AUTHORS: Jeremy Risley, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; Sean Lusk, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; Eric Naas, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
ABSTRACT: Black bass anglers in Arkansas have long advocated for establishing aquatic vegetation in reservoirs with minimal macrophyte coverage to improve black bass populations in those systems. Despite facing various challenges along the way, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has remained dedicated to fulfilling these anglers' requests by introducing or restoring aquatic vegetation in those reservoirs. In the early 2000s, the AGFC tried introducing submerged aquatic vegetation in Bull Shoals Lake, a 19,504-hectare reservoir in north-central Arkansas. The approach involved planting vegetation in the substrate and protecting it with exclusion cages. Unfortunately, this endeavor was impeded by water fluctuations greater than 10 meters and turtle herbivory, which hindered the successful establishment of the vegetation. However, this failure led to potential successes. In the following years, the AGFC faced another vegetation-related challenge at DeGray Lake, a 5,585-hectare reservoir in west-central Arkansas. A decline in vegetation led to a noticeable reduction in the black bass population. This time, AGFC biologists took a different approach and created floating enclosures known as "Arkansas Floating Cubes" to aid in the spread of aquatic vegetation via wind and wave action and impeding herbivory. The deployment of these structures aided in the increase in vegetation density and subsequently improved the black bass populations over time. Encouraged by this success, the AGFC has expanded the use of the Arkansas Floating Cubes to two other highland reservoirs, Beaver and Greers Ferry Lakes, aiming to replicate the positive outcomes observed in DeGray Lake. The AGFC remains dedicated to employing innovative methods to establish or restore aquatic vegetation in reservoirs with little or no macrophyte coverage, ultimately benefiting sport fish populations like black bass and enhancing angler satisfaction in Arkansas.
