fish habitat restoration lakes – Aquarius-Systems

Restoring Native Aquatic Vegetation in Lake Conroe

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 20:18:27 +0000

Lake Conroe has a volatile history of aquatic vegetation management. Hydrilla infested the reservoir soon after the reservoir filled, resulting in coverage of approximately 10,000 acres by the early 1980’s. To control hydrilla, large numbers diploid grass carp were stocked. Grass carp not only controlled hydrilla, but also eliminated most other aquatic vegetation in the lake and continued to inhibit plant growth into the late 1990’s.

Identified as poor habitat for fish and other aquatic wildlife following loss of aquatic vegetation, efforts to re-establish native vegetation in Lake Conroe were initiated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the US Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center’s Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility (LAERF), and local stakeholders.

Efforts Underway to Restore Aquatic Vegetation in DeGray Lake

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 20:32:52 +0000

DeGray Lake was once known for thick beds of aquatic vegetation, which included non-native species such as hydrilla and Brazilian elodea that grew to as deep as 20 feet in some places and caused issues with boating and other recreation.

In 2008 and 2009, extremely low water throughout winter exposed the root systems of this vegetation, killing much of it. Spring rain in each of those years then flooded the system quickly, placing what vegetation remained under many feet of muddy water with very little sunlight penetration, snuffing it out.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission staff have put hundreds of hours into trying to get aquatic grasses back into DeGray to improve available habitat for bass, crappie and other sport fish. Their latest attempt includes some innovative floating enclosures to give plants a jump-start.