An Update of Fossil Creek Management, an Agency’s actions and reaction since 2007.

Authors: Clayton D. Crowder, Anthony T. Robinson, Roland S. Rogers, Charles Benedict, Matthew Rinker

Year: 2011 (xliii)

Abstract

Fossil Creek, a warm-water perennial tributary of the Verde River in central Arizona, is known as an iconic native fish restoration project. Since 2004, when it was restored as a native fishes system, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) in coordination with a multi-agency partnership has stocked longfin dace, Agosia chrysogaster, and federally threatened spikedace, Meda fulgida and loach minnow, Tiaroga cobitis, and federally endangered Gila topminnow, Poeciliopsis occidentalis, and razorback sucker, Xyrachen texanus. Subsequent monitoring for the stocked species has indicated sporadic persistence of spikedace and loach minnow, reproduction and persistence of Gila topminnow, and overall increased abundance of longfin dace. In an effort to increase public awareness and appreciation of native fish and native fish conservation efforts in Arizona, Fossil Creek was opened to a catch-and-release chub-only fishery in October 2009. A 4.5 mile section of Fossil Creek was designated as a headwater chub, Gila nigra, and roundtail chub, Gila robusta, fishing area. Sampling by AGFD within this 4.5 mile stretch has shown that overall chub abundance, distribution and age class has not been negatively impacted by the catch-and-release season. Likewise, the overall impact of hooking injury has also notably decreased within the special regulation fishing reach. Overall, Fossil Creek appeared to be a continuing success story as both native fish repatriations and a native chub fishery. In July 2011, small-mouth bass were discovered above the barrier. Subsequent surveys indicated that small-mouth bass were distributed up to about 2.5 miles upstream of the barrier. Agencies reacted and volunteers were recruited. AGFD led removal efforts via gill-netting, snorkeling and hook-and-line fishing that spanned the small-mouth bass inhabited section. To stop the upstream invasion, a temporary barrier was built by Bureau of Reclamation approximately 200 meters upstream of the upper most small-mouth bass sighting. No small-mouth bass have been observed upstream of the temporary barrier, and AGFD is continuing to perform removal in the invaded stretch.