Pahranagat Roundtail Chub: A Cooperative Recovery Initiative Approach

Authors: James* Harter, Christiana Manville, Peter Rissler, Kevin Guadalupe

Year: 2015 (xlvii)

Abstract

The Pahranagat roundtail chub, Gila robusta jordani, is a federally endangered species whose native habitat resides entirely on private lands in Pahranagat Valley, Lincoln County, Nevada. Major spring outflows in the valley were manipulated by the mid-1800Á¢â‚¬â„¢s before biological inventories were conducted. The historical range of the species was believed to be around 19 miles though current distribution is limited to 2 miles of stream channel and 2 miles of a cement-lined ditch. Refuge populations are managed at the Southwestern Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center and Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area. In 2013, the Southern Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office received national funding to implement recovery activities for the Pahranagat roundtail chub. Working with partners we have developed projects to stabilize a refuge site at the Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area, establish a second refuge site within Pahranagat Valley at the Pahranagat Valley National Wildlife Refuge, and improve cattle management on private lands along the last occupied stretch of the Pahranagat River.