Transcript black River
Southwest Native Trout Strategy: Update and Planned Activities Gila trout Apache trout Jack Williams Brad Powell Rio Grande cutthroat 1 Southwest Native Trout: Why? • Demonstrated conservation need and opportunities – Restoration, reintroduction, research, and education • Strong partnerships exist – State and federal agencies, NGOs WhitewaterBaldy Fire 2012 • Proven interest from TU state leaders and local members – AZ Trout Workshop, Rio Costilla, Gila recovery projects • Citizen science opportunities – Habitat and population monitoring • Climate change and fish management – Response to wildfires, drought, higher temperatures Rio Grande cutthroat stream Baseflow 0.07 cfs Southwest Native Trout: Percentage of historical range currently occupied Apache trout (AZ): 25% Gila trout (AZ, NM): 5% Rio Grande cutthroat trout (CO, NM, TX): 11% Strong partnerships and proven interests Protecting RGCT on Alamitos Creek Bringing back the native trout of Texas. Rio Costilla watershed restoration project West Fork Black River Apache trout metapopulation restoration Gila trout 6th Annual Native and Wild Trout Conference. post-fire recovery 4 Goal of Southwest Native Trout Strategy Our goal is that Apache, Gila and Rio Grande cutthroat trout and their habitats will be sustainably conserved and expanded in the Southwest, resilient to climate change, well distributed and with abundant, fishable populations. 5 5-Year Business Plan for SW Native Trout • $2.4 million cost over 5 years • Major themes for new funding to support initiative: – Communicating values of SW Native Trout – Responding to climate change – Building resiliency by creating larger stronghold populations – Better responses to drought, wildfire and extreme storm events – Increasing involvement and capacity among Southwest TU chapters 6 A sampling of high priority projects and needs 1. Videos to tell special stories of Southwest native trout 2. Improve stream monitoring network and TU member participation in citizen science 3. Repatriation of RGCT into Texas 4. Drought and wildfire risk management 5. BMPs for wildfire recovery 6. Creating Apache trout stronghold in West Fork Black River 7. Creating Gila trout stronghold in West Fork Gila River 8. Creating stronghold Rio Grande cutthroat trout in Great Sand Dunes Park and Preserve 7 Arizona Apache Trout Phoenix Historically occupied about 600 mi of stream habitat. Apache trout population 2010 Invading brown and rainbow trout Wallow Fire 2011 538,000 acres burned. 8 Arizona Apache Trout Phoenix From Ashes to Opportunity West Fork Black River Restoring the West Fork Black River 9 Apache trout Forest planning (4FRI process , Tonto Plan, Black River Forest Rest.) NFWF proposal to develop a more effective multi-agency monitoring plan for Apache trout populations and habitats Metapopulation restoration in W. Fork Black River Stream temperature data used to identify populations at risk Recovery work in Dude Creek, West Fork Oak Creek, Haigler Creek Craign Watershed Protection planning Native and Wild Trout Conference Gila Trout Historically occupied about Gila wilderness 600 mi of stream habitat. In 2010, 15 populations occupied about 80 mi of stream habitat. The Whitewater Baldy fire of 2012 burned 300,000 acres through the heart of remaining Gila trout strongholds. 11 Reintroducing Gila trout into Arizona Lots of unoccupied historical range! Gila trout TU/Jim Brooks completed 5 survey trips Gila recovery streams Develop updated database of remaining populations Natural barrier survey on two streams in the Blue River drainage in AZ Gila genetics work –(Whiskey, Main & S Diamond, and Spruce) Gila temperature monitoring funding from FWS Future feature article in Trout on full scope of Gila restoration effort Piscicide treatment for Whitewater creek, fish barrier on W. Fork of Gila Lake Roberts youth fishing derby $96,300 Fed challenge grant, $100,000 private donation (5 populations) Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout Historically occupied over 6,000 miles of streams and rivers. 2010 occupied less than 700 miles of small stream habitat. 75% of populations are genetically pure. Average population extent is less than 6 miles – lack resilience. Have lost migratory life history. Extinct in Texas. 14 Rio Grande cutthroat trout Identification of stronghold restoration opportunities high priority Restoration work in Sand & Jim Creek in Colorado Strategic water transactions RGCT sign & Posters (10 signs 1250 posters) Middle Creek Trail work Haypress Dam evaluation Medano and Hudson Bridges Fish barriers on the Hondo and Gavilan Creek Pecos Wilderness restoration Rio Costillo barrier Great Sand Dunes NP and Preserve Removal of non-native trouts Reestablishment of Rio Grande cutthroat trout 16 Rio Grande cutthroat trout: returning native trout to Texas 17 17 Pecos River populations of Rio Grande cutthroat trout • 11 populations occupying 60km of stream habitat • Most populations small • All populations in close proximity and vulnerable to single catastrophic event • McKittrick population would provide insurance against loss of Pecos form 18 “I find it hard to believe that any exotic trout would do as well in the creek as the native cutthroat. Nature has fitted them for survival in what is at best a marginal habitat on the southern edge of trout country. They thrive and grow fat in a creek that is little more than a trickle. The Rio Grande cutthroat trout are of this place. They belong here like the basalt along the canyon floor and the ponderosa pines that reach for the sky.” Frank Weissbarth, Holy Ghost Creek 19 Questions? 20