Oregon/Northern California Area Report, November 2015

Authors: Sheerer, Paul*, Leal, Jimmy, Schreder, Marci, Sidlauskas, Brian, Meeuwig, Michael, Brandt, Troy, Smith, Terry, Divine, Paul

Year: 2015 (xlvii)

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 (Warner basin) and monitored movement of PIT tagged suckers to assess passage at a newly constructed, sucker-friendly fish ladder, 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) obtained a population estimate and evaluated habitat conditions for Borax Lake chub, Gila boraxobius, at Borax Lake in the Alvord basin, 4) conducted redband trout life history studies to estimate abundance in Blitzen River tributaries (Malheur Lake subbasin) and evaluate movement patterns, and 5) evaluated redband trout abundance estimate bias related to timing of surveys and in response to stream drying in Rock Creek (Catlow subbasin). Alan Mauer, reported that 1) the US Fish and Wildlife Service is in the process of drafting a proposal to reclassify the Borax Lake chub from endangered to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act, 2) The Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife completed a “Cooperative Management Plan” for Foskett speckled dace, 3) the Fish and Wildlife Service is near completion of a draft 5-year review of the Foskett speckled dace, and 4) the USFWS anticipates in the near future a final decision on the proposal to remove the Modoc sucker from the list of threatened and endangered species (proposed February 13, 2014). Jimmy Leal, BLM, continued ongoing habitat restoration at Foskett Spring for Foskett speckled dace, including the thinning of aquatic vegetation from pools dug in 2013 and 2014 in the tule and cattail marshes. Jimmy Leal, BLM, Marci Schreder, Lake County Watershed Council, and Troy Brandt, River Design Group, partnered with the Robinson Ranch, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and ODFW to replace a passage structure for Warner suckers in the Twentymile Creek subbasin. BLM has secured additional funds ($215K) 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). Doug Markle, retired OSU professor, completed “A Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Oregon” ’, which includes detailed information on the taxonomy and distribution of Oregona’s desert fishes. Terry Smith, USFS, with assistance from Trevor Watson, ODFW, conducted population index surveys for Modoc suckers in Thomas Creek. The Lake County Watershed Council collaborated with the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Green Diamond Timber Resources, 70’s Ranch, Anderson Engineering, Cascade Stream Solutions, US Fish and Wildlife Service and ODFW to provide fish passage and screening for native desert fishes in the Goose Lake, Chewaucan, and Silver Lake subbasins. Dr. Brian Sidlauskis (OSU), in collaboration with prior students, BLM, and ODFW, continued a study of species limits and population structure in speckled daces across the arid drainages of Oregon using phylogenetics, microsatellite analysis, and morphometrics. They found a consistent morphological difference between three main lineages of Great Basin dace from springs and streams and that four desert springs (Stinking Lake, Barnyard, Hibbard and Rinehart) in the Malheur and Owyhee basins harbor a very divergent lineage of dace that likely represents an undescribed species, possibly a relict of a species that was once more widely distributed. Paul Divine reported that, California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted drought monitoring on several streams and conducted fish rescues when necessary. This included temperature and flow monitoring and rescue assessments on several Goose Lake tributaries, two fish rescues on Cold Creek, relocating Goose Lake redband trout, Pit sculpin, and Goose Lake lamprey into Lassen Creek due to desiccation of Cold Creek, and temperature and flow monitoring and rescue assessments on four redband trout streams in the Southern Warner Mountains (Mill, East, Emerson, and Cedar creek). Preliminary results indicated high stream temperatures and reduced flows affected both quantity and quality of available fish habitat due to extreme drought conditions. Additional Authors: Douglas Markle, Oregon State University and Trevor Watson, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife