9333

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9333
• Author: Wright, B. R. and J. A. Sorensen.
• Title: Feasibility of Developing and Maintaining a Sport Fishery in the Salt River project Canals, Phoenix, Arizona.
• USFW Year: 1995.
• USFW - Doc Type: Phoenix.
• Copyright Material: NO

FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING A SPORT FISHERY IN THE SALT RIVER PROJECT CANALS
this research project were to determine if the SRP
canals can support a harvestable sport fishery, and
to determine if there is public demand for this
fishery.
Initially, we needed to investigate the current
fish communities within the canals to determine
which fish species live in the canals and how
abundant they are. Then, we needed to find out
if the size and number of resident game fish
would satisfy angler demands. Stocking catchable-
sized game fish is expensive, so ideally resource
managers would hope a canal fishery could be self-
sustaining through immigration and natural
reproduction. If fish stocking is necessary, we
wanted to know if fish would survive and grow in
the canals. This question is important in
determining stocking strategies - a put-and-take
fishery versus a put-grow-take fishery. If
conditions in the canal allow fish to survive year-
round, is there potential for managing a self-
sustaining sport fish population?
Resource managers believe that stocked fish
may leave the main canals through irrigation
lateral deliveries, thus lowering the number of
sport fish available for anglers (Sorensen 1990). In
addition, heavy loss of fish to the lateral canals
would not make a regular stocking program cost
effective. If fish do remain in the main canals, do
they continually move throughout the system or
congregate in specific locations?
We were also concerned that stocked fish may
accumulate pollutants in their tissues over time
which may pose a public health risk.
Contaminant analyses are necessary to establish a
canal sport fishery with fish that are safe for
human consumption.
Another important consideration was to
determine whether the canals had environmental
conditions that would limit fish survival. For
example, we suspected that summer water
temperatures and dissolved oxygen concentrations
probably approach lethal levels for cold-water
species, such as trout. Also, we wanted to
ascertain what food items were available in the
canals for fish.
If a canal sport fishery was established, who
would take advantage of this new resource?
Would the canals attract anglers from the general
public? What is the estimated use and potential
revenue from creating new fishing opportunities
in the canals? In addition, managers want to
know what types of game fish anglers would
prefer having stocked.
The last step in planning a canal fishery is
deciding where public fishing could occur along
the canals. Established fishing sites with parking
lots, restrooms, trash receptacles, safety railings,
and good public access would attract anglers.
These areas would be more convenient and safer
for the public, especially children and the
physically challenged, and would ease liability
concerns. Law enforcement and creel survey
personnel would benefit by having less total area
to cover.
The objectives of this study were to:
? Determine the assemblage of fish in the canals
- specifically species diversity, abundance,
condition factors, and length frequencies.
? Estimate game fish abundance in the canals
and determine if they are sufficient to meet
angler demand.
? Investigate which fish species currently
immigrate into the canals.
? Determine if 2 species of stocked game fish
would survive and grow in the canal
environment, as well as estimate how long
stocked fish remain in the canals.
? Document stocked fish movement as well as
possible escape into lateral canals.
? Analyze stocked fish for potential pollutants
that may have accumulated in their tissues
after several months in the canal.
? Investigate water quality parameters which
may limit the potential for a sport fishery in
the canal system.
? Identify what food items are available to fish
in the canals.
? Survey licensed anglers and the general public
to ascertain who would take advantage of a
canal fishery.
• Estimate the potential increase in angler-use
days and revenue from fishing licenses if a
canal sport fishery were developed.
? Identify which fish species anglers want to
catch in the canals.
? Identify and evaluate areas that offer the best
potential for providing public fishing access.
STUDY AREA
The SRP canal system extends through 10
cities and the Salt River Indian Reservation within
the Phoenix metropolitan area. It consists of 217
km of main canals and 1,487 km of smaller, lateral
canals and ditches, which deliver water for
ARIZONA GAME & FisH DEPARTMENT, TECH REP. 18 R R. WRIGHT AND J A. SORENSEN 1995