Conservation Agreements and Strategies: Utahs Proactive Approach to Conserving Native Aquatic Species

Authors: Krissy* Wilson

Year: 2015 (xlvii)

Abstract

In Utah Conservation Agreements and Strategies have been an important conservation tool for the past 20 years. The primary goal of an Agreement is to proactively address the needs of species before they become imperiled and to expedite implementation of conservation measures as a collaborative and cooperative effort among resource agencies, Tribes, and NGOs to reduce and eliminate threats and prevent listing under the Endangered Species Act. Each Strategy is comprised of the same basic elements: determine historical distribution, document current distribution, assess threats to the species and their habitats, identify conservation actions to reduce or eliminate threats, implement conservation actions, and review and assess the effectiveness of the conservation actions. Strategies are in place for Virgin Spinedace, Lepidomeda mollispinis , Northern Leatherside Chub, Lepidomeda copei , Southern Leatherside Chub, Lepidomeda aliciae , Bonneville Cutthroat Trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii utah, Colorado River Cutthroat Trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus , Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri , Columbia spotted frog, Rana luteiventris , Least Chub, Iotichthys phlegethontis , Fat-whorled pondsnail, Stagnicola bonnevillensis, and the Three Fish Species, Roundtail, Gila robusta , Flannelmouth sucker, Catostomus latipinnis , and Bluehead sucker, Catostomus discobolus. Eight of the twelve Agreement species have been petitioned to list under the Endangered Species Act and all have been determined not warranted due to conservation actions and threat abatement identified and implemented through the Agreement processes.