Limiting Factors & Recovery of Woundfin in the Virgin River

Authors: Melinda Bennion, Rick Fridell, Martin Schijf, Kody Callister

Year: 2022

Abstract

Woundfin, Plagopterus argentissimus, have been federally listed as an endangered species since 1970. Successful reproduction and recruitment of Woundfin is limited to a 16.3 mile reach in the upper Virgin River in Utah. Until recently, only a small portion of Woundfin live to be greater than 1-year old in the wild; the persistence of Woundfin is dependent on the survival and reproductive success of these young fish. Woundfin abundance and distribution has been limited by multiple factors including non-native fish, drought, altered streamflow regimes, diversions, elevated water temperature, decreased turbidity, water management events, and a decline of spawning and rearing habitat. Since 2000, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has worked through the collaborative Virgin River Program to identify and evaluate factors limiting Woundfin persistence and recruitment. This presentation will highlight the creative ways we have addressed these limiting factors and discuss how Woundfin populations have responded.