Fish Department

For the first time this century, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has stocked largemouth bass in Saguaro and Apache lakes.

But that's not all - at the end of October, biologists and volunteers stocked smallmouth bass in Apache and Canyon lakes.

Volunteers and biologists are building Pisces pyramids (artificial habitats) along the exposed lake bottom at Canyon Lake while the lake level was lowered for routine maintenance on the dam. In fact, more volunteers are needed.

It's all part of a two-year, $2 million effort by the Game and Fish Department to boost the fisheries at Saguaro, Canyon and Apache lakes that were severely impacted by golden alga blooms the last several years.

But the department is also getting help from anglers and others who are interested in these classic fisheries along the Salt River not far from the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.

In response to the challenges at these popular lakes, a new angler group called the United Arizona Anglers Foundation has even been formed and is assisting the department in its efforts. This group of dedicated volunteers has already raised $10,000 to pay for additional bass to stock in these popular lakes near Phoenix.

But there is no magic management wand Game and Fish biologists can employ to ensure the future of these valuable fisheries. There is no known way, currently, to eradicate golden algae in large bodies of water, such as the Salt River chain of lakes.

"We can expect golden algae to remain a fact of life at these three Salt River reservoirs for the foreseeable future. The challenge is determining the most effective management strategies necessary to maintain the best fishing opportunities possible," said Fisheries Chief Kirk Young.

The department is conducting a four-pronged approach to helping these lakes:
1. Stocking the lakes to give sport-fish populations a boost.
2. Conducting fish population, water quality, and angler creel studies to determine the effectiveness of those stockings.
3. Implementing research to better understand golden alga and to assess whether stocking fish will benefit the fishery.
4. Conducting outreach and education.
Smallmouth bass from Illinois were stocked into Apache and Canyon lakes at the end of October. Largemouth bass were stocked in Saguaro on Nov. 12.

Work on artificial habitats at Canyon Lake occurred in November and December. Last year, biologists and volunteers teamed up to install 67 habitat complexes at Apache Lake.
While a lot of work is being done, biologists also face another challenge - getting a better understanding of the biological dynamics associated with golden alga in Arizona's reservoirs.
Scientists are still trying to understand these small aquatic organisms and how they function in the aquatic environment. For instance, science has yet to replicate the toxin golden alga can produce that impacts gill-breathing organisms, such as fish. Nor is it known what prompts the golden alga to release its toxins.
The Game and Fish Department is contracting with university-based microbiologists to study the golden alga and hopefully provide answers that biologists can use to better manage the fisheries.