Black Canyon City Heritage Park Native Fish Refuge Population Update

Authors: Lacey Schmitt, Tony Robinson

Year: 2018

Abstract

Refuge populations play a critical role in the conservation of threatened and endangered species in the southwest. Through a successful partnership between Arizona Game and Fish Department and Black Canyon City, the pond at Black Canyon City Heritage Park holds refuge populations of Gila Topminnow (Poeciliopsis o. occidentalis) and Desert Pupfish (Cyprinodon macularius). These captive populations provide an important dual purpose; a source population for translocations by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and a conservation, restoration, and public education opportunity for Black Canyon City. The pond was initially stocked with Gila Topminnow and Desert Pupfish in 2011 and 2012. Unfortunately, nonnative Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and Tilapia (Tilapia sp) were discovered in 2015. The pond was drained to remove the nonnative fish, which are known to prey upon and compete with topminnow and pupfish. After drying for about a month, the pond was refilled, and left fallow for a few months to allow for natural recolonization by insects, algae, and aquatic vegetation (food resources for fish). In March 2017, 122 salvaged Desert Pupfish were returned to the pond and in June 2018 we stocked 734 Gila Topminnow. We monitored the pond in August 2018 and found the Gila Topminnow population greatly increased, with 1,429 individuals captured. Desert Pupfish are also doing well and appear to be re-established as we captured 504 individuals. In this poster, we provide an overview of this cooperative project, as well as future plans for the pond.