Lake Fish Assemblages in Hoosier National Forest, Perry County, Indiana, with Emphasis on Lake Condition

Abstract

Three lakes in Hoosier National Forest were created by the impounding of several creeks within the Middle Fork Anderson River watershed. All three lakes were created during the early 1960s to provide recreational opportunities for the public. Only a single study by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources provides data about a decade after the lakes were created on the historical fish assemblage of the lakes prior to reclamation. The current study found that the three reservoirs possess simple fish assemblage structure and are dominated by sunfish species. The lakes do not possess many benthic species or obligate lake species. The index of biotic sustainability classified the lakes as "poor" for all three lakes. Scores ranged from 28 to 31, with the mode 29. The majority of the sites in Hoosier National Forest lakes scored between 29 and 30 IBS points. Both Indian and Tipsaw lakes had sustainability scores of 30, while Celina Lake had a mean IBS score of 28.5. Tipsaw Lake ranked the highest with an IBS score of 31.