The Desert Fish Habitat Partnership: Striving for no more extinctions

Authors: Heidi B. Blasius, Kathryn Boyer, Chris Cantrell, Jon C. Sjoberg

Year: 2008 (xl)

Abstract

Approximately half of U.S. threatened and endangered fishes occur in the arid western United States. State wildlife action plans identify habitat loss as a primary factor threatening aquatic species in desert ecosystems. Conservation of aquatic resources is a fundamental and pervasive challenge facing people and fish sharing increasingly limited waters of the arid west. The Desert Fish Habitat Partnership is mobilizing to address this issue. In light of global climate change and enormous population growth in western states, our challenge is daunting. Yet our goals are clear: no species will go extinct and no species will be added to the threatened and endangered species list. Our objectives are simple: protect intact habitats by addressing threats and prioritize our efforts based on likelihood of success. We intend to meet these goals by integrating and implementing strategies and actions for desert fish identified in the state wildlife action plans of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Wyoming, multi-species conservation plans, or other species/habitat plans. Partners are poised to work across jurisdictions to focus dollars, expertise, and efforts on protecting intact desert fish habitats and restoring degraded ones. Yet with all the partners and conservation efforts in place, we still need your help. We need partners that are currently working on desert fish species to share data we can use to evaluate species and habitat trends, provide additional opportunities for leveraging money to accomplish our ambitious goals, and offer innovative ideas to expedite progress. Time is of the essence. This presentation will provide details of the emerging Desert Fish Habitat Partnership and offer participants the opportunity to join our efforts to protect and conserve desert fishes and their habitats.