Passage of Spawning Alabama Shad at Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam, Apalachicola River, Florida

• Published in: Transactions of the American Fisheries Society (1900) 2012-01, Vol.141 (4), p.881-889
• Main Authors: Young, Shawn P, Ingram, Travis R, Tannehill, Josh E, Isely, J. Jeffery
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adults; Alosa alabamae; Freshwater; rivers; shad; spawning; spring
• ISSN: 1548-8659; 0002-8487; 1548-8659
• DOI: 10.1080/00028487.2012.675917

In 2005, a pilot study was initiated to evaluate the potential use of the navigation lock at Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam (JWLD), Florida, as a means for fish passage. The focal species was the Alabama shad Alosa alabamae . The Apalachicola River population is one of the last-remaining, extant self-sustaining populations, estimated adult spawning returns ranging from lows of 5,211 to 14,674 individuals in 2007 to highs of 51,417 to 127,251 individuals in 2010. We estimated the passage of migrating Alabama shad during spawning migrations during March–May 2005, 2007, 2010, and 2011. During 2005, 23 of 36 Alabama shad that were implanted with transmitters successfully passed from the lock into the reservoir 1–7 d after release, for a passage rate of 64% (95% CI = 48–80%). Advancing on the promising results from 2005, voluntary passage was evaluated during spring 2007, 2010, and 2011. During these years, 63–100% of implanted shad were relocated at the lock at least once, and voluntary passage ranged from 33% to 45%. Voluntary passage occurred 3–39 d postimplanting, most shad passing < 28 d after initial capture. Implanted Alabama shad were subsequently relocated upstream in both the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers. Based on these results, the navigation lock at JWLD was an effective means to pass migrating Alabama shad. Increased passage could be achieved by maximizing attraction flow near the lock entrance and increasing the time the upper gates are open during an afternoon locking cycle. By coupling passage and population estimates, the total number of shad that migrated through JWLD ranged from 2,137 in 2007 to 57,262 in 2010. Received October 5, 2011; accepted January 25, 2012