AQUATIC RESOURCES
The tributaries of Higginsville City Lake are unnamed and have intermittent flows
(DNR, 1987).
In 1987 the Missouri Deparunent of Conservation (MDC) entered into a 25-year cooperative
agreement with the city of Higginsville to manage the fisheries in the lower lake. Since MDC
took over management of the fisheries, largemouth bass, channel catfish, and flathead catfish
were stocked. Flathead catfish were stocked to help control sunfish and overcrowding
populations of other fish species. The city lake fishery also contains crappie and sunfish,
including bluegill. MDC also stocked fathead minnows in the two rearing ponds adjacent to the
lake.
MDC has established a program to construct underwater brush piles for fish habitat improvement.
Twenty, 30-foot square, brush piles will be installed over a 10-year period. Brush piles will
be replaced every ten years, or as needed.
The following fish kills occurred in Higginsville City Lake (MDC, 1970-1996).
| Date | Water Body | Cause | Fish Killed |
|---|
| 3/14/94 | Lower Lake | Winter Kill | 150 |
| 4/21/96 | Upper Lake | Parasites
(protozoa/bacteria) | 1,800 Crappie (5"-12") |
| 5/l/96 | Lower Lake | Parasites
(protozoa/bacteria) | 2,500 Crappie (5"-15") |
| 5/10/96 | Lower Lake | Parasites
(protozoa) | 2,500 Channel Catfish (5"-15") |
Overall fish health is poor and fish are more likely to succumb to protozoan and bacterial
infections in overcrowded fish populations. NMC reported that the size and nature of these four
fish kills are not a cause for alarm.
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