ARIZONA 

 Game and Fish Commission 



1. Winter Kill Prevention. 



The object of this project is to prevent winter kill in Big Lake until the 

 reservoir has filled to its new capacity. A 210 compressor has been installed 

 at the lake, along with 2, 700 feet of perforated plastic pipe anchored across 

 the lake bottom. Perforations are l/32 holes spaced 15 feet apart. It is expected 

 that the rising air bubbles will create an up-current which will circulate the 

 warmer bottom water (40° F. ) against the ice, thus clearing a strip of open 

 water completely across the lake at midpoint. 



Big Lake, Apache County; began December 1, 1953, to close March 1, 1954; 

 $700. 



Address inquiries to: Game and Fish Commission, 105 Arizona State 

 Building, Phoenix, Ariz. 



2. Big Lake Development. (FA: FW-4-D) 



Big Lake, one of the better trout waters of Arizona, has been subject to 

 severe winter kill every third year since original impoundnnent in 1936. The 

 lake has an area of 465 surface acres, an average depth of 8 feet. In the past 

 the entire lake bottom has been completely covered with vegetation during the 

 late summer months. To correct this condition the dam was raised 10 feet. 

 The lake now covers 545 surface acres and has an average depth of 16 feet. 

 The weed beds will be reduced by very nearly 80 percent. 



Big Lake, Apache County; began July 1953, to close October 1953; $35,000; 

 Robert Smith, Leader; reports available. 



Address inquiries to: Game and Fish Commission, as in No. 1 above. 



3. Fisheries Investigation of Region I (Colorado River Area). (FA: F-2-R) 



This project has numerous and diversified objectives, the most important 

 being: (1) to determine the differences in mortality rate of trout planted from 

 hatcheries having hard or soft water, when planted into the highly saline water 

 of the Colorado River; (2) to determine the changes in the population balance 

 of the fish of Lake Mohave as affected by the filling of the new reservoir. This 

 problem is somewhat complex since there is an over-lapping rainbow trout and 

 largemouth bass fishery. 



Lake Mohave; began January 15, 1953, to close January 15, 1956; $17,000; 

 R. A. Wagner, Leader; reports available. 



Address inquiries to: Game and Fish Commission, as in No. 1 above. 



4. Rough Fish Trapping. 



This project was initiated to reduce the carp population in Roosevelt Lake. 

 Twenty traps are being used by one fisherman. Cottonseed cake is being 

 utilized for bait. 



Roosevelt Lake; began July 15, 1953, indefinite; $6,000; William Hulett, 

 Leader. 



Address inquiries to: Game and Fish Commission, as in No. 1 above. 



5. Statewide Rough Fish Control. (FA: F-l-R in part) 



This project was initiated to reduce or eliminate rough fish from various 

 waters of the State by use of fish toxins. A carp population control measure was 

 carried out on San Carlos Reservoir to determine effectiveness of toxaphene as 

 a "spot" poison. 



Statewide; continuing; $5,000; reports available. 



Address inquiries to: Game and Fish Commission, as in No. 1 above. 



