Squaw Creek Reservoir - 2018 Survey Report

Prepared by John Tibbs and Michael S. Baird
Inland Fisheries Division - Waco District

This is the authors' summary from a 19-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Squaw Creek Reservoir were surveyed in 2019 using gill netting. Historical data are presented with the 2019 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

Squaw Creek Reservoir is a 3,272-acre impoundment located on Squaw Creek in Hood and Somervell Counties. The reservoir was created in 1979 by the Texas Utilities Generating Company (now Luminant Power) to serve as a cooling reservoir for the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Station. Secondary water uses included recreational fishing. Water level has been within 3.5’ of conservation pool since July 2015. The reservoir has a mean and maximum depth of 46 and 135 feet and is considered mesotrophic. Habitat features consisted of natural shoreline, submerged timber and scattered stands of cattail.

Management History

Important sport fish include Largemouth Bass and Channel Catfish. Palmetto Bass were the last species stocked into the main reservoir in 1996. Palmetto Bass are still stocked privately into the stilling basin for biological control of shad populations but are rarely observed in surveys. The reservoir was closed from 2001 to 2010 following security concerns following 9/11, and no fisheries work was conducted during that time. Electrofishing was discontinued in 2011 due to increasing water conductivity and historically poor electrofishing results for target species. Data were collected on Largemouth Bass (in addition to catfishes and temperate bass) during 2015, and beginning in 2019, gill netting became the only monitoring tool used to collect data on sport and forage fishes. Recent management efforts include maintaining aquatic invasive species (AIS) signage and educating constituents about the threat of AIS, especially Zebra Mussels, whenever possible.

Fish Community

• Prey species: The forage base was dominated by Tilapia and Gizzard Shad. Bluegill and Green Sunfish were also present.
• Channel Catfish: Channel Catfish were collected in good numbers and body condition was good to excellent.
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass were observed in record numbers. Legal-sized individuals were abundant but most preferred and memorable size classes were absent. Aged fish had excellent growth and recent genetic analysis showed excellent Florida influence

Management Strategies

• Continue managing Largemouth Bass and Channel Catfish with statewide regulations.
• Inform the public about the negative impacts of AIS and maintain appropriate signage at the single access point in Squaw Creek Park.
• Conduct angler access and vegetation surveys in 2022, and a winter quarter creel in 2022 and 2023.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-5 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program