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Title:	Investigations of water quality and fisheries of the Black River Lake-Cocodrie Lake Area, Louisiana
Authors:	Sanders, Larry G. Coleman, Richard E. Gunkel, Robert C.
Keywords:	Water quality--Louisiana--Black River Lake Fisheries--Louisiana--Black River Lake Water quality--Louisiana--Cocodrie Lake Fisheries--Louisiana--Cocodrie Lake Black River Lake (La.) Cocodrie Lake (La.)
Publisher:	Environmental Laboratory (U.S.)
Series/Report no.:	Miscellaneous Paper;EL-86-9
Abstract:	Abstract: This study was conducted from April 1984 to February 1985 for the purpose of documenting water quality, fish population characteristics, and concentrations of metals and selected hydrocarbons in the Black River Lake-Cocodrie Lake area of Concordia Parish, La. Black River Lake and Cocodrie Lake are old oxbows of Black River that were isolated from the river when the Smithland Cutoff was completed in 1953. Fish communities throughout the study area were dominated in numbers by gizzard and threadfin shad, with buffaloes and carp dominating fish biomass. Sport fishes were present in each of the habitats, with white crappie accounting for the largest numbers and weight. The standing crop of fishes in Black River Lake was dominated by white crappie, buffaloes, and carp, and compared favorably with the previous estimates. In contrast, the standing crop of fishes in Cocodrie Lake was lower than other habitats and was dominated by gizzard and threadfin shad. Recruitment of gizzard shad, threadfin shad, bluegill, white crappie, and channel catfish is occurring throughout the study area, although to a lesser degree in Cocodrie Lake. The relative condition of largemouth bass and white crappie is good, in comparison to the relative condition of these same species in similar habitats. Black River Lake is much deeper than Cocodrie Lake and experienced thermal and chemical stratification during the summer months. Cocodrie Lake remained mixed and well oxygenated during the study period, Numerous culverts and ditches were observed to transport extensive turbid inflows during high-flow periods. In general, water quality conditions in Black River Lake were similar to those observed in Black River. Concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons and trace metals/nonmetals were minimal in both bottom sediments and fish tissue samples. The mean mercury concentration was above US Food and Drug Administration action standards in smallmouth buffalo tissue samples in Black River Lake.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/11681/21681
Appears in Collections:	Miscellaneous Paper