Mountain Creek Reservoir - 2016 Survey Report

Prepared by Cynthia Fox, Thomas Hungerford and Raphael Brock
Inland Fisheries Division
Dallas/Fort Worth District

This is the authors' summary from a 26-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Mountain Creek Reservoir were surveyed in 2016 using electrofishing and trap netting and in 2017 using gill netting. Historical data are presented with the 2016-2017 data for comparison. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Mountain Creek Reservoir is a 2,493-acre impoundment constructed by Dallas Power and Light in 1937 on Mountain Creek Reservoir (a tributary of the Trinity River) in Dallas County 4 miles southeast of Grand Prairie, Texas. It was built as a cooling reservoir for a power plant and is now controlled by Exelon Energy Company. The average depth is 8.5 ft., with a maximum depth of approximately 26.0 ft. Angler and boat access is inadequate. There is no ADA-compliant facility on the reservoir. As of 2016, habitat was primarily rip-rap and native emergent vegetation.

Management History

Important sport fish include White Bass, Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, and Channel Catfish. All species have been managed through statewide harvest regulations. In April 1996, the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) declared a ban at Mountain Creek Reservoir for the possession and consumption of all fish species due to their contamination with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s). In 2010, TDSHS changed the fish consumption ban to a fish consumption advisory which advised anglers not to consume any fish. In 2017, TDSHS updated the advisory again, and advised non-consumption of Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, or Smallmouth Buffalo and limited consumption of Channel and Flathead Catfish, Largemouth Bass, and White Bass, while White Crappie are no longer included in the consumption advisory and are considered safe for consumption. Despite the changes for consumption advisories for some species, all sport fish will continue to be managed under statewide regulations.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Catch rates of prey species were lower in 2016 than in 2008 and 2012. Windy weather conditions reduced the effectiveness of electrofishing likely reducing catch rates. Gizzard and Threadfin Shad were present in the reservoir. Bluegill catch rates declined since previous surveys and included fewer individuals over six inches in length.
• Catfish: Catch rates of Channel Catfish decreased slightly compared to previous sample, but the population maintained good size structure. Flathead Catfish were present but none were captured this past survey year.
• White Bass: Catch rates of White Bass have declined since 2009, with few individuals of harvestable size.
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass catch rates were similar to the previous sample, but few individuals were of legal size. Largemouth Bass body condition was still good in all size classes.
• White Crappie: White Crappie catch increased since the previous survey, and fish were all in good condition.

Management Strategies

Sport fishes will continue to be managed with statewide regulations. Monitoring surveys will be conducted during 2020-2021 and vegetation surveys will be conducted annually.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-2 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program