Fishes of Rowlett and Spring Creeks

Garland, Texas

Stranded fish from a winter flood at Spring Creek

Ambloplites ruprestris                            Rock Bass

Dorosoma petenense                              Threadfin Shad              

Cyprinus carpio                                      Carp & Japanese Coi

Notemigonus cryoleucas                         Golden Shiner

Notropis lutrensis                                   Red Shiner

Pimephales vigilax                                 Bullhead Minnow   

Zygonectes notatus                                 Blackstripe Topminnow

Fundulus zebrinus                                   Plains Killifish

Campostoma anomalum                         Stoneroller

Ictalurus nactalis                                    Flathead Catfish

Noturus gyrinus                                       Tadpole Madtom

Gambusia affinis                                     Mosquitofish

Micropterus salmoides                            Largemouth Bass

Lepomis cyanellus                                   Green Sunfish

Lepomis megalotis                                  Longear Sunfish

Lepomis marginatus                                Dollar Sunfish

Lepomis macrochirus                              Bluegill

Percina sciera                                         Dusky Darter

Etheostoma chlorosomym                       Bluntnose Darter

Rhinichthys atratulus.                              Blacknose Dace  (Beck's Branch/Rowlett Creek)

Fish in Spring Creek….don’t eat! (August, 2009 update)

The USGS recently released a report stating that all stream fish in the US are contaminated with mercury  (methyl mercury), mostly due to atmospheric pollution from concrete plants (Texas has Plenty of those),  coal-fired power plants, and trash burning.  The highest concentrations of methyl mercury were found in largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, so fishermen beware.  Is anyone going to clean up the mercury? Nope,  not an option.

Texas has fish consumption advisories in place for certain species. A full list of such warnings is available at www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/advisories.

Excerpts from field sampling and reconnaissance of Big Spring Creek environments:

A major feature of the riparian forest is Big Spring Creek.  The creek is fed by numerous springs and seeps from the Austin Chalk bed through which it cuts its course.  Benthic organisms were not observed to be very abundant in the creek, a probable result of flushing and bottom scour by floods.  Benthic primary production was represented mostly by diatoms.  In addition, there was some growth of filamentous algae (Cladophera glomerata and Campsopogon sp.) observed in the creek, but not enough to indicate eutrophic conditions. Macrophytes such as Anacharis (Elodea) and Chara were of very limited distribution in the creek.

Fish species list and field description from:

Albert H. Halff Associates, Inc. October 1992.  Spring Creek Forest Preserve Master Development Plan for the City of Garland, Texas - Parks and Recreation Department and The Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest

Also thanks to Art Fishman for adding and correction some of the listed species.

Update (August, 2009):

04/11/2010