DFC PRocEEDn rcs - AL-HABETTcAL usrl].rc oF AgsrRAcrs

Authors: HBTIIJRICH, I. E., S, OAEnC, I, C. t**“*otvisimofwildlrfc,Rcgimrrr,tzvcgr,Nv)

Year: 1995 (xxvii)

Abstract

The !!’hite River spinedacs,Icpinomeda albivallis, is endemic to the White River Vailey, the headwaters of the Pluvial l{hite River. This spinedace historically occurred from mountain streams, such as Ellison Creek tovalley-floor meadows and springs such as Sunnyside Creek In 1985, the White River spinedace was federally listed as Endangered primarily because suweys indicated that only two small spring systerns contained this now rare fish. Follow-up studies in 1992 indicated that distribution was reduced to a single location and was further restricted to only 2 headwaler pools. Since habitats and numbers of spinedace were so restricted, a limited number of altematives were available to fisheries marlagers to enhance recovery. Any recovery or research activities required little to no handling of remaining fish. iv{anagers undet’cook a variety of activities to improve habitats and encourage recruitment. Habitats that once contained spinedace were rehabilitated in a number of ways induding native and nonnative fish removai, phpical stream reconstruction, removal of man-made control structures, substrate modification, and vegetation control. In addition, other measures were completed to protect the remaining population of spinedace, induding fish barrier modification and construction, protective netting installed on the main springhead to prevent bird predation, and periodic dive sunreys to monitor and remove dorvnstream predators. To date, no indication of recruitment has occurred along this short section of North Flag Spring. At this time the entire population of White River spinedace may be as low as 25 individuals. R,ESL/TIEN El \Alhite River spinedace, Lepidomeda a{bivallis, es enddmico al White River Valley, la cabecera de cuenca del Pluvial White fuver. Esle spinedace hist6ricamente ocurri6 desde las corrientes montaffosas, como Ellison Creek, a los prados del valle y manantiales tales como Sunnyside Creek. En 1985, el White River spinedace fue listado federalmente como En Peligro, principalmente debido a que 1as evaluaciones indicaron que dnicamenle dos pequefros sistemas de manantiales contenian este raro pez. Estudios siguientes en 1992 indicaron que la distribuci6n fue reducida a una sola localidad y arin mis restringido a solo dos pozas de manantial. Debido a que los h6bitats y los nrimeros de spinedace fueron muy restringidos, un n(mero limitado de alternativas estuvieron disponibles a ios manejadores de pesquerfas para meiorar su recuperaci6n. Cualquier actividad de investigaci6n o recuperaci6n requiri6 poca a ninguna manipulaci5n de los peces restantes. Los maneiadores emprendieron una variedad de actividades para meiorar hibitats y fomentar el redutamiento. los hibitats que una vez conluvieron al spinedace se rehabilitaron de diversas maneras, incluyendo: remoci6n de peces nativos y no-nativos, reconstrucci6n ffsica de arroyos, remoci6n de estructuras de control hechas por el hombre, modificaci6n del substrato, y control de la vegetaci6n. Micionalmente, se completaron otras medirlrs para proteger la poblaci6n restante de spinedace, induyendo: la construcci6n y modificaci6n de barrera para peces, redes protectoras instaladas en los principales manantiales para impedir la depredaci6n por aves, y buceos peri6dicos para monitorear y remover predadores prorienientes de corriente abajo. A la fecha, no hay indicios de que haya ocurrido redutamiento a lo iaqgo de esta corta secci6n del North Flag Spring. En este momento la poblaci6n entera del White River spinedace quizds sea tan baia como 25 individuos. 46