LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF
WILDLIFE & FISHERIES
OFFICE OF FISHERIES
INLAND FISHERIES SECTION
PART VI -A
WATERBODY MANAGEMENT PLAN SERIES
TANGIPAHOA RIVER, LOUISIANA
LAKE HISTORY & MANAGEMENT ISSUES
1
CHRONOLOGY
November 2012 - Prepared by
Tim Ruth, Biologist Manager, District 8
The remainder of this page left intentionally blank.
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL INFORMATION.....................................................................................................................................4
Impoundment .........................................................................................................................................................4
Watershed ..............................................................................................................................................................4
Parish/s located .....................................................................................................................................................4
Border waters ........................................................................................................................................................4
Water Authority .....................................................................................................................................................5
Authorization .........................................................................................................................................................5
Access ....................................................................................................................................................................5
Boat docks .............................................................................................................................................................5
SHORELINE DEVELOPMENT .........................................................................................................................................5
Shoreline development by landowners...................................................................................................................5
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF RIVER ..............................................................................................................................6
Length....................................................................................................................................................................6
Timber type ............................................................................................................................................................6
Natural seasonal water fluctuation........................................................................................................................6
MANAGEMENT ISSUES ..........................................................................................................................................7
Aquatic Vegetation ................................................................................................................................................7
HISTORY OF REGULATIONS .........................................................................................................................................8
Recreational...........................................................................................................................................................8
Commercial ...........................................................................................................................................................8
Fish kills / disease history, LMBV .........................................................................................................................8
Contaminants / pollution .......................................................................................................................................8
Water quality .........................................................................................................................................................8
Fish samples ..........................................................................................................................................................9
History ...................................................................................................................................................................9
Stocking History ..................................................................................................................................................10
Species profile......................................................................................................................................................11
Genetics ...............................................................................................................................................................13
Threatened/endangered/exotic species ................................................................................................................13
CREEL SURVEYS .......................................................................................................................................................14
HYDROLOGICAL CHANGES .......................................................................................................................................14
Hunting ................................................................................................................................................................15
Skiing ...................................................................................................................................................................15
Scuba Diving........................................................................................................................................................15
Swimming ............................................................................................................................................................15
Irrigation .............................................................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................................16
APPENDIX .........................................................................................................................................................17
3
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Tangipahoa River flows 79 miles through Tangipahoa Parish from the Mississippi /
Louisiana border to the mouth at Lake Pontchartrain. The Tangipahoa River together with the
Amite and Tickfaw Rivers contributes 70% of the freshwater input to Lake Pontchartrain (Xu
and Viosca 2005). Figure 1 (APPENDIX) depicts the river’s course from Lake Tangipahoa in
Mississippi to the river’s mouth at Lake Pontchartrain. The Louisiana Department of
Environmental Quality (LDEQ) has divided the river into two sections for water quality
management purposes. The upper section (040701) is 56 miles long and extends from the MS
state line to Interstate 12 (I-12). This section is considered a Louisiana Natural and Scenic River.
It is generally shallow with sand and gravel substrates and not navigable with most conventional
power boats. The lower section (040702) is 23 miles long and extends from I-12 to Lake
Pontchartrain.
Impoundment
In Mississippi, the river is impounded 4.7 miles northwest of Magnolia (31.1748070 N; 90.5283200 W) to form Lake Tangipahoa. Mississippi’s 1,700 acre Percy Quinn State Park is
located on lake. The links below provides a general description of the lake, park and the
surrounding area.
http://mississippistateparks.reserveamerica.com/ms/Percy_Quin/Campground/r/campgroundDeta
ils.do?contractCode=MS&parkId=155847
http://findlakes.com/lake_tangipahoa_mississippi_vacation.htm
Watershed
The 2,010 km² Tangipahoa River watershed is located on the eroded surfaces of the
Upper Pleistocene High Terrace and Prairie Terrace formations. It is one of the largest in
the Pontchartrain Basin encompassing most of Tangipahoa Parish. Surface water in the
watershed is characterized by dissolved salt contents which increase in the vicinity of
Lake Pontchartrain (Bourgeois-Calvin 2008) Elevations in the watershed in Louisiana
range from 215 ft. MSL to 7 ft. MSL with a gradient of 4 ft. /mile. Major tributaries in
Louisiana include Bedico Creek, Big Creek and Chappapeela Creek.
Parish/s located
In Louisiana the Tangipahoa River is located entirely in Tangipahoa Parish.
Border waters
The Natalbany River (West), the Tchefuncte River (East) and Lake Pontchartrain (South).
4
Water Authority
Louisiana DNR has authority over all surface water withdrawals for commercial purposes as per
the Surface Water Management Act - La. R S 30:961-963 (Act 955 of the 2010 legislative
session).
http://dnr.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=92
Authorization
The state of Louisiana has authority over the state owned water bottom of the Tangipahoa
River in Louisiana. Louisiana RS 56:1856 known as the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act,
prohibits certain commercial activity and regulates many others. Channelization, channel
realignment, clearing and snagging, impoundments, and commercial clear cutting of timber
within 100 feet of the low water mark are prohibited. The Scenic River designation also
requires a management plan from LDWF. The “Scenic River Plan for the Tangipahoa
River” is on file with and available from LDWF’s Natural Heritage Section.
Access
Two private boat launches are located in the lower reach of the river at Lee’s Landing and
Traino Landing. Public access from the state line to Hwy 22 is limited to bridge crossings.
Persons accessing the river to fish, kayak, canoe, or swim must park along the roadside or
risk trespass on private property. Figure 2 (APPENDIX) depicts boat ramp access to the
Tangipahoa River in Louisiana.
Boat docks
There is a private boat ramp and marina at Lee’s Landing, 38068 Lee’s Landing Road,
Ponchatoula, LA (30.4039370 N; -90.3240560 W). There is also a private boat launch on
Bedico Creek located at the end of Traino Landing Rd. (30.4062050 N; -90.2617510 W).
Shoreline development
Shoreline development by landowners
Forestry and agriculture are the two major land use types within the watershed. Fifty four
percent of the watershed is forested, 39% is agricultural and only 4% is urban. The most
concentrated area of shoreline development consists of fishing and hunting camps located
southeast of Ponchatoula near the river’s mouth.
5
Physical description of river
Length
Approximately 244miles: 158 in Louisiana and 86 in Mississippi.
Timber type
Forest types include pine, bottomland hardwood, and cypress-tupelo. Fresh and brackish
marsh habitats extend downstream.
Natural seasonal water fluctuation
Mean annual discharge for the Tangipahoa River is 1.2 ± 0.07km³ ranging from 0.4km³ to
1.9km³ and the mean monthly discharge is 0.09 ± 0.0005km³, ranging from 0.05km³ to
0.19km³. Monthly discharge is highest in the months of January through April,
corresponding with the wet season of the area. The lowest discharges occur in the months of
August through October, corresponding with the dry season for the area. The high flow
periods discharge about 3 times more than the low flow periods (Bourgeois-Calvin 2008).
The links below provide elevation stage data for locations along the Tangipahoa River. The
long term annual average precipitation for the Pontchartrain Basin which includes the
Tangipahoa watershed is about 1600 mm, varying from 1108-2178 mm. The highest
monthly average precipitation in the area occurs in July (159 mm) and the lowest in October
(86 mm) (Wu and Xu 2007).
07375280 TANGIPAHOA RIVER AT OSYKA, MS 8.03 136
07375300 Tangipahoa River near Kentwood, LA
-07375430 Tangipahoa River near Amite, LA
-07375500 Tangipahoa River at Robert, LA
6
MANAGEMENT ISSUES
Aquatic Vegetation
Nuisance vegetation is occasionally treated with herbicides to maintain fishing, hunting and
trapping access. The primary nuisance plant has been Water hyacinth. However, common
salvinia is present and 42 acres have been treated with herbicide since 2008. Louisiana State
University (LSU) is currently working to produce Common salvinia weevils (Cyrtobagous
salviniae). These weevils may be used to help control the noxious plant as they are made
available from the university.
Type map
LDWF has not compiled a vegetation type map of the area. The red shaded areas on the map in
Figure 3 (APPENDIX) depict past herbicide applications. It should be noted that herbicide
treatments are primarily required in manmade canals. Free flowing portions of the river require
little to no aquatic nuisance vegetation management.
Biomass
No vegetation biomass surveys have been conducted.
Treatment history by year available
Chemical – One hundred nineteen acres of nuisance aquatic vegetation have been treated since
2007 (Table 1). No nuisance vegetation was treated in 2007 or 2011.
Table1. Summary of nuisance vegetation treated in Tangipahoa River, Louisiana 2008-2011
Year
2008
Total 2008
2009
2009
2009
Total 2009
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
Total 2010
Grand Total
Vegetation
Water Hyacinth
Herbicide
2,4-D
Duckweed
Common salvinia
Water Hyacinth
Aquamaster
Aquamaster
Aquamaster
Alligatorweed
Alligatorweed
Duckweed
Common salvinia
Duckweed
Common salvinia
Water hyacinth
2,4-D
Aquamaster
Aquamaster
Aquamaster
Knockout
Knockout
Knockout
7
Acres
40
40
5
10
5
20
7
2
8
21
8
11
2
59
119
History of regulations
Recreational
Statewide regulations apply for recreational freshwater species.
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/publication/31743-recreationalfishing-regulations/2012_fishing__regulations.pdf
Commercial
Statewide regulations apply for commercial freshwater species.
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/publication/31745-commercialfishing-regulations/2012_commercial_fishing.pdf
Fish kills / disease history, LMBV
Largemouth bass from the Tangipahoa River in Louisiana have not been tested for LMBV.
A fish kill occurred on May 4, 1994. LDWF investigators responded and filed fish kill report
D89401. The final report estimated 9,882 fish died including 50 paddlefish. LDEQ found barrels
of an unknown substance deliberately dumped into the river. This was believed to have caused
the kill but no responsible party was named. Hurricanes Katrina in 2005 and Gustav in 2008
were suspected of causing fish kills. Although no fish kill investigations were conducted or
reports generated; witnesses have since reported “blankets of dead fish across the river”
following the hurricanes.
Contaminants / pollution
LDEQ placed the Tangipahoa River on the state’s 2000 Clean Water Act section 303(d) list of
impaired waterbodies for not meeting its designated uses of primary and secondary contact
recreation. The following link describes the historic problems and success of recent cleanup
efforts:
http://www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/success/state/pdf/la_tang.pdf
Water quality
Table 2 below lists the fish consumption advisories currently in effect on the waters of the
Tangipahoa River.
http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/default.aspx?tabid=1631
8
Table 2. Fish consumption advisory for the Tangipahoa River (LDEQ website).
The
Tangipahoa
River from
Tangipahoa
the LA/ MS
River
state line to
Lake
Pontchartrain
Tangipahoa
Limit bowfin
(choupique,
grinnel),
flathead
catfish, largemouth bass,
spotted bass
and
freshwater
drum
(gaspergou)
consumption
to no more
than one meal
per month
combined.
Limit bowfin
(choupique,
grinnel),
flathead
catfish, largemouth bass,
spotted bass
and
freshwater
5/29/2003 9/4/2002
drum
(gaspergou)
consumption
to no more
than four
meals per
month
combined.
Fish samples
History
Inland Fisheries standardized electrofishing samples for largemouth bass (LMB) and
crappie are collected from navigable areas of the lower river (river code - 040702).
Sixty-six electrofishing samples have been collected by Inland Fisheries Districts 7 and
8 since 1996 (Table 3). All samples prior to 2011 were collected by District 7
personnel. All hard copy original data sheets are currently on file at the District 8
office. Table 4 lists LDWF biological sampling schedule.
Table 3. LDWF standardized electrofishing samples, Tangipahoa River 1996-2011.
Year
1996
1997
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Total
Spring 3
3
0
4
4
4
4
4
26
Fall
3
4
4
4
0
4
4
4
27
Forage 0
0
9
1
0
1
1
1
13
Total
6
7
13
9
4
9
9
9
66
9
Table 4. LDWF scheduled biological sampling, Tangipahoa River 2015-2012*
Year
2015
2018
2021
6 – 15 minute samples
Electrofishing 6 – 15 minute samples 6 – 15 minute samples
6 – 72 hour sets
6 – 72 hour sets
6 – 72 hour sets
Hoop nets
6- 50 foot pulls (night) 6- 50 foot pulls (night) 6- 50 foot pulls (night)
Seines
Mussel
6 Stations
6 Stations
6 Stations
Collections
6 – 72 hour sets
6- 72 hour sets
6- 72 hour sets
Lead nets
*All samples will be collected during low flow periods of late summer.
Stocking History
The stocking history of the Tangipahoa River from 1994 – 2011 is shown in Table 4. Florida
Largemouth Bass (FLMB) was stocked in the Tangipahoa River in the late 1990’s in an
attempt to establish the genetic traits. Recently, FLMB, bluegill, black crappie and channel
catfish were stocked following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Striped bass and Gulf striped bass
were stocked as part of a put, grow and take fishery.
Table 4. The stocking history for the Tangipahoa River, Louisiana from 1994-2011.
Year
1994
1996
1997
1999
2000
2001
2003
2004
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Total
Black
Crappie
Bluegill
Channel
Catfish
Florida
Largemouth
Bass
Gulf
Striped
Bass
Striped
Bass
10,200
25,610
5,300
12,043
14,244
30,576
28,086
5,004
7,795
58,377
81,520
21,729
26,418
83,854
15,911
357
223,751
64,415
396
396
10
25,272
25,522
22,721
24,975
5,309
375
156,062
6,018
16,331
76,657
Total
10,200
25,610
5,300
12,043
44,820
28,086
5,004
7,795
105,378
133,460
22,721
130,049
753
6,393
537,612
Species profile
The Tangipahoa River is located in the Pontchartrain Basin and is home to a diverse
assemblage of aquatic species. The list includes fish (Table 5), mussel (Table 6), reptile and
crustacean species of conservation concern in Louisiana. Many of the fish and mussel species
found in the area do not occur west of the Mississippi River in Louisiana.
Table 5. Fish species list as compiled by Fishnet2.net < http://fishnet2.net/ >
Scientific Name
Alosa alabamae
Alosa chrysochloris
Ambloplites ariommus
Ambloplites rupestris
Ameiurus melas
Ameiurus natalis
Ammocrypta beanii
Anchoa mitchilli
Aphredoderus sayanus
Aplodinotus grunniens
Cyprinella venusta
Cyprinodon variegates
Dorosoma petenense
Elassoma zonatum
Erimyzon tenuis
Esox americanus vermiculatus
Esox niger
Etheostoma chlorosomum
Etheostoma lynceum
Etheostoma proeliare
Etheostoma stigmaeum
Etheostoma swaini
Etheostoma zonale
Fundulus chrysotus
Fundulus euryzonus
Fundulus nottii
Fundulus olivaceus
Gambusia affinis
Gambusia patruelis
Hybognathus hayi
Hybopsis amblops
Hybopsis winchelli
Hypentelium nigricans
Ichthyomyzon gagei
Ictalurus furcatus
Ictalurus punctatus
Labidesthes sicculus
Common Name
Alabama shad
Skipjack Herring
Shadow bass
Rock bass
Black bullhead
Yellow bullhead
Naked sand darter
Bay anchovy
Pirate perch
Freshwater drum
Blacktail shiner
Sheepshead minnow
Threadfin shad
Banded pygmy sunfish
Sharpfin chubsucker
Grass pickerel
Chain pickerel
Bluntnose darter
Bright-eye darter
Cypress darter
Speckled darter
Gulf darter
Banded darter
Golden topminnow
Broadstripe topminnow
Bayou topminnow
Blackspotted topminnow
Mosquitofish
Cypress minnow
Big-eye chub
Clear chub
Northern hogsucker
Southern brook lamprey
Blue catfish
Channel catfish
Brook silverside
11
Lepisosteus osseus
Lepisosteus oculatus
Lepisosteus spatula
Lepomis cyanellus
Lepomis gulosus
Lepomis gulosus x macrochirus
Lepomis macrochirus
Lepomis marginatus
Lepomis megalotis
Lepomis microlophus
Lepomis miniatus
Lepomis punctatus
Luxilus chrysocephalus
Lythrurus roseipinnis
Membras martinica
Menidia beryllina
Micropogonias undulates
Micropterus punctatus
Micropterus salmoides
Moxostoma poecilurum
Mugil cephalus
Notemigonus crysoleucas
Notropis amblops
Notropis cornutus
Notropis longirostris
Notropis roseipinnis
Notropis texanus
Notropis volucellus
Notropis winchelli
Noturus gyrinus
Noturus leptacanthus
Noturus nocturnes
Opsopoeodus emiliae
Paralichthys lethostigma
Percina nigrofasciata
Percina ouachitae
Percina sciera
Percina suttkusi
Percina vigil
Pimephales vigilax
Poecilia latipinna
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Strongylura marina
Sygnathus scovelli
Trinectes maculates
Longnose gar
Spotted gar
Alligator gar
Green sunfish
Warmouth
Warmouth Bluegill sunfish hybrid
Bluegill sunfish
Dollar sunfish
Longear sunfish
Redear sunfish
Red spotted sunfish
Spotted sunfish
Striped shiner
Cherryfin shiner
Rough silverside
Inland silverside
Atlantic croaker
Spotted bass
Largemouth bass
Blacktail redhorse
Striped mullet
Golden shiner
Bigeye chub
Common shiner
Longnose shiner
Cherryfin shiner
Weed shiner
Mimic shiner
Clear chub
Tadpole madtom
Speckled madtom
Freckled madtom
Pugnose minnow
Southern flounder
Black-banded darter
Ouachita darter
Dusky darter
Gulf logperch
Saddleback darter
Bullhead minnow
Sailfin molly
Black crappie
Atlantic needlefish
Gulf pipefish
Hogchoker
12
Table 6. Mussel species list for the Tangipahoa River, Louisiana. Jones et al. 2005 and
Vidrine 1993
Scientific Name
Pyganodon grandis
Anodontoides radiatus
Amblema plicata
Quadrula refulgens
Pleurobema beadleanum
Fusconaia cerina
Lampsilis ornate
Lampsilis claibornensis
Leptodea fragilis
Obovaria jacksoniana
Potamilus inflatus
Toxolasmus parvus
Villosa lienosa
Utterbackia imbecillis
Strophitus subvexus
Plectomerus dombeyanus
Tritogonia verrucosa
Elliptio crassidens
Uniomerus tetralasmus
Lampsilis hydiana
Lampsilis teres
Obliquaria reflexa
Obovaria unicolor
Potamilus purpuratus
Toxolasmus texasensis
Villosa vibex
Common Name
Giant Floater
Rayed Creekshell
Three-ridge
Purple Pimpleback
Mississippi Pigtoe
Gulf Pigtoe
Southern Pocketbook
Southern Fatmucket
Fragile Papershell
Southern Hickorynut
Inflated Heelsplitter
Liliput
Little spectacle-case
Paper Pondshell
Southern Creekmussel
Bankclimber
Pistolgrip
Elephant-ear
Pondhorn
Louisiana Fatmucket
Yellow sandshell
Threehorn - Wartyback
Alabama Hickorynut
Bleufer
Texas Lilyput
Southern Rainbow
Genetics
Thirty largemouth bass (LMB) liver tissue samples were collected for genetic analysis from
the Tangipahoa River in 2007. Allozyme starch gel electrophoresis analyses were conducted
at the Louisiana State University School of Renewable Natural Resources. One hundred
percent of the specimens sampled were determined to be northern strain LMB.
Threatened/endangered/exotic species
The following are aquatic species of conservation concern in the Pontchartrain Basin (LDWF
2005) which includes the Tangipahoa River (Table 7):
13
Table 7. List of Louisiana species of conservation concern found in the Tangipahoa River,
from LDWF 2005
Crustaceans
Ribbon Crawfish
(Procambarus
bivittatus)
Freshwater Fish
*Gulf Sturgeon
(Acipenser oxyrinchus
desotoi)
Mussels
Rayed Creekshell
(Anodontoides
radiates)
Plain Brown
Crawfish
(Procambarus
shermani)
Flatwoods Digger
(Fallicambarus
(Creaserinus)
fodiens)
Paddlefish
(Polyodon spathula)
Elephant – Ear
(Elliptio
crassidens)
River Redhorse
(Moxostoma carinatum)
Mississippi Pigtoe
(Pleurobema
beadleanum)
Gulf Logperch
(Percina suttkusi)
**Inflated
Heelsplitter
(Potamilus
inflatus)
Southern Rainbow
(Villosa vibex)
Broadstripe Topminnow
(Fundulus euryzonas)
Reptiles
Alligator
Snapping Turtle
(Macrochelys
temminckii)
Mississippi Diamondbacked Terrapin
(Malaclemis terrapin)
Southern
Pocketbook
(Lampsilis ornate)
Southern
Hickorynut
(Obovaria
jacksoniana)
Alabama
Hickorynut
(Obovaria
unicolor)
Creel Surveys
No creel surveys have been conducted by LDWF Inland Fisheries.
Hydrological changes
The river is impounded by an embankment dam near McComb, MS. It forms Lake Tangipahoa
in Percy Quinn State Park. The dam was built in 1940 and failed in 1942. It was rebuilt in 1945
but failed again in 1983. The dam was subsequently rebuilt with a concrete flood control
structure. However, concerns over the structure’s stability forced the evacuation of 60,000
people following Hurricane Isaac in 2012.
14
Water use
Hunting
Waterfowl, deer, turkey, squirrel and rabbit are hunted. The river is connected to Joyce –
Manchac WMA by Lake Pontchartrain and a several manmade canals. However, the river
does not flow through land managed for public use.
Skiing
The Tangipahoa River is not popular for water skiing.
Scuba Diving
Low visibility and boat traffic make the river unpopular for scuba diving.
Swimming
People swim on sandbars and from piers associated with camps.
Irrigation
Water withdrawals are prohibited, except for withdrawals made by an individual, adjacent
property owner for residential purposes only (LAC Title 76: Part IX 117).
15
REFERENCES
Bourgeois-Calvin, Andrea. 2008. “Relationship Between Land Use and Surface Water Quality in
a Rapidly Developing Watershed in Southeast Louisiana. University of New
Orleans Thesis and Dissertations. Paper 714. http://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/714
Jones, Robert L et. al. 2005. The Freshwater Mussels Molluska: Bivalvia: Unionidae: of
Mississippi. Southern Naturalist 4:1 pp 77-92.
LDWF 2005. Louisiana Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Louisiana Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries. Baton Rouge. 455 pp.
Vidrine, Malcolm. 1993. The Historical Distributions of Freshwater Mussels in Louisiana.
Division of Sciences, Louisiana State University at Eunice, PO Box 1129 Eunice, La.
70535. 249 pp.
Wu, Kangshang and Y. Jun Xu. 2007. Long Term Freshwater and Sediment Discharge into Lake
Pontchartrain, Louisiana. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 52:1, pp. 166-180.
Xu, Jun Y and Adrienne Viosca. 2005. Surface Water Assessment of Three Louisiana
Watersheds. AWRA Hydrology and Watershed Management Technical Committee – Watershed
Update. March – April 2005. Vol.3, No. 2
16
APPENDIX
(return to document)
Figure 1. Google Earth© image from November 2011 depicting the Tangipahoa River's course in
Louisiana (red) and Mississippi (blue).
17
Figure 2. Locations of Tangipahoa River, Louisiana boat launches depicted on Google
Earth© imagery dated November 2011.
18
Figure 3. Google Earth image from November 2011 depicting LDWF herbicide
treatments in the Tangipahoa River, Louisiana.
19