This investigation has determined the presence of biological nitrogen fixation in two reservoirs in the southwestern United States: Lake Arlington and Lake Ray Hubbard. Subsequent tests have gathered baseline data on the effects of various biological, chemical, and physical parameters on in situ nitrogen fixation in these reservoirs. Of specific importance is the relationship between nitrogen fixation arid occasional blooms of blue-green algae which produce such problems as testes and odors in these water-supply impoundments.

Analysis of larval fish collected at four stations in a 330-ha cooling reservoir indicated Dorosoma spp. were most numerous at all stations, followed by Lepomis spp. and Percina Macrolepida. Largest numbers and greatest diversity of larval fish were found at the station least affected by thermal effluent; the mid-lake station provided the smallest numbers and least diversity. The two warmwater stations were intermediate, with similar numbers and diversity. Diversity and abundance of zooplankton between stations were similar to those of fish. The most abundant zooplankter (Bosmina) was generally selected against by Dorosoma, Lepomis and Micropterus spp. larvae except when the larvae were quite small ((10mm). Cyclopoid copepods were most often selected by all larvae.

The effects of thermal discharges on the density, distribution, production, and drift of benthic organisms were studied at North Lake reservoir.

This study was undertaken in order to provide further insight into the effects of artificial heating on the fisheries of a small reservoir in the Southwest. The following specific objectives were established: (1) to map the reservoir for the distribution of heated water, (2) to determine the distribution of selected species of sports, rough, and forage fish in areas affected by the effluent and in areas not affected, (3) to compare size and condition of selected species of fish from areas affected by the effluent to size and condition of fish from areas not affected, and (4) to compare food habits of channel catfish in areas affected by the effluent to the food habits of channel catfish in areas not affected.