John C. Bellemore

Restoration of Warm Water Lakes and Ponds on the National Forests in Mississippi and Louisiana

The U.S. Forest Service has been trying to improve the fish population structure of 120 flood control lakes and ponds in the National Forests of Mississippi and Louisiana. Recent efforts have included supplemental stocking, complete eradication of existing populations followed by restocking, and selective species eradication. Since 1978, 36 lakes, 25 ponds and 59 livestock and wildlife watering ponds varying in size from 0.1 to 940.5 ha have undergone fish population alteration. Fifty-three of these lakes and ponds were completely restocked, while 57 have received supplemental stocking....