Thomas R. Reinert

The striped bass (Morone saxatilis) population of the Savannah River estuary declined in the 1980s, likely because of the operation of a tide gate that increased salinity on spawning grounds and accelerated seaward transport of eggs and larvae. Following discovery of this negative effect, periodic egg sampling monitored striped bass reproductive effort and documented a 96% decline in egg density (n/100m3) from pre-tide gate levels. The decline in egg density was concomitant with a similar decline in the adult striped bass population. An intensive stocking program eventually restored the...

We surveyed the extent and availability of fisheries data from major (>200 ha) impoundments in 2 southeastern U. S. drainage basins, the Apalachicola- Chattahoochee-Flint and Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa, both located primarily in the states of Georgia and Alabama. Data were used to generate regression models relating fish reproductive success to hydrologic variables. Results were used to define relationships between reservoir operations and abundance of young fishes. Of the 25 major mainstream and storage reservoirs in the 2 systems, 4 had sufficient historical data for fisheries and...