Oregon / Northern California Area Report, November 2014

Authors: Paul Scheerer, Jimmy Leal, David Banks, Kendra Hoekzema, Marci Schreder, Troy Brandt, Stewart B. Reid, Paul Divine

Year: 2014 (xlvi)

Abstract

The northwestern extreme of the desert region includes several endorheic drainage subbasins in Oregon, northeastern California, and northwestern Nevada (Fort Rock, Chewaucan, Goose, Warner, Catlow, Alvord, Malheur Lakes, Coyote Lakes, and Quinn). This region supports remnant fish faunas that once inhabited extensive pluvial Pleistocene lakes. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: 1) estimated Warner sucker, Catostomus warnerensis, abundance in the Twentymile Creek subbasin and PIT tagged suckers to assess future passage at a fish ladder that is being reconstructed this fall, 2) obtained a population estimate and evaluated habitat conditions for Foskett speckled dace, Rhinichthys osculus ssp., in Foskett and Dace Springs (in cooperation with BLM), 3) evaluated habitat conditions for Borax Lake chub, Gila boraxobius, at Borax lake from shoreline surveys, photo points, temperature and water level monitoring. Jimmy Leal, BLM, continued ongoing habitat restoration at Foskett Spring for Foskett speckled dace, including the hand excavation of three new pools in the spring brook, thinning of aquatic vegetation from the spring pool and in four of the eight pools dug in 2013 in the tule and cattail marshes. BLM conducted photo point and water quality monitoring at Foskett and Dace Springs. BLM also completed a project to improve a road crossing (to reduce erosion/sedimentation) in the Warner (Deep Creek) basin, completed photo point monitoring of all fish bearing streams in the Warner basin, was actively involved in the replacement of a passage structure for Warner suckers in the Twentymile Creek subbasin (in cooperation with the watershed council and River Design Group), and has secured additional funds ($165K) for the next phase of the Honey Creek passage and screening project to benefit Warner suckers and redband trout (6 unscreened and unladdered diversions remain to be completed). Dave Banks (ODFW) and Marci Schreder (Lake County Watershed Council) worked with landowners in the Honey Creek subbasin to initiate fish passage and screening projects for Warner suckers. Unfortunately due to drought conditions, ODFW was unable to install fish screens on the recently (2013) constructed passage structure on Honey Creek. Flow measurements into the irrigation ditches need to be measured before the engineers can design the appropriate screens. Kendra Hoekzema and Dr. Brian Sidlauskis (OSU), in collaboration with BLM and ODFW, completed a study of species limits and population structure in speckled daces across the arid drainages of Oregon using phylogenetics, microsatellite analysis, and morphometrics. The work included a systematic assessment of the taxonomic status of the threatened Foskett speckled dace, revealed patterns of genetic connectivity across the landscape, and tested for the presence of cryptic species or subspecies. They concluded that Foskett Speckled is not a distinct species or subspecies (not monophyletic with either mtDNA or nuclear DNA), but the microsatellites identified them as a distinct population with distinct morphology and recommended they be labeled an Ecologically Significant Unit (ESU). They also sampled dace from Klamath Basin (including Duncan Spring) and Owyhee basin (including Rinehart Spring) and found a consistent morphological difference between dace from springs and streams. Marci Schreder, Lake County Watershed Council, and Troy Brandt, River Design Group, completed several watershed enhancement projects in the Warner, Goose Lake, and Chewaucan subbasins focusing on fish passage and stream bank stabilization for native fishes. Stewart Reids (Western Fishes) diligent efforts in the Goose Lake Basin resulted in the proposal to delist the Modoc Sucker in February 2014. Stewart continued bullfrog eradication in Turner Creek (Modoc Sucker habitats) and has been learning a lot about frog diets. Paul Divine, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, conducted drought monitoring on streams in the Goose Lake, Surprise Valley, and South Fork Pit River drainages to assess impacts to native fishes. Stream flow was monitored bi-weekly to track stream flow trends and assess the need for potential fish relocations. Jim Capurso, USFS, organized a field trip where twenty fish biologists convened at the Blitzen River in southeast Oregon for the second annual Oregon Chapter American Fisheries Society (ORAFS) Native Fish Committee Non-Game Native Fish Workshop. The 2014 featured species were the Blitzen River whitefish and the Borax Lake chub. The goal of the annual workshops is to focus on non-game native fishes in their natural habitats and discuss their biology, habitat requirements, and conservation.

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