Recovery on Private Land – Pahranagat Roundtail Chub Progress

Authors: Christiana Manville, James Harter, Cody Anderson

Year: 2018

Abstract

The Pahranagat Roundtail Chub, Gila robusta jordani, is a federally endangered species whose native habitat resides entirely within an active cattle ranch of the Pahranagat Valley, Lincoln County, Nevada. The current distribution consists of 2.2 miles of stream channel and 1.5 miles of a cement-lined irrigation ditch. Working through the USFWS’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, we have developed a working relationship with the landowner, allowing us to implement five restoration projects over the last nine years. Some projects directly benefit chub, while others help the landowner manage resource concerns that otherwise hinder the cattle operation. Since 2014, we have intensified research in the field, including implementing seasonal snorkeling surveys, mark-recapture studies of adults, larval fish monitoring, and evaluating fish habitat. Important results of these studies lead to the discovery that juvenile fish are lost to the system during the irrigation season, which has led to yearly salvaging of juveniles. Through these studies we significantly improved our understanding of this species and needs for future recovery efforts. This conservation program was made possible by funds from the USFWS’s Cooperative Recovery Initiative (CRI) program. Finally, we acknowledge Lee Simons for his leadership in writing the CRI Proposal in 2013, developing the monitoring program, and for his strong support of conservation on private lands.