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 Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona (Map 1). Canyon Lake was 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 surface acres. LaBarge Cove (also known as Boulder Creek 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" modules were stocked in Tortilla and LaBarge Coves. Although 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

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Maracopa County, Arizona. Map 1. - General Vicinity Map of Canyon Lake,

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-2- Map 2. - Reservoir Map of Canyon Lake and La Barge Cove Habitat Placement Sites.

( • Salt R iverl

SAFETY ZONE 1, CLOSED TOa PUBLIC ALL WATERCRAFT I,

BRIDGE

sr ACACIA PICNIC AREA SHERIFF'S FIRST AID STATION PALO VERDE RECREATION AREA

BOULDER TONTO NATIONAL FOREST PICNIC AREA

CLOSED TO POWER BOATS

r APAcHe

FORT MC aoweu.: INOIAN COMMUNITY, i (3

SALT MU! NO IAN COMMUNITY v.1 TONTO NATIONAL FOREST CANYON LAKE INOWOX 1 MILE

.CRUCC MESA 84-9155/REV

-3-

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.

c. Crappie Condos, -.4 0 CI I ' 123I, 0 .1. E • • Rioustv '' OX AOCI00

NR9:;:APAB. ;".000 0 00 0..- OO .UP) <3( .

0 . 0 C:100000 • I GOA. S 80,4R°114?...4196(48,1/ , ..00co 400)7 R)Se 4;23

CZ. /*RA ~I 5, 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.

\ Fishing Dock...3r

Fish Habitat and Angling Improvement Plan -Boulder Creek Recreation Area

Fish 'N Forests

Crappie Condo

Catfish Houses

■ 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 and threadfin shad. They will also furnish a surface for 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 ensure they sank to the bottom as one "Complex". The "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 m3). There were 27 "Complexes" comprised of 580 individual "Condos" installed in a seven day period.

The "FISH N' TREES", designed by Dr. Loren Hill, were 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 and hollow. Stems were then filled with plastic foam bars to allow the trees vertical bouyancy on all contours of the lake bottom. One "FISH N' TREE" section is composed of twelve 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 to the placement at various depths (12 ft. to 29 ft.). Four 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 to provide three open ends on each side. Nineteen "Catfish 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 La Barge Cove at Canyon Lake is barren no more. A bunch of humans NOTES helped Mother Nature with her work. Anglers United, the Arizona Game Even with Canyon's normal fluctu- and 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 exten- of 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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by Mark Jecker

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)

anyon Lake's La Barge Cove was Cove is accessible by foot, and about 70 of the former are designed to spin the scene of considerable activity percent of the newly placed fish habitat around so they will release hooks, says C during November, when the is within casting range of shore. Warnecke, and the rounded surfaces of Game and Fish Department, Anglers Warnecke noted that the habitat the catfish-house pipes won't snag United, the U.S. Forest Service, scouts materials, including 68 fish-forest tackle. and other volunteers engaged in the last frames containing 475 individual The crappie condos will provide of three projects to install artificial "trees" were paid for by Anglers United about the same risk of hang-ups that habitat for gamefish there. (AU), a private organization which anglers would face in real submerged The habitat placement was done in raises funds to help Game and Fish brushpiles. Warnecke suggests that preparation for construction of a public improve fishing opportunities around these could be fished effectively with fishing pier in the same general location Arizona. Over and above the live minnows or worms under bobbers. between now and spring. Department's cost of putting its Even before placement of the This time around the crews personnel in the field, approximately artificial habitat, La Barge Cove was a assembled and sank "catfish houses," $68,000 of the cost of the project has potentially good place to fish. bundles of 8-inch-diameter plastic been paid for by AU. Warnecke says three gill nets were set (PVC) pipe which will be used as The majority of the material in the cove November 1 to sample the nesting cover by channel catfish. transportation and assembly was done fish population. One net set right next During the two previous November by volunteers recruited by AU. These to shore yielded 13 walleyes from 1-1/2 weekends, Department personnel and included AU members, Boy Scouts and to 3-1/2 pounds in weight, a 2-1/2 volunteers built and installed "crappie retirees from the Apache Junction area. pound rainbow trout and two channel condos," cylindrical bundles of plastic Actual assembly of the habitat catfish that weighed 7 and 9 pounds. snow fencing, and "Fish Forests" of structures constituted the bulk of the The site of the habitat placement and artificial underwater trees manufactured work. Installation was done by Game the future fishing dock is only about by the Plastics Research and and Fish and Forest Service personnel. 150 yards from where a 15-pound Development Corporation. Warnecke says the placement of the largemouth bass was illegally killed The "crappie condos" are intended to structures was calculated to take with dynamite a few years ago. attract sunfish and young-of-the-year fluctuations in the lake's water level Warnecke says this same type of gamefish as well as the reservoir's into account, as well as the optimum habitat project is planned for Saguaro relatively few crappies. Largemouth depth for use by the desired fish Lake, downstream from Canyon on the bass and large bluegills are expected to species. Salt River, in 1989 when the water level utilize the cover provided by the fish He says the tops of the artificial trees, there is lowered by 45 feet to forests. for instance, will be at least 3 feet under accommodate improvement work on According to Mesa Regional Fishery the surface at all times. Stewart Mountain Dam. The Saguaro Specialist Jim Warnecke, the project Because of the way the structures are Lake habitat project is planned to be was conducted with shore-bound designed, anglers are not likely to lose about ten times as extensive as the work anglers in mind. He says that about 75 too many hooks on the fish forests or done this month at Canyon. percent of the shoreline in LaBarge the catfish houses. The artificial leaves JANUARY 1989 • ARIZONA WILDLIFE VIEWS • Page 29 KI)

4 Photo 1IF., 1

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 by J.

Photo 2. ASU Volunteer Tony Velasco attaches opaque plastic cap to cover a "Crappie Condo". -12- Photo 4. "CrappieCondos" areloadedonto TISonAGFDRegion Photo 3.VolunteerJohnForbisattaches of unit.Notestabilizing"stay"inforeground pontoon boat fortransport todumpingsites. "Condo". -13- cinder blockstobottom

Photoby J.

Photoby J. Iv

Photo 5.JamesFiedler(AGFD),RogerLuth(USFSVol.)andBrad Photo 6."FishN' Trees"onloadingrampatCanyon LakeMarina. Jacobson (AGFD)liftTISandplace"Complex"indesired site.

Photoby J. Photoby J. Photo 7.Volunteerattachingeight-sidedhollow"FishN'Tree" Photo 8.Anglers Unitedvolunteersgluingsections togetherfor rebar forweighting. stem toweightedbasewithaplasticstrapandcotter the "FishN'Forests" bases.Allsectionscontained pin.

PHOTOBY J. PHOTOBY J. Photo 9."FishN'Tree"basesattheCanyon Photo 10.AGFD, PRADCO personnelandAnglersUnited volunteers attach indiVidualtrees. ramp. Notestrapsonbasesthatarelaterusedto preparing a#2type "FishN'Forest"forplacement. Lake Marinaloading

PHOTOBY J. PHOTO BY T. Photo 12.A"Catfish House".Notealternatingplugged endsfor Photo 11.AUSFSvolunteerplacesfourinchesofcementinPVC one wayentryand plasticstrapsthatholdpyramid together. piping for"CatfishHouses".

Photoby T.McMahon Photoby J. Photo 13.DaveWalker(AGFD),TomMcMahonDanVanDriel Photo 14. AGFDpersonnel andA.U.volunteers place"Catfish Houses" (USFS), andan pontoon boatforplacementincove. in desired sites.Noterope usedtogently lowerhouses to the bottom. - ASU volunteerload"CatfishHouses"on -18-

Photo byJ.

Photoby J. 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

1) 2) 3) VEHICLES 4) BOAT ACTIVITY *MANDAYS LABOR($) SUBSISTENCE($) (MILES & DOLLARS) (HRS. & DOLLARS) COST ($) Preparation & Evaluation 12 1,248 50 319 mi., $105 1 hr., $15 1,418 (11/1-11/2) Habitat Placement 38 3,952 284 2840 mi., $937 29.5hr., $443 5,616 (11/5-11/23) TOTALS: 50 5,200 334 3,159 mi., $1,042 30.5 hr., $458 7,034

1 Manday = 8 hours 1) Includes salaries 2) Perdiem - food and lodging 3) Vehicles - Department vehicles charged @ .33/mile 4) 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 consol- idated so that a well orchestrated combined effort result- ed. 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 allow- ing an individual or groups to sign-up for specific time- frame 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 cen- sus 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 Date Submitted , 11-17-88

Submitted By 0 4 ) WORK PLAN Region J. Warnecke ' 6

Title Canyon Lake Fish Artificial Habitat Project Total Est. Cost Time Period Covered Location of Work .121 HAN>Ars, S /4/Ni Ar 44"r From (Mo.Nr.) 11 /99 , To (MO.Nr.) 12 /8 9 Canyon Lake Objectives -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. undevelop- ed 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 1st Branch opervisor J. Warnecke . ' V2- ^-----•--4-Z' 0 ,

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