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Lake Tecumseh Weir Project
Overview - Weir - Boat Portage - Environmental Monitoring - Studies - Construction
Environmental Monitoring - Fish Surveys
| Throughout 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries used an electrofishing boat to sample the fish population of Lake Tecumseh. Three different locations were sampled throughout the lake for a period of 600 seconds, for a total of 1,800 seconds of survey time. A total of 24 fish species were found. |
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Analysis: Spring surveys indicate the breeding population and Fall represents that year's recruitment. The total number of fish collected has doubled since establishment of the weir. This coupled with a 50% decrease in total biomass indicates a larger population of small fish and is what would be expected from a stable habitat for brood fish. We conclude the lake has become a breeding and rearing ground for resident fish that are no longer forced to leave the lake because of wind tidal drainage that typically occured before the weir's establishment. The lake is supporting a more diverse assemblage of fish species that includes more forage fish being available as prey for game species. Fish are able to migrate into and out of the lake and harm to the local fishery that some feared would result from the weirs has not occurred. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologist stated we could expect a popular recreational sport fishery to develope in the next few years based upon these survey results.
|
Pre Weir |
Post Weir |
FALL 2008 |
SPRING 2009 |
SPRING 2011 |
FALL 2011 |
FALL 2012 |
Sept. 2008 |
May 2009 |
June 2011 |
Sept 2011 |
Sept 2012 |
| Species |
# collected |
% |
# collected |
% |
# collected |
% |
# collected |
% |
# collected |
% |
| Striped Mullet |
53 |
34% |
46 |
26% |
|
|
3 |
1% |
|
|
| White Perch |
42 |
27% |
37 |
21% |
27 |
12% |
102 |
47% |
38 |
12% |
| Spot |
19 |
12% |
|
|
1 |
0.5% |
|
|
|
|
| Gizzard Shad |
13 |
8% |
4 |
2% |
45 |
21% |
6 |
3% |
16 |
5% |
| Menhaden |
10 |
6% |
|
|
2 |
1% |
|
|
|
|
| Croaker |
4 |
3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Largemouth Bass |
3 |
2% |
17 |
10% |
10 |
5% |
12 |
6% |
23 |
7% |
| Silver Perch |
3 |
2% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yellow Perch |
2 |
1% |
3 |
2% |
32 |
15% |
44 |
20% |
64 |
20% |
| Pumkinseed |
2 |
1% |
12 |
7% |
15 |
7% |
11 |
5% |
33 |
10% |
| Striped Bass |
1 |
1% |
2 |
1% |
|
|
|
|
8 |
2% |
| Bluegill |
1 |
1% |
27 |
15% |
55 |
25% |
14 |
6% |
44 |
13% |
| Common Carp |
1 |
1% |
6 |
3% |
|
|
1 |
0.5% |
1 |
0.3% |
| Longnose Gar |
1 |
1% |
6 |
3% |
1 |
0.5% |
|
|
1 |
0.3% |
| Banded Killifish |
|
|
1 |
1% |
|
|
2 |
1% |
1 |
0.3% |
| Chain Pickerel |
|
|
1 |
1% |
2 |
1% |
4 |
2% |
2 |
1% |
| Golden Shiner |
|
|
1 |
1% |
|
|
2 |
1% |
2 |
1% |
| Redear Sunfish |
|
|
5 |
3% |
8 |
4% |
10 |
5% |
52 |
16% |
| White Catfish |
|
|
5 |
3% |
3 |
1% |
|
|
1 |
0.3% |
| Amer. Eel |
|
|
|
|
8 |
4% |
2 |
1% |
21 |
6% |
| Bowfin |
|
|
|
|
2 |
1% |
|
|
3 |
1% |
| Black Crappie |
|
|
|
|
2 |
1% |
1 |
0.5% |
1 |
0.3% |
| Channel Catfish |
|
|
|
|
1 |
0.5% |
|
|
1 |
0.3% |
| Tidewater Silversides |
|
|
|
|
obs |
|
4 |
2% |
2 |
1% |
| Blue Crab |
|
|
|
|
3 |
1.4% |
|
|
|
|
| Bullhead Catfish |
|
|
|
|
1 |
0.5% |
|
|
|
|
| Blue-spotted Sunfish |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
0.5% |
1 |
0.3% |
| River Herring |
|
|
|
|
|
|
obs |
|
|
|
| Alewife |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
0.5% |
|
|
| Mosquitofish |
|
|
|
|
|
|
obs |
|
3 |
1% |
| Warmouth |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
0.3% |
| E.Silvery Minnow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
1% |
| Creek Chub Sucker |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
2% |
Color Key:
| Species First Observed |
| Most Common Species |
| Pre-Weir Species |
| Post-Weir Species |
|
PRE WEIR |
POST WEIR |
FALL 2008 |
SPRING 2009 |
SPRING 2011 |
FALL 2011 |
FALL 2012 |
| Total Fish: |
155 |
173 |
218 |
220 |
328 |
| Total Biomass (lbs): |
21.8* |
** |
24.9* |
12.3 |
9.6 |
| Total Species: |
14 |
15 |
18 |
19 |
24 |
| CPUE (fish per min) |
5.2 |
5.4 |
5.7 |
7.05 |
7.1 |
| Water Temp. (F) |
75.6 |
N/A |
85 |
70 |
75 |
| Total Time (mins) |
30 |
32 |
40 |
31.2 |
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* weight of gizzard shad, striped mullet, menhaden, american eel, gar, and bowfin not recorded
**weights not recorded
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Last updated:
April 1, 2013
All images by FWS unless otherwise noted.
