Published: 1979
Total Pages: 264
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West Point Reservoir on Chattahoochee River was impounded by a Corps of Engineers dam located 3.2 miles north of West Point, Georgia. Fishery and limnological studies funded by the Corps began in February 1976 to (a) document changes in the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of West Point Reservoir over a period of years with emphasis on detection of those factors contributing to the expected decline in sport fishing success, and (b) implement and evaluate fishery management practices aimed at improving the catch per unit of effort of sport fisherman. The lake waters were very soft and maintained a pH near 7.0. Water inflow provided a hydraulic retention time varying from 30 to 83 days. There was adequate nutrient loading to produce eutrophic conditions though the availability of carbon is believed to be a factor limiting the eutrophic potential of this lake. Water quality and biological data gathered during this study indicated that West Point was a mesoeutrophic lake that produced sufficient fish foods to support a relatively high fish biomass (350 kg/ha). An interpretation of water quality data as it relates to sport fish production indicated that West Point Lake maintained favorable environmental conditions to sustain aquatic life during the course of the study (January 1976-September 1977).