The current status of Eagle Creek, AZ and its changing fish community

Authors: Jerry Warmbold, Paul C. Marsh, Brian R. Kesner

Year: 2012 (xliv)

Abstract

Eagle Creek, a tributary of the Gila River in Greenlee County, Arizona, is home to a diverse native and non-native ichthyofauna. Headwaters of this creek begin in the White Mountains, and continue 84 km to the Gila River confluence. Downstream from the mountains, the influence of anthropogenic disturbances such as cattle ranching and mining activities becomes apparent as flow decreases, with surface waters disappearing before reaching the Gila in some years. Its history, although rarely recorded, is filled with stocking events, fire, unexpected detection of endangered species, and the subsequently vanishing of said species. Since 1985, routine monitoring surveys have been conducted throughout warm water reaches of the creek. These surveys provide invaluable insight into species demographics and fluctuations in presence and locations of native fish in response to not only natural disturbances such as fire, but unnatural, such as non-native fish introduction. Once home to as many as nine native species since 1987, including spikedace, Meda fulgida, and loach minnow, Tiaroga cobitis, only six of the original nine have been documented within the last decade. This paper explores the history of the Eagle Creek fish community from 1985 to present day, with special focus on dramatic events such as the Wallow Fire in 2011, and intermittent presence of vulnerable species.