Relationships between Storage Ratio and Population Density, Natural Recruitment, and Stocking Success of Walleye in Kansas Reservoirs

Population density of walleye Stizostedion vitreum vitreum in Kansas reservoirs appeared to be related to storage ratio, with low storage ratios (high discharges) producing low densities of fish, moderate storage ratios yielding high densities, and high storage ratios having walleye densities slightly lower than occur at moderate discharges. Both natural recruitment and stocking success of walleye appeared to be related to the storage ratio, with little stocking success occurring at reservoirs having mean storage ratios of 1.0 or less. It is not known whether these relationships are cause-and-effect, but storage ratio should be considered when determining priorities for walleye stocking or when modeling walleye population dynamics in flood-control reservoirs.