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Texas Golden Algae update, 2/26/04

Texas HAB Work Group members,

Liz Singhurst, Golden Alga Staff Coordinator with TPWD, provided the following update: The current status of golden alga blooms in Texas is reported on the Texas Harmful Algal Bloom website at <http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/hab/habwork/ppstatus.phtml>. Below is a summary by River Basin of recent reports.

Liz Harris Singhurst
Golden Alga Staff Coordinator
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
3000 IH-35 S, Suite 320
Austin, Texas 78704
Email liz.singhurst@tpwd.state.tx.us
Phone: 512-912-7050
*** For Information on Golden Alga in Texas, please see our website:
<http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/hab/ga> ***

BRAZOS RIVER BASIN:
February 20, 2004 - Lake Granbury and Lake Whitney Cell Counts, Brazos River

TPWD regional biologist Joan Glass reported that water samples from Lake Granbury and Lake Whitney had some areas showing bloom conditions (40% or more P. parvum; cell counts over 10,000 cells/ml).

The Lake Granbury counts are:
Site Expanded Count Total Count on Slide Notes:

The Lake Whitney counts are:

Site Expanded Count Total Count on Slide Notes:

TPWD regional biologist Joan Glass observed a few dead fish near Lakeside Village in Lake Whitney. She identified high concentrations of P. parvum in this area and in Plowman Creek. Although small localized areas contain bloom concentrations of the alga, no large fish kill has been reported in this waterbody.

January 24-30, 2004 - Lake Whitney, Brazos River
TPWD regional biologist Joan Glass found golden alga bloom concentrations in the Lakeside Village area of Lake Whitney. A few dead fishes were observed. No measureable concentration of P. parvum was found at Cedron Creek or at Soldier's Bluff.

January 13, 2004 - Possum Kingdom Lake and Lake Granbury Cell Counts, Brazos River
TPWD biologist Joan Glass reported that water samples from Possum Kingdom Lake and Lake Granbury had some areas showing bloom conditions (40% or more P. parvum; cell counts over 10,000 cells/ml). No reportable quantities of dead fishes have been observed in either reservoir.

The Possum Kingdom Lake counts are:
Site Expanded Count Notes:

The Lake Granbury counts are:
Site Expanded Count Notes:

COLORADO RIVER BASIN:
February 25, 2004 - O.H. Ivie Reservoir Cell Counts, Colorado and Concho Rivers
TPWD fisheries biologist Greg Southard reported information about water samples collected at three sites from OH Ivie Reservoir on February 24. Laboratory experiments on the samples were negative for golden alga toxicity. (The cause of one test organism's mortality could not be determined.)

The O.H. Ivie Reservoir counts are:
Site Counts Toxicity Notes:

February 20, 2004 - E.V. Spence Reservoir, Colorado City Lake, and Moss Creek Cell Counts, Colorado River
TPWD biologist Greg Southard reported information about water samples collected in the upper Colorado River area. Laboratory experiments on the samples from the E.V. Spence Reservoir and from the Colorado City Lake were both positive for golden alga toxicity. Dead fish were observed during sampling at both reservoirs.

The E.V. Spence counts are:
Site Counts Toxicity Notes:

The Colorado City Lake counts are:
Site Counts Toxicity Notes:

The Moss Creek counts are:
Site Counts Toxicity Notes:

January 31-February 6, 2004 - Colorado City Lake, Colorado River
TPWD Regional biologist Kip Portis received a phone call from Colorado River Municipal Water District (CRMWD) staff concerning a large number of small lethargic fish in Colorado City Lake. The water was a tea color, and foaming was present. CRMWD also noticed some dead bait fishes in the coves on E.V. Spence Reservoir.

RED RIVER BASIN:
February 7-14, 2004 - Plum Lake, Wichita River:
TPWD regional fisheries biologists investigated a fish kill in Plum Lake, a 5 acre, off-channel lake in Wichita Falls. Almost 100 hundred dead fish were found, including rainbow trout, gizzard shad, smallmouth buffalo, freshwater drum, river carpsucker, and bluegill. Additional fishes were observed either struggling or dead on the bottom. The water in the usually muddy Plum Lake was clear with a yellowish-copper color. Staff at Dundee Fish Hatchery in Electra documented P. parvum in concentrations up to 56,000 cells/milliliter in water samples from the area.

February 06, 2004 - Lake Texoma, Red River:
Please see an expanded description of the Oklahoma Lake Texoma Fish Kill and Lake Texoma Sampling at

January 28, 2004 - Lebanon Pool, Upper Lake Texoma, Red River:
A minor, isolated fish kill due to golden alga has occurred in Lebanon Pool off the Red River in upper Lake Texoma. Paul Mauck, fisheries biologist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, responded to the fish kill and investigated it initially. TPWD regional fisheries biologist Bruce Hysmith and two TPWD Game Wardens, Jim Ballard and Randolph McGee, investigated the fish kill on January 24. Dead garfish and gizzard shad were sent with water samples to Joan Glass, TPWD Kills and Spills biologist in Waco. The Lebanon Pool sample had very high golden alga concentrations (58,000 cells/milliliter), but the water sample from the Red River showed no golden alga. The TPWD news release about this event is at .

January 24-30, 2004 - Clay County, Wichita River:
A rancher in Clay County filled one of his ponds with water from the Wichita River, and all of the fish in the 7 acre impoundment died. Staff at Dundee Fish Hatchery in Electra confirmed that bloom concentrations of the alga were in water sampled from the ranchers pond. Staff also confirmed that elevated levels of P. parvum are currently in the Wichita River.

RIO GRANDE RIVER BASIN:
February 05, 2004 - Red Bluff Reservoir, Pecos River
Results from water samples collected in Red Bluff Reservoir on the Pecos River on February 04, 2004, indicate that toxic golden alga was present. Dead and dying carp were observed in the upper end of the reservoir around the Texas/New Mexico state line. Golden alga cell concentrations were high (36,000 cells/milliliter), and most of the phytoplankton were P. parvum. Laboratory experiments were positive for golden alga toxicity.

Cindy Contreras
Resource Protection Division
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744
(512) 912-7095
(512) 707-1358 fax
cindy.contreras@tpwd.state.tx.us