Fisheries and wildlife management plan for the Catawba River basin

              8
9. Lake James Reservoir
Lake James will continue to be managed for warm- and coolwater fish species. Target species for this reservoir include largemouth- and smallmouth bass, walleye, sunfish, crappie, and white bass. These populations are currently maintained through natural reproduction; however, hatchery- reared walleye fingerlings are stocked annually. Our goals are to manage these populations for continued natural reproduction, optimal growth, and quality sizes with the least restrictive regulations possible.
Currently, 30,000 walleye fingerlings are stocked into the reservoir annually. Future walleye stocking rates may be adjusted based on the results of a research project completed in 2003 which was designed to evaluate the contribution of stocked walleye to the adult population. Results from the three- year study indicated that stocked fingerling walleye contributed to the adult population at a very low rate ( Besler 2003b, Besler 2004). Future walleye stockings in Lake James may be altered. The NCWRC will continue to protect walleye spawning areas immediately upstream of Lake James on the Linville River below the NC 126 bridge by closure to angling during the spring spawning period ( 15 February to 15 April) and by reduced creel limits.
The forage base in Lake James has historically been comprised of gizzard shad and threadfin shad. Gizzard shad were native to the Catawba River basin and a population has remained in the reservoir since the initial impoundment. Threadfin shad, native to rivers in the U. S. Gulf Coast, were introduced as forage in 1946. Threadfin shad are intolerant of cold water temperatures and are subject to mortality at temperatures below 410F ( 50C). As a result, threadfin shad have been stocked repeatedly since 1946 to maintain the population. See APPENDIX B- 2 for threadfin shad stocking history in Lake James. The traditional sources for threadfin shad stock have recently become contaminated with blueback herring and alewife, two forage species with several undesirable characteristics. Subsequently, stocking of threadfin shad after winterkill events in Lake James has been suspended pending location of a pure source of threadfin shad. The NCWRC has a goal of finding an uncontaminated source of threadfin shad to restock reservoirs after winterkill events occur.
Fish losses as a result of impingement, entrainment, or turbine mortality are not known. Boating access at Lake James is currently adequate with four public ramps, but will need to be evaluated and increased if needed as future usage increases. Bank fishing opportunities are currently limited to the Lake James State Park. Future bank fishing opportunities are needed as well as enhanced angling opportunities for disabled anglers.
10. Lake James Tailwater and Catawba River Bypass
The Catawba River between the Catawba dam and its confluence with the Linville River is a 3.0 mile ( 4.8 km) bypassed stream reach. The only flow present in the bypass reach is a result of seepage estimated to be less than 1 ft3 (< 0.03 m3/ s). Beaver have dams in this area form isolated pools. Sediment has accumulated in these pools and submerged and emergent aquatic macrophytes are abundant. Little information is known about the aquatic community present in this bypassed stream reach. Our goal is to obtain general survey information on the aquatic community sufficient to make a management determination.
The hydroelectric generation at Lake James provides a unique resource because a deep- water penstock intake ( approximately 94 ft below normal pool elevation) delivers water cold enough year- round to support trout. That resource has been exploited by the NCWRC since the 1940s by stocking trout into the upper 1 mile of the tailwater. Currently, the upper 0.75- mile ( 1.1 km) of the Linville River between the Bridgewater powerhouse and the bypassed Catawba River channel will continue to be stocked with catchable trout and managed as a seasonal put- and- take fishery under Hatchery Supported regulations. The lower 12 miles ( 18 km) will be stocked with fingerling half- wild brown trout and will be managed for a put- grow- and- take trout resource. Current regulations from Muddy Creek to the City of Morganton’s low- head weir are Hatchery Supported, with the exception of no closed season.