Black Bass Advisory Subcommittee
January 21, 2020
1
BBAS Agenda
2
Cooperative Bass Management
3
BBAS Agenda
4
BBAS Agenda
5
Fisheries Resources of
Conowingo Reservoir
Brett Coakley
Freshwater Fisheries Program
Eastern Regional Manager6
Fisheries Resources of
Conowingo Reservoir
Susquehanna River Facts and
History
• Susquehanna watershed over
27,000 sq mi, PA, NY, MD
• Many dams on Susquehanna,
some functioning, some not
• Watershed is mixture of
agriculture, forest and urban
• Water sources for many
municipalities
Courtesy SRC7
Conowingo Reservoir Facts and
History
• Conowingo Dam built 1926-1928 for
hydroelectric power, largest in US, 11
turbines
• Impounds over 9000 acres (MD/PA)
• Provides water for Peach Bottom
Nuclear Plant (recent increase)
• Muddy Run Pump Storage Facility
• Current ownership Exelon Corp
Fisheries Resources of
Conowingo Reservoir
8
Conowingo Reservoir Facts and
History
• Max depth 60’ (current)
• Low residence time, fluctuates
depending on generation
• Typically does not stratify, eutrophic
• Cool and warm water fisheries
• Ladder/lift installs in 1984 and 1991
• Diversity of habitat, steep banks in
lower section
Fisheries Resources of
Conowingo Reservoir
Courtesy USGS9
Fisheries Resources of
Conowingo Reservoir
Past and Present Conowingo Reservoir Management Activities
• Boat electrofishing 400m, 600s
samples within established sites
• Traditional fall nighttime sampling
(bi-annually)
• Late spring/early summer (June)
daytime sampling (annually)
• Both completed in MD portion of
Conowingo only – focus on black
bass
• Targeted hoop net survey for
flathead catfish, additional surveys
for panfish and other fish species 10
Fisheries Resources of
Conowingo Reservoir
Conowingo Reservoir Survey Results
Shift in bass species dominance from
LMB to SMB over time
Bass reproduction and recruitment can
be variable, especially for LMB
Most current survey (June 2019) 10%
of SMB had external anomalies
11
Fisheries Resources of
Conowingo Reservoir
Fall surveys higher but more variable catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE), both
between years and between individual sites, questionably high 2016
CPUE
Summer surveys consistently produce lower CPUE, but have greater
precision with fewer sites
Conowingo Reservoir Survey Results
Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass
2016 2017 2019 2016 2017 2019
Number of sites 10 10 13 10 10 13
Number of bass collected8 44
4898 112
109
CPUE60 Stock ± CI (95%) 4
(2-6)
24
(16-32)
19
(8-30)
39
(27-51)
53
(37-69)
35
(25-45)
CPUE60 Quality ± CI (95%) 3
(1-5)
21
(13-29)
16
(5-27)
19
(13-25)
38
(23-53)
26
(17-35)
Proportional Size Distribution
(PSD) SD ± 95% CI
NA 88
(76-100)
81
(67-95)
48
(37-59)
71
(61-81)
75
(65-85)
12
Fisheries Resources of
Conowingo Reservoir
Interest from anglers to remove spring closure
for tournaments?
• Both MD and PA data show recent
decreases in bass abundance and
increase in PSD
• Both agencies believe that consistent bass
reproduction and recruitment is the key to
maintaining a quality fishery
• Allowing spring possession tournaments
could result in higher adult mortality and
impact spawning success
Current and Future Management Topics
13
Fisheries Resources of
Conowingo Reservoir
Current and Future Management Concerns
Increased Cooperative Work with PA
• Initiate cooperative sampling
efforts to assess black bass
populations and impacts of
disease and intersex on bass
populations
• Invasive species – flathead
catfish, blue catfish, snakehead?
• Working toward a renewal of the
license reciprocation agreement
for Conowingo and Youghiogheny
Reservoirs14
Fisheries Resources of
Conowingo Reservoir
Current and Future Management Concerns
2020 Pilot Dredging Project
• Small-scale experimental dredge project
• Only 1,000 cu/yds of material from a 0.58
acre area
• Mechanical removal onto barge
surrounded by turbidity curtain
• Offloaded and dewatered at site in PA
• Experiment with material to determine
how it can be utilized beneficially
15
Fisheries Resources of
Conowingo Reservoir
Questions?
16
BBAS Agenda
17
Small Tournament Permitting
Request a Permit
18
Lagniappe
19