Lee Simons a Carpenter of Convergence: Restoration Project Legacy for Southern Nevada Aquatic Species with Current Status Updates.

Authors: Kevin Guadalupe

Year: 2018

Abstract

As the Environmental Services lead fish biologist for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Southern Nevada Field Office, Lee was responsible for recovery of 12 listed fish species. His leadership and kindness at recovery team meetings consolidated agency leads, academics, and local shareholders to cooperate towards ongoing restoration and increasing population numbers. He gave expedient consultation on restoration projects for Pahrump Poolfish Empetrichthys latos, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Devils Hole, and other listed fish species in the pluvial White River system while also getting in the mud to complete the work. Lee was instrumental in acquiring two national competitive funding opportunities through Cooperative Recovery Initiative (CRI) funding. The Muddy River CRI funding completed two new fish barriers, and hired two new temporary employees entirely devoted to the restoration and monitoring of the Muddy River system. Moapa Dace, Moapa coriacea Snorkel counts are currently four times greater than at the time of his arrival with Virgin River Chub, Gila seminuda existing in the upper Muddy River for the first time since pre non-native fish invasion. The Pahranagat Cooperative Recovery Initiative funding initiated a Pahranagat Roundtail Chub, Gila robusta jordani PIT tag monitoring program, stabilized the refuge population at Key Pittman, and developed a new refuge habitat at Cottonwood Spring. During the 2013 low count of 35 Devils Hole Pupfish, Cyprinodon diabolis Lee took charge to bring the multi-agency command team together. He would then praise the recovery response to others in his team. Non-natives removal projects and restoration projects are complete or ongoing in The Virgin River, Muddy River, Pahranagat, Ash Meadows, and at Pahrump Poolfish refuge populations, including a new refuge site initiated in 2018 as a result of his leadership.