Commonwealth of Kentucky Date: June 30, 2015 Sport Fish Restoration Grant F-50, Segment 37 Period: 01 April 2014 through 31 March 2015 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT District Fisheries Management Projects A - D CFD NEFD NWFD EFD WFD SWFD SEFD Project Leader: Paul Rister, Western Fishery District Biologist (WFD) Assistant Project Leader: Neal Jackson , Assistant WFD Biologist Project Leader: Robert Rold , Northwestern Fishery District Biologist (NWFD) Assistant Project Leader: Jeremy Shiflet, Assistant NWFD Biologist Project Leader: Eric Cummins, Southwestern Fishery District Biologist (SWFD) Assistant Project Leader: Vacant, Assistant SWFD Biologist Project Leader: Jeff Crosby, Central Fishery District Biologist (CFD) Assistant Project Leader: Kathryn Emme, Assistant CFD Biologist Project Leader: Tom Timmermann, Northeastern Fishery District Biologist (NEFD) Assistant Project Leader: Vacant, Assistant NEFD Biologist Project Leader: John Williams, Southeastern Fishery District Biologist (SEFD) Assistant Project Leader: Marcy Anderson, Assistant SEFD Biologist Project Leader: Kevin Frey, Eastern Fishery District Biologist (EFD) Assistant Project Leader: Vacant, Assistant EFD Biologist Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Fisheries Division TABLE OF CONTENTS Project A - District Fisheries Management, Lake and Tailwater Sampling WFD .............................................................................................................................................. 1 NWFD ......................................................................................................................................... 43 SWFD ......................................................................................................................................... 82 CFD ........................................................................................................................................... 125 NEFD ........................................................................................................................................ 262 SEFD ......................................................................................................................................... 334 EFD ........................................................................................................................................... 406 Habitat Summary ...................................................................................................................... 479 Project B – Private and Public Pond/Lake Technical Guidance WFD .......................................................................................................................................... 482 NWFD ....................................................................................................................................... 484 SWFD ....................................................................................................................................... 486 CFD ........................................................................................................................................... 487 NEFD ........................................................................................................................................ 490 SEFD ......................................................................................................................................... 492 EFD ........................................................................................................................................... 493 Project C – Fish Propagation and Transportation Fish Production for all Hatcheries ............................................................................................ 494 i STATE: Kentucky GRANT NO.: F-50-37 FBMS NO.: F14AF00278 GRANT TITLE: District Fisheries Management PERIOD COVERED: April 1, 2014 – March 31, 2015 PROJECT: Project A – Lake and Tailwater Sampling Project Objective: To annually manage and conserve and sport fisheries and habitats throughout 221,680 acres of freshwater lakes, tailwaters, and small impoundments within the Commonwealth of Kentucky in order to provide recreational fishing opportunities to the public. A. ACTIVITY Sport fish species were sampled throughout Kentucky using electrofishing, gill netting, trap netting, and other gear to gather biological data in order to best manage the sport fish resources of the Commonwealth. In total, over 65 lakes/reservoirs (encompassing approximately 217,498 acres), in addition to eight major tailwaters were sampled and managed. Otoliths were removed to calculate age/growth from various sport fish species of interest. Other measures were monitored including catch rates, mortality, recruitment, length/weight, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and other physical limnological data. Creel surveys were conducted on four fisheries of interest and included: (1) Cave Run Lake; (2) Green River Lake; (3) Kentucky Lake and (4) Buckhorn Lake and focused heavily on musky anglers in association with a musky research project. Data from creel surveys was used to compare with standardized sampling data and obtain measurements concerning the public’s catch rates, harvest rates, species of interest, and size of catch. Field staff also attended public meetings, as well as organized fishing group meetings to display catch and abundance data. Results of data obtained during the grant period were analyzed and summarized into the Fisheries Division 2014 Annual Reports. This information is available to the public at their request. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ fisheries biologists and technicians utilized a variety of methods to manage public water bodies including fertilizing 7 lakes, enhancing 2 lakes with aquatic plants and adding a variety of fish habitat attracting structures throughout the state. These structures include: 273 new stake beds 193 stake beds maintained/improved 110 new shallow water brush piles 122 shallow water brush piles maintained 1493 deep water brush piles 246 deep water brush piles maintained 1 rock pile formation B. TARGET DATES FOR ACHIEVEMENT AND ACCOMPLISHMENT Planned work achievement date: March 31, 2015 Work accomplished: March 31, 2015 C. SIGNIFICANT DEVIATIONS None. ii D. REMARKS None. E. RECOMMENDATIONS Close this segment of F-50 and continue project into new segment (#38) of F-50. F. COST $1,179,003.17 iii PROJECT: Project B – Private and Public Pond/Lake Technical Guidance Project Objective: To provide technical guidance and planning assistance to individuals, groups, corporations, and government agencies for the development and improvement of sport fish populations and their habitats on lands they own or control. A. ACTIVITY Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ biologists and technicians provided 128 on-site technical guidance visits during the grant period. On-site technical guidance problems were varied, but mostly focused around poor sport fish populations, aquatic vegetation, nuisance species (i.e. turtles), fish kills, and sport fish stocking questions. Department staff provided verbal and written recommendations to pond owners such as stocking recommendations, ideal species, aquatic vegetation identification and treatment, liming, pH monitoring, fish kill prevention, aeration, and special fish management permits that allow pond owners the ability to harvest fish outside of statewide fisheries regulations. Additionally, staff also conducted on-site visits to landowners developing new ponds. An additional 839 technical guidance requests were handled by staff over the phone, through email, letters, and from walk-ins at department regional offices/fish hatcheries. As demand for technical guidance increases, the Department has begun providing more information for private pond owners on the website including adding 60+ webpages that guide landowners through common pond problems. Program income was generated as a result of application fees for pond owners enrolling in the farm pond stocking program. The stocking program provides largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish fingerlings to new or recently renovated ponds. The fee structure for this program is $75 (0-1.4 acre ponds); $200 (1.5-3.0 acre ponds); or $200 plus $150 per additional acre (for ponds exceeding 3.0 acres in size). As approved in the grant, this program income is added onto the grant via the “Additive Method” - 2 CFR 200 307(2). B. TARGET DATES FOR ACHIEVEMENT AND ACCOMPLISHMENT Planned work achievement date: March 31, 2015 Work accomplished: March 31, 2015 C. SIGNIFICANT DEVIATIONS None. D. REMARKS None. E. RECOMMENDATIONS Close this segment of F-50 and continue project into new segment (#38) of F-50. F. COST $47,189.13 iv PROJECT: Project C – Fish Propagation and Transportation Project Objective: To produce, rear, and stock various sport fish throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky in order to establish, improve, or maintain recreational fishing opportunities in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. A. ACTIVITY A total of 15 different sport fish species were produced and reared at both of the Pfeiffer and Minor Clark Fish Hatcheries during the grant period. An additional three sport fish species (rainbow, brown, and brook trout) were also raised at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery and stocked by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. In total, 5,099,273 fingerling or larger sport fish (17,830,839 fish if you include all fry stockings) were produced and most were stocked throughout