FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2, 2011
Low Lake Level Allows Habitat Improvements at Lake Fork

ATHENS—Members of the Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association (LFSA) partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Inland Fisheries Division staff in making fish habitat improvements at Lake Fork on November 30.



Taking advantage of drought-induced low water levels that have exposed shorelines, teams planted 400 buttonbush plants at various sites. Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), a native woody shrub commonly called “buckbrush,” was chosen in an attempt to establish woody cover for fishes. When inundated by water, it helps provide great bass fishing.



Lake Fork has had a long history of relatively stable water levels. This has been advantageous in that it has mostly translated into stable aquatic habitat and fish production. However, during the recent drought the disadvantage of this stability became evident. The lake elevation has dropped to an all-time record low, exposing shorelines and reducing cover which provides young fish shelter from predation and ambush cover for feeding adult sportfish. Lake Fork will likely be subject to more water level fluctuations in the future as the City of Dallas increases pumping operations on the lake, especially if the current drought persists.



In lakes where there are prolonged draw-downs, communities of assorted plants will colonize exposed sediment. These include emergent aquatic plants such as smartweed, sedges and rushes, along with a variety of terrestrial plants including shrubs and trees. Woody plants such as willows will grow rapidly along the shoreline, and when substantial amounts of rainfall return to the watershed and the lake elevation rises enough, the plants can become partially or totally inundated. The “cover” that these plants provide creates shelter for fish and acts as a substrate for the establishment of many organisms in the aquatic food chain. Some of the woodier plants are persistent and will survive for many years and provide benefits to the ecosystem.



The first step in this habitat enhancement plan materialized in March 2011, when the LFSA purchased 1,000 bare-root buttonbush plants from a local tree nursery and planted them at selected locations throughout the reservoir. Survival of these small plants, most less than two feet in length, was low. At some of the planting sites they were trampled by feral hogs.



The second stage in LFSA’s habitat project began to take shape this past summer. The opportunity to purchase larger plants presented itself when a fish farmer in Columbus, Texas, approached TPWD looking for potential customers for 400 two-year old buttonbush plants. These larger plants should experience better survival. The LFSA agreed to underwrite the majority ($1,900) of the purchase price, and TPWD contributed $650. Bushes were planted at different elevations to hedge against future water-level changes.

A big chunk of gratitude goes out to everyone involved in this program.. Thank you LFSA

I would be a lot more concerned that those plants seeded, will NEVER see that water level again as long as the Metromess now has its hooks in the water supply --

Lol....almost any cover is good but did anyone else laugh when they read " in an attempt to establish woody cover." I don't know exactly what buttonbrush is but there has to be a better way to describe it than "woody cover". I think Fork is doing fine in that aspect.

Thanks Billy! Any intel on exactly where these were planted?

I like this part

Good for sand bass ?

guess ill be eyeballing the shorelines now

stumps are different than bush. :giggle: Stumps dont give a lot of cover to fry, etc. Bushes fan out and provide lots of hiding places for the fry to hide from the predators.

heres the news video link

http://www.kltv.com/story/16159234/improved-fishing-spot-at-etx-lake

Thanks F&H.. Nice job finding that.

I for one, having mud front property on fork at the moment have made some enhancements to the immediate surroundings of my dock and boat house.. Knowing exactly how much water I have under and around my dock is comforting to know but very frustrating when it's dry as a bone.
We had some great times dunking minners and drinking beer on the dock in the evenings, I miss that.

I think all homeowners that modify their shoreline and dock structure should PM ME info, just in case I have some recommendations..

dont look for many bushes,thanks to the beavers, hogs & deer most have been eaten

You can always take advantage of your present conditions with a positive attitude . We are always making new structure and fishing enhancements around our dock.