Under Construction

Conservation

"Lets make our lakes better"

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CenTex Bass Hunters

Belton, TX

Est.1979

September 23, 2006

CenTex Basshunters (Belton, TX) and neighboring clubs - HOT Bass Anglers (Killeen, TX), HOT Bass Assassins (Waco, TX), and Temple Bass Chasers - have joined efforts to launch a project for conservation. Our project is to start a native vegetation plantings application in Lakes Belton and Stillhouse Hollow. We have sought the assistance of Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD), and the University Of North Texas .

Our goals are to improve the fish and wildlife habitat at the same time improving water clarity and quality. With strategic planting sites, the project will also help to reduce rates of shoreline erosion as well as prevent the spread of nuisance exotic plants. This will be done by planting up to eight different native aquatic plants. They will be housed in protective cages. We are dedicated to monitoring and maintaining this project for as long as necessary. The cages will be checked periodically and vigilant documentation will be kept based on the plant’s adaptability and rate of growth. Adjustments will be made as necessary to the plants and cages.

On behalf of the clubs and groups involved, we are seeking local support in the form of money, materials, and volunteer help. We are applying to B.A.S.S for additional grant funds to help support this project. We ask for your assistance and support in any shape or form. We will be equally happy if you are to stand behind our efforts.

We thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

CenTex Basshunters

For contact info email or write below.

Centex Bass Hunters

P.O. Box 5112

Temple, TX 76502

President: Scott Bigham bighamscott@yahoo.com Vice President: Don Schuetze donshuetze@sbcglobal.net

Secretary: Larry Davis Larry.j.Davis1@us.army.mil Conservationist: James Mcdonald james.l.mcdonald@us.army.mil

Test Founder Colony Establishment

General guidelines for Lakes Stillhouse Hollow and Belton

CenTex Basshunters

Under the direction of

Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility

This document outlines the general setup for founder colony test sites in lakes Stillhouse Hollow and Belton, Texas. CenTex Basshunters will provide materials and manpower for site construction; LAERF will supply technical expertise and native aquatic plants. All activities will be approved by Texas Parks and Wildlife prior to project initiation.

Sites will be selected with the assistance of LAERF personnel as soon as scheduling allows. In general, sites will be at the backs of coves, away from human development/activity, and consist of short fetch and soft substrates. We recommend the club start with two or three sites in each lake, with teams responsible for individual site construction and maintenance.

Eight plant species will be tested for establishment potential in each lake (Table 1 & Figure 1), at each site. Submersed species will include wild celery (Vallisneria americana), Illinois pondweed (Potamogeton illinoensis), American pondweed (Potamogeton nodosus), water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia), white water lily (Nymphaea odorata), bulltongue (Sagittaria graminea), water willow (Justicia americana), and spikerush (Eleocharis sp.).

Table 1. Eight aquatic plant species have been selected for founder colony establishment in Stillhouse Hollow and Belton lakes.
Common name	Scientific name	Growth form	Planting depth
Wild celery	Vallisneria americana	Submersed	3-5 ft
American pondweed	Potamogeton nodosus	Submersed	2-3 ft
Illinois pondweed	P. illinoensis	Submersed	3-5 ft
Water stargrass	Heteranthera dubia	Submersed	2-3 ft
White water lily	Nymphaea odorata	Floating-leaved (submersed)	1-2 ft
Spikerush	Eleocharis sp.	Emergent	Shore to 1 ft
Bulltongue	Sagittaria graminea	Emergent	1-2 ft
Water willow	Justicia americana	Emergent	Shore to 1 ft


Wild celery	American pondweed	Illinois pondweed	Water stargrass

White water lily	Spikerush	Bulltongue	Water willow
Figure 1. Eight aquatic plant species have been selected for initial founder colony establishment in Stillhouse Hollow and Belton lakes. Additional species will be included if deemed necessary.

Plants will likely require protection for initial establishment: two plants of each species will be installed without protection, with 2-in x 4-in mesh protection, and with 1.5-in x1.5-in mesh protection (Figures 2 & 3). Each species will be installed at depths considered most appropriate for their establishment in moderately fluctuating reservoirs. Modifications to this planting scheme will be made as needed following plantings (e.g., species not surviving even with protection will be replaced with other species)

Each test site will consist of 40 cages:

20 cages will be constructed from 2-in x 4-in mesh, PVC-coated welded-wire to form 3-ft high x 2-ft diameter rings; of these, 8 will be covered with 2-in x 4-in mesh, PVC-coated welded-wire (2-ft x 2-ft squares). Each cage will require approximately 7 feet of wire, with each top requiring 2 feet of wire, totaling 156 feet. Two 100-ft rolls of 3-ft wide PVC-coated welded wire should provide enough materials; overage can be stored for use in future expansion of the site. Estimated cost per roll is $120.00

20 cages will be constructed from 1.5-in x 1.5-in mesh, PVC-coated welded-wire to form 2-ft high x 2-ft diameter rings; of these, 12 will be covered with 1.5-in x 1.5-in mesh, PVC-coated welded-wire (2-ft x 2-ft squares). Each cage will require approximately 7 feet of wire, with each top requiring 2 feet of wire, totaling 164 feet. Two 150-ft rolls of 2-ft wide PVC-coated welded wire should provide enough materials; overage can be stored for use in future expansion of the site (or split between sites---e.g. 2 rolls of this material will be sufficient for two sites with some extra left over). Estimated cost per roll is $100.00

Cage construction details are provided in Figure 4. In addition to PVC-coated welded-wire, tools required to construct and install cages include c-rings, ringers, and wire cutters. Hammers/malls should be used to install rebar anchors, which may be additionally affixed to cages using cable ties. Sources for PVC-coated welded-wire and cage building tools are given at the end of this document.

Figure 2. General layout for founder colony test sites.


American pondweed	Water stargrass

White water lily	Bulltongue
Figure 3. Examples of four suggested aquatic plant species in exclosures serving as functional founder colonies.

Figure 4. Ring cage construction and anchoring. Tops, when required, are constructed from the same mesh material as the cage and attached with c-rings.

Materials sources

PVC-coated welded-wire: two 100-ft rolls of 36-in wide, 14 ga., 2-in x 4-in mesh PVC-coated welded-wire; two 150-ft rolls 24-in wide, 1.5-in x 1.5-in mesh PVC-coated welded-wire (crab wire)---est. cost 440.00---there will be extra to apply to other sites or expansion.

C. E. Shepherd Company

2221 Canada Dry Street

Houston, Texas 77023 USA
(713) 924-4300

http://www.ceshepherd.com/

C-rings, ringers, etc: c-rings needed ROBO ½” galvanized blunt (25 lbs minimum); purchase 6 + c-ringers to match---est. cost $125.00 (this will supply rings & ringers for all sites)

Klubertanz Equipment Co., Inc.
1165 Hwy 73
Edgerton, Wisconsin, USA 53534
(800) 237-3899

http://www.klubertanz.com/

Questions should be directed to:

Lynde Williams

lyndewilliams@laerf.org

972-436-2215 ext

Gary Owen Dick

garydick@laerf.org

972-436-2215 ext 25