Aquatic Macroinvertebrates and Fishes of Big Creek in Trego, Ellis, and Russell Counties, Kansas

Abstract

Seven taxa of aquatic invertebrates and 27 species of fish are reported from a biological survey of Big Creek in Trego, Ellis, and Russell counties, Kansas conducted during 1983 and 1984. The present fauna is compared to previous faunal surveys. A biological survey of Big Creek was conducted in Trego, Ellis, and Russell counties, Kansas during 1983 and 1984. The objective of the study was to determine the species of fish and selected taxa of aquatic invertebrates that inhabit the stream and to compare this information with previous accounts published since 1870. The channel of Big Creek originates in northwestern Gove County and courses to the southeast through Trego, Ellis, and southwestern Russell counties where it joins the Smoky Hill River. The portion of the channel that normally has flowing water in the spring extends from central Trego County through Ellis County to the confluence with the Smoky Hill River. Big Creek is an intermittent stream, and during the summer, fall, and early winter, the stream often is composed of isolated pools throughout most of its length. The bottom substrate is sand, silt, or gravel. The pH varies from 7.0 to 8.5 and specific conductance usually is between 280 and 2150 micromhos per centimeter at 25 degrees C (U.S. Geological Survey, 1964-1975, 1970-1983; Kansas Fish and Game Comm., 1979). A relatively large dam at Ellis in western Ellis County impounds approximately 100 surface acres of water when the pool is full and provides a unique habitat on the stream for some species of fish and other aquatic organisms that would otherwise be absent from Big Creek. Smaller dams and low-water bridges have been built in the area from Hays, in central Ellis County, to southwestern Russell County. These structures create pools of water in the summer and fall which enable fish and other organisms to survive in the creek as water levels decline, but the dams also have the This content downloaded from 157.55.39.231 on Wed, 05 Oct 2016 04:30:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms VOLUME 89, NUMBERS 3-4 147 Table 1. Species of macroinvertebrates from Big Creek previously reported and collected during the 1983-1984 survey. Previous reports 1983-1984 survey