The City of Tulsa, Oklahoma has long heen a proponent of the multiple-use concept of its water resources; including approximately 5,000 surface acres of impounded water. These waters are: Lake Eucha (2,880 surface acres), also known as Upper Spavinaw, DeIaware County, Oklahoma, Spavinaw Lake (1,637 surface acres) , Mayes County, Oklahoma, and Lake Yahola (425 surface acres) Tulsa County, Oklahoma (J.ackson, 1957). The fishery management program on the Spavinaw Lakes was initiated by A. D. "Bob" Aldrich in 1949 and has been expanded and continuous for a period of sixteen years. Although progress may have appeared slow at times during this period, the trend has been toward improved fishing and an improved fishable fish population. The rough fish removal program was initiated in 1949. 436,513 fish weighing 163,265 pounds have been removed from Spavinaw Lake during the past fourteen years (1951-1964). 59,670 fish weighing 47,904 pounds have been removed from Lake Eucha during the past twelve years (1953-1964). Age and growth studies were initiated on the Spavinaw Lakes in 1952. Growth trends indicate improvement in the growth of the more desirable species over the management period. Creel survey studies began in 1954 and trends indicate fishing has generally improved during the management period. 90,000 fishermen spent 331,350 hours harvesting 322,250 fish on Spavinaw Lake at an aver,age annual harvest rate of 19.7 fish weighing 23.7 pounds per surface acre over the ten year period 1955-1964. 216,700 fishermen spent 1,075,600 hours harvesting 1,068,950 fish on Lake Eucha during the 10-year period 1955-1964 at an ,average annual harvest rate of 37.1 fish weighing 43.3 pounds per surface acre. Other management practices employed on the two lakes include: tagging studies on largemouth bass, establishment of fish concentration stations, identifying prominent landmarks, coves and hollows with signs, providing maps for fishermen, the construction of loading ramps and bank fishing piers.
