1997 Fazon Lake Survey: Crowding of the Warmwater Fish Community in a Small, Lowland Lake

Fazon Lake is a small, eutrophic body of water [13.8 hectares; mean depth = 3 meters (m); max depth = 5.2 m] located northeast of Bellingham in Whatcom County. The tannic lake, which lies within the Nooksack River basin, is fed by rainfall and groundwater. Surface water exits the lake through a small, unnamed outlet located along the northeast shore. A private, man-made drainage channel (152 m long) is located mid-lake along the eastern shore. Dense stands of cattail (Typha latifolia), willows (Salix sp.) and, unfortunately, purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) surround roughly 40% of the lake, whereas marsh cinquefoil (Potentilla sp.), common nightshade (Solanum dulcamara), and submersed woody debris can be found along the entire shoreline. Emergent aquatic plants include yellow waterlily (Nuphar polysepala), Richardson’s or clasping-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton richardsonii) and, to a lesser degree, watershield (Brasenia schreberi). The dominant submersed aquatic plants are waterweed (Elodea canadensis) and coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum).

Development on the lake is minimal. Two private homes are located within 200 m of the lake; however, most of the shoreline remains completely natural. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) maintains a public access and boat launch located at the southwest end of the lake. Recreational activities include fishing and small water craft use.

For years, Fazon Lake was managed by the WDFW, then acting as the Department of Game (WDG), as a rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fishery. In 1960, the lake was ‘rehabilitated’ for this purpose by eliminating unwanted minnows (Cyprinidae) and catfish (Ictaluridae) with rotenone, a natural piscicide. During the 1970's, the structure of the sport fish community underwent a dramatic change after the unauthorized introduction of warmwater fish species such as yellow perch (Perca flavescens), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus). Consequently, the lake was rehabilitated during fall 1976 and again in 1980. However, at the time, it was apparent that angler preference was shifting toward warmwater species. Thus, in 1981, the WDG began planting largemouth bass, bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) into the lake.

Throughout the 1980's, a local sport group sponsored many successful bluegill fishing contests at Fazon Lake. In 1986, fishermen began capturing large channel catfish. Today, the lake supports a popular largemouth bass-bluegill fishery. In fact, two experimental fish attraction devices (FAD) were placed in the lake during fall 1997 and spring 1998 to enhance this fishery. The dome- and basket-style structures, which measure 1.5 - 2.1 m in height, are constructed of 102 mm (or 4") ABS plastic. The FAD are anchored at a depth of 3.7 m and located approximately 45 m offshore from the opening of the private, man-made channel.

Given its physical characteristics, Fazon Lake is well suited for warmwater fish species. However, in recent years, local anglers have expressed concern about the declining quality of the fishery (Jim Johnston, WDFW, personal communication). Therefore, in order to evaluate the warmwater fish community at Fazon Lake, personnel from the WDFW’s Warmwater Enhancement Program conducted a fisheries survey during late summer 1997.