Relationship Between Power Plant Recharge Waters and Young-of-year Largemouth Bass Abundance

This study evaluated the relation between young-of-year (YOY) largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) density (TV/ha) and monthly rainfall, make-up water, and discharge of a 547-ha power plant cooling reservoir in Bexar County, Texas, for 1983-1992. Young-of-year largemouth bass density and total dilution (rainfall, makeup water, and discharge combined) during January-February were significantly related (r2 = 0.68, P < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that in a eutrophic, closed aquatic system, the total amount and timing of reservoir dilution can be important to the relief of a spawning repressive factor and can help increase YOY largemouth bass abundance.