Gila River Basin Native Fishes Conservation Program

Authors: Douglas K. Duncan

Year: 2009 (xli)

Abstract

The CAP Gila River Basin Native Fishes Conservation Program (CAP Program) was established to conserve native fishes and manage against nonnative fishes in response to several ESA biological opinions between the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on CAP water transfers to the Gila River basin. Populations of some Gila River native fish species are extremely rare in the wild and appear on the verge of extirpation. A high priority of the CAP Program to conserve and recover native fishes of the Gila River basin is to replicate remaining populations of federally listed species into suitable, protected streams and repatriate populations of listed and other native fishes into streams. The CAP Program provides monies to undertake and support conservation actions for five priority fishes, and other native fishes in the Gila River basin by implementing recovery plans. In addition, the program provides monies to control and eradicate non-native fishes and other non-indigenous aquatic organisms. Thus the Program is also directed toward actions against non-native aquatic biota where they interfere with recovery of native forms. Fund transfers from Reclamation to the Service began in 1997. Though most funding is funneled through the Service, Reclamation does retain some funds. About $5.5 million has been allocated so far; and Reclamation will transfer about $10.5 million to the Service the next 20 years. One half the funding is identified for native fish recovery actions, and one half for non-native aquatic biota control actions. Expenditure of these funds is jointly agreed upon by Reclamation and the Service in consultation with AGFD and NMDGF through a formal process. Multiple conservation and recovery projects benefitting native fish in the Gila basin have been funded so far. In addition, barriers and management against nonnative species have also been funded and completed.