What an honor
Local fish hatchery division chosen to stock Pearland aquarium with fish
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

When Bass Pro Shops was looking for a few fish to fill their aquarium that will be featured at their new store location in Pearland, the national chain looked no farther than Jasper, Texas.

Jasper's Texas Parks and Wildlife Department fish hatchery division was chosen to fill the order for the store's aquarium.

"Our local office here in Jasper is collecting all the fish for their display in Pearland," said Todd Driscoll, District Fisheries Biologist. "It's an honor that we were chosen."

According to Driscoll, Bass Pro Shops approached Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Inland Fisheries Director Phil Durocher about collecting fish for the store's aquariums.

The department will collected a variety of fish from this region for the store's aquariums with the main species display being the largemouth bass.

The display will feature 15-20 largemouth bass, three pounds or larger, as well as crappie, sunfish, catfish, gar and buffalo fish.

"Most of those fish we will collect with our electric fishing equipment," Driscoll said. "We are going to see what we can get that way and then we may have to resort to putting out gale net or two to collect some fish. We should, though, be able to collect enough of those fish with our electric fishing boat."

As part of the agreement with Bass Pro Shops, the store will allow TP&W to place displays at their locations to pass on the department's conservation message.

"We will also be able to utilize their PA systems for PSAs," Driscoll said.

Another issue that the national chain will allow is for the TP&W to get across their message on the dangerous vegetation issues that has plagued Steinhagen Lake and Toledo Bend this year.

"That is a real big issue in our area here," Driscoll said. "And that is a battle that is not going away any time soon. We will battle it forever."

All summer long, the department has fought the giant salvinia and water hyacinth issues in these two water regions.

Giant salvinia is an invasive floating aquatic fern from Brazil. According to Dr. Earl Chilton, TPWD aquatic habitat enhancement program director, giant salvinia is one of the world's most invasive aquatic weeds.

"It has caused problems in Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Rhodesia, and Sri Lanka to name a few," Chilton said.

Under ideal conditions, giant salvinia populations can double every 5-to-8 days, are resistant to cold weather, and can survive for weeks out of water if kept moist. Once established, the fern forms dense mats that eliminate all other aquatic vegetation in the area, even plankton, which are vital to healthy fish populations.

Juvenile plants, spread by wind and wave action, quickly start new colonies in protected backwaters. Giant salvinia is easily spread overland to new locations by boat trailers, propellers or jet-ski intakes; most new infestations are found near boat ramps.

"That is our biggest issue right now and Bass Pro Shops is willing to provide free ad space in their catalogues to address this issue," Driscoll said.

Several months ago, the problem was found at B.A. Steinhagen at Dam B and the department has been battling it. In fact, the boat ramp on the Tyler County portion of the lake is still closed due to the problem.

"We thought we found it early and thought we had it under control but apparently it is more widespread than what we thought," Driscoll said. "We have now found it in other parts of the lake, outside of the booms that were placed."

Driscoll said the spreading of giant salvinia at Dam B "would be a nightmare in terms of how much coverage that plant could get to."

Since its arrival in Texas waters in 1998, giant salvinia has been documented in Toledo Bend Reservoir, Lake Conroe, Sheldon Lake, and Lake Texana. In 2006 giant salvinia was confirmed on Caddo Lake, Center City Lake and Lake Pinkston in East Texas. Although many infestations are never reported, giant salvinia persists in at least 50 private water bodies in Texas.

An integrated pest management program combining public awareness and education, chemical treatment, physical removal and introduction of bio-control agents like the giant salvinia weevil (Cyrtobagous salviniae) is considered to be the best long-term management approach.

Although aquatic herbicides remain the first line of defense in controlling new infestations, the introduction of salvinia weevils as a bio-control agent has shown great promise on Toledo Bend Reservoir and Lake Conroe. Elder is also stepping up efforts to introduce weevils on the Louisiana side of the lake in cooperation with Louisiana authorities.

Public involvement and awareness are critical in identifying and controlling new infestations and are considered a priority in control efforts. Anglers and boaters can help by learning to identify giant salvinia and reporting any suspicious floating aquatic vegetation, particularly around boat ramps and the backs of nearby creeks.

Boats, trailers, jet-ski intakes, and other equipment should be inspected frequently and cleaned of all aquatic vegetation before leaving launch areas.