7158

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7158
• Author: Hickman, T. J.
• Title: Effects of Habitat Alteration by Energy Resource Developments in the Upper Colorado River Basin on Endangered Fishes.
• USFW Year: 1983.
• USFW - Doc Type: 537-550
• Copyright Material: YES

T

.. ... t
16. Bishop, A. B., and D. B. Porcella. 1980. Physical and
ecological aspects of the Upper Colorado River Basin.
17-56 pp. In: Spofford, W. D., A. L. Parker and V. A.
Kneese (eds-:1. Energy development in the southwest.
Vol. 1. Resources for the Future RES paper R-18. .
Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press. 523 p.

EI-Ashry, M. T. 1980. Physical and ecological aspects
of the Upper Colorado River basin: A discussion. 68-78
pp. In: Spofford, W. D., A. L. Parker and A. V. Kneese
(eds.T:"" Energy development in the southwest. Vol. 1.
Resources for the Future RES paper R-18. Baltimore MD'
Johns Hopkins Univ. Press. 523 p. ' .

17.

18.

U . S. D e par t me n t 0 f the I n t e r i 0 r , Wa t e r for Ene r g y
Management. Team. .1974. Water for energy in the Upper
Colorado Rlver Basln. WaShington, D.C.

19.

Wheelwright, J. 1977. The furbish lousewart is no
joke. new Repub. 176(20):9-12.

20.

S po f for d, W.o. 1 9 8 0 . Pot en t i al imp act s 0 fen erg y
dev:lopment on stream flows in the Upper Colorado River
Basln. 351-429 pp. ~: Spofford, W. D., A. L. Parker
and A. V. Kneese (eds.). Energy development in the
southwest. .Vol. 1. Resources for the Future RES paper
R-18. Baltlmore, MD: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press. 523
p.

550

CHAPTER 32

THE EFFECTS OF LIMITED FOOD AVAILABILITY
ON THE STRIPED BASS FISHERY IN LAKE MEAD

J.R. Baker
L.J. Paulson
Lake Mead Limnological Research Center
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

INTRODUCTION

The original range of striped bass (Morone saxatilis)
was along the Atlantic Coast. They were introduced into the
lower Sacramento River in 1879 and are now also found along
the Pacific Coast [1 J. A landlocked striped bass fishery was
established in Santee-Cooper Reservoir, South Carolina, in
1954, and they have since been introduced into numerous
other reservoirs, including Lake Havasu, Lake Mead and Lake
Powell on the Colorado River.
Striped bass were introduced into Lake Mead in 1969 in
response to declines in the largemouth bass (Micropterus
salmoides) fishery that occurred during the 1960s and in
order to further utilize the forage base of thread fin shad
(Dorosoma petenense). Natural reproduction of striped bass
was documented in 1973 [2J, and a highly successful fishery
developed during the late 1970s. Striped bass comprised
40.1% of the total angler catch in 1979 [3J.
The development of the striped bass fishery in Lake
Mead was not without cost. A stocking program of rainbow
trout (Salmo gairdneri) and other salmonid species was
started in 1969. This was also initiated to utilize the
surplus thread fin shad production. The trout fishery was
considered good from 1970 to 1975, when they comprised 13 to
19% of the total angler catch. This declined to 1% in 1976,
despite increased stocking [2J. Food habit studies conducted
during this period revealed that rainbow trout occurred in
23% of the striped bass stomachs. The decline in the trout
fishery was attributed primarily to predation by striped
bass [2J. The occurrence of other gamefish species in strip-
ed bass stomachs was low, but thread fin shad comprised 50%
of their diet [2J. Striped bass are noted for their vora-
cious appetites and their ability to exploit shad in limnet-
ic areas of reservoirs. This resulted in over exploitation
of shad in Santee-Cooper Reservoir, South Carolina [4J.

551