roger Luth (USFS Vol.) and Brad
Jacobson (AGFD) lift TIS and place "Complex" in desired
site.
Photo 6. "Fish N' Trees" on loading ramp at Canyon Lake Marina.
PHOTOBY J.
PHOTOBY J.
Photo 7. Volunteer attaching eight-sided hollow "Fish N' Tree"
stem to weighted base with a plastic strap and cotter
pin.
Photo 8. Anglers United volunteers gluing sections together for
the "Fish N' Forests" bases. All sections contained
rebar for weighting.
PHOTO BY T.
PHOTOBY J.
Photo 9. "Fish N' Tree" bases at the Canyon Lake Marina loading
ramp. Note straps on bases that are later used to
attach indiVidual trees.
Photo 10. AGFD, PRADCO personnel and Anglers United volunteers
preparing a #2 type "Fish N' Forest" for placement.
Photoby J.
Photoby T.McMahon
Photo 11. A USFS volunteer places four inches of cement in PVC
piping for "Catfish Houses".
Photo 12. A "Catfish House". Note alternating plugged ends for
one way entry and plastic straps that hold pyramid
together.
Photoby J.
Photo byJ.
Photo 13. Dave Walker (AGFD), Tom McMahon (AGFD), Dan VanDriel
(USFS), and an - ASU volunteer load "Catfish Houses" on
pontoon boat for placement in cove.
Photo 14. AGFD personnel and A.U. volunteers place "Catfish Houses"
in desired sites. Note rope used to gently lower houses
to the bottom.
-18-
ACTIVITY AND COST BREAKDOWN:
During the three week implementation period, the AGFD
furnished 45 mandays of effort (Table 1). Employees drove 3,159
miles and recorded over 30 hours of boat operation. Total
estimated costs to the AGFD for the CLLCFHP was $7,034 dollars.
USFS Mesa Ranger District figures showed that 65 people
worked 183 mandays, 60% (110 mandays) by volunteers, 27% (50
mandays) by AGFD personnel, and 13% (23 mandays) by USFS
personnel, on the project. These efforts totaled $9,500 dollars
in labor contributions. The total project value, determined by
adding tools, labor, supplies, materials, and PRADCO's input, was
$82,000 dollars.
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION:
A training video of the CLLCFHP implementation has been
produced by AGFD Region VI fisheries personnel in lyt inch VHS
format (28 min.).
By using commercial size 3/4 inch video
format, the USFS plans to produce an overview of the complete
project due in the summer of 1989.
An initial implementation report has been filed by the USFS
Mesa District Office (Letter 2610, L. Forbis, Dec. 16, 1988, 4
pgs).
Breakdowns of weekly progress by work crews as well as
statistics of manhours contributed and final costs summaries are
included.
Table 1.
ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT COST BREAKDOWN
ACTIVITY
3)
VEHICLES 4) BOAT
1)
2)
*MANDAYS LABOR($) SUBSISTENCE($) (MILES & DOLLARS) (HRS. & DOLLARS) COST ($)
Preparation &
Evaluation
(11/1-11/2)
12
1,248
50
319 mi., $105
1 hr., $15
1,418
Habitat
Placement
(11/5-11/23)
38
3,952
284
2840 mi., $937
29.5hr., $443
5,616
TOTALS:
50
5,200
334
3,159 mi., $1,042
30.5 hr., $458
7,034
1)
2)
3)
4)
1 Manday = 8 hours
Includes salaries
Perdiem - food and lodging
Vehicles - Department vehicles charged @ .33/mile
Boat - Department boats charged @ $15.00/hour
- Hours = actual running time
FF36/2
01/06/89
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The following recommendations are formulated as a
manpower/labor perspective view of the CLLCFHP:
1.
Team Responsibility - By splitting the responsibility of
"habitat placement" coordination between the USFS and AGFD
respectively, work team logistics and directions were consolidated so that a well orchestrated combined effort resulted. A single designated foreman for each team allowed the
project minimal equipment and alloted time frame problems as
is common in multi-agency/volunteer projects.
2.
Volunteer Management - Key individuals were put in charge of
volunteer acquisition each weekend of the project. By allowing an individual or groups to sign-up for specific timeframe work crews, team leaders could recruit and adjust manpower and labor logistics as necessary. Therefore, transportation, food, camping facilities, etc. responsibilities were
coordinated by a single individual on a given weekend.
ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING:
The installed habitats effectiveness will be evaluated
annually per the approved Canyon Lake Fish Artificial Habitat
Project Work Plan (Appendix 1):
1.
Fish utilization surveys employing electrofishing, gillnetting, seining, sonar, SCUBA, and hook and line methodologies
will be used in the Spring/Summer, 1989.
2.
Conduct angler use surveys in the forms of random creel census four times monthly and questionnaires in 1989 to determine angling pressure, catch rates, and angler acceptance of
the structures.
3.
Quarterly water quality surveys employing oxygen/temperature
profiles and SCUBA inspections.
ANALYSIS:
An initial evaluation report will be provided to the
Fisheries Branch Supervisor incorporating data collected for past
surveys and 1989 surveys with the option to continue angler and
species monitoring as necessary to formulate management
implications and recommendations.
TL:JW:jdh
FF38/2
Appendix 1.
' '01
Plan Category
,
0
Date Submitted
11-17-88
4
)
Submitted By
WORK PLAN
Region
J. Warnecke
'
6
Title
Canyon Lake Fish Artificial Habitat Project
Total Est. Cost
S
/4/Ni Ar 44"r
Location of Work
Time Period Covered
.121 HAN>Ars,
99
From (Mo.Nr.) 11 /
Objectives
Canyon Lake
, To (MO.Nr.) 12 /8 9
-To aid the USFS in the planning, design and placement of 3 types of artificial fish habitat in La Barge Cove, Canyon Lake, in November 1988.
-To assess angler use patterns and catch rates of developed vs. undeveloped habitat within the lake resulting from placement action.
-To document fish utilization of developed habitat sites.
_
Justification
-For L.sh habitat devices to be successful, Region 6 personnel needs to
be involved in design and placement of structures.
-To document the success of the habitat implementation by fishermen,
angling use patterns must be evaluated.
-Actual utilization of structures by fish species will also be evaluated.
Procedures
1. Conduct annual creel surveys a minimum of four times monthly on a 2
weekday and 2 weekend day basis in 1989 to determine angling pressure,
catch rates and satisfaction of structures.
2. Monitor fish utilization in May 1989 by employing electrofishing, gill
netting, sonar, SCUBA, and hook and line methodologies.
3..
Utilize survey control areas annually to validate comparisons of
covered vs. uncovered habitat sites.
4.
File an initial evaluation report in Jan. 1990 with option to continue
angler and species monitoring as necessary to formulate management
implications and recommendations.
Fisheries Sped i
J. Warnecke
_
1st
Branch opervisor
2 ^-- -- --4
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-23-
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