Bonneville Basin Area Report

Authors: Wilson, Krissy W., Miller, Peggy A.

Year: 2006 (xxxviii)

Abstract

We present a brief summary of activities for this year (2006) associated with native aquatic species in the Bonneville Basin. A Rangewide Agreement and Strategy for Three Fish Species, and a Conservation and Management Plan for Three Fish Species in Ut ah, addressing needs for roundtail chub, Gila robusta , bluehead sucker, Catostomus discobolus, and flannelmouth sucker, C. latipinnis, were both finalized*. Genetic analyses for bluehead sucker, with emphasis on drainages in Utah, were completed. A refuge population for least chub, Iotichthys phlegethontis, was established in the Walt Fitzgerald Wildlife Management Area (Utah Division of Wildlife Resources property). An additional refuge population for least chub is being raised onsite at the Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, in the West Desert, with plans for introductions when young are produced. A conservation easement is nearing completion to provide important habitat for least chub and Columbia spotted frog, Rana luteiventris, in the West Desert**. The June Sucker (Chasmistes liorus) Recovery Program continues to be very active***. Red Butte Reservoir was de signated for the primary refuge population, and June sucker were introduced there during the late fall. The Bonneville cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii utah , program finalized a tri-state conser vation agreement. Also, a conservati on easement was finalized for Columbia spotted frog along the upper Provo River. The developer donated approximately 600 acres of riverine and wetland habitat valued at 10 million dollars. [*Also see the abstract by Walker in this volume. **Also see the abstract by Mills & Wagner in this volume. ***Also see the abstract by Keleher et al. in this volume – Eds.]

Resumen

Informe del Área de la Cuenca Bonneville Presentamos un breve resumen de las actividades para este año (2006), asociadas con las especies acuáticas nativas de la Cuenca Bonneville. Se finalizaron los documentos de Acuerdo y Estrategias a todo lo extenso de su Área de distribución para Tres Especies de Peces y un Plan de Conservación y Manejo para Tres Especies de Peces en Utah*, abordando las neces idades de la carpa cola redonda, Gila robusta, matalote cabeza azul, Catostomus discobolus, y matalote boca de franela, C. latipinnis. Se completaron los análisis genéticos para el matalote cabeza azul, con énfasis en lo s afluentes de Utah. Se estableció un a población refugio para la carpita mínima, Iotichtys phlegethontis, en el Área de Manejo de Vida Silvestre Walt Fitzgerald (propiedad de la División de Recursos y Vida Silvestre de Utah). Se está criando otra población refugio de la carpita mínima en el Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre en los manantiales Fish , en el desierto oeste, con planes para su introducción cuando se produzcan las crías. Casi está completo un protocolo de conservación para proporcionar un hábitat importante para la carpita mínima y la rana pinta Columbia, Rana luteiventris, en el desierto oeste**. El

Programa de Recuperación del Matalote Junio ( Chamistes liorus) sigue vigente***. Se designó el reservorio Red Butte para la población refugio principal y se introdujo el matalote junio a finales de otoño. El programa de la trucha degollada de Bonneville, Oncorhyncus clarkii utah, finalizó un acuerdo de conservación entre tres Estados. Además, se finalizó un protocolo de conservación para la rana pinta Columbia a lo largo de la parte superior del Río Provo. El desarrollador donó aproximadamente 600 acres de hábitat riberino y de humedal valuados en 10 millones de dólares. [*Véase también el resúmen de Walker en este volumen. **Véase también el resumen de Mills & Wagner en este volumen. *** Véase también el res.umen de Keleher et al. en este volumen – Eds.]

MINUTES OF THE BUSINESS MEETING / MINUTAS DE LA REUNION DE NEGOCIOS Attendance ca. 120 President’s Report (Stewart Reid acting for President Nathan Allan)  life membership fund overview (normally $650, $250 off, see Heidi Blasius)  conservation fund (mini-grants program, interest income on principal,)  Minckley fund (ca. $11K, Cuatrociénegas activities, family selection)  Travel funds  Conservation fund  Richard Miller Motion to establish Conservation fund, seconded by Marty  Brittan, EXCOMM plus 3 members at large to decide awards under Conservation fund  Motion passed unanimous Heidi Blasius (Membership Secretary) Report  Membership specifics  Important for members to update contact information as it changes  Life membership contact for credit  No questions Dean Hendrickson (Proceedings Editor) Report  Proceedings to be published only electronically, with Lulu.com to allow distribution of pdf file for hard copy production, with translation to lulu.com  Last two years to go to lulu.com  This year’s will be published soon in English and sent to lulu after translation  Cost ca. $10 per copy  Color capability  Will be cheaper and save money for conservation fund, about $4-5 K per proceedings volume Kara Hilwig (Areas Coordinator) Report  generally favorable response to fish base o discussion of alternate ways to submit data  original publications, grey literature use possibilities  establishment of links available for info dissemination  longterm commitment  need for membership to work with area coordinators to provide data for input Chuck Minckley (Member-at-Large) Report  2006 Correspondence, 6 pieces o AGFD request for comments, list of restricted wildlife o Response to Richard Lowe, speaking o Scientific society ESA comments o Support CC field station for proposal to Wildlife without Borders o Devil’s Hole pupfish editorial response to LV newspaper o LCR spinedace recovery team request for supporting control of nonnatives

o Kyle and McCain, letter to address issues to AZ legislation o Letter of support to oppose gypsum mine near CC Chuck was thanked for his term as Member-at-Large Elections - Areas Coordinator, Membership Secretary, Member at Large  Membership Secretary nominations plus incumbent o Jeremy Voeltz, Pam/Tony (motion, second), closed (Stewart)  Areas Coordinator o Nominations closed (Clark/Stewart)  Membership closed (Matt A./Steve P.) o Chris and David nominated Eric Gustafson (Awards Committee Chair) Report  Selection of reviewers/volunteers  9 Hubbs, 2 Miller submissions, 2 were posters  Comparing talks and posters difficult to be fair  Proposing new award for posters, called “Edwin P. Pister Award” (post mortem recommendation by Phil)  Rec. to call it DFC poster award  OK with membership  Name of award may change in future  Starting with this meeting Steve Norris (Local Meeting Host for 2007 meeting) Report  Hosting 2007 meeting, Ventura County, CA  PPT presentation  California State University, Channel Islands  Meeting to be held at Pierpont Inn (negotiating)  Field trips to channel islands national park  Other motels in area, not necessarily anything close enough to walk  14-18 November  Beach camping, reservations Resolutions – none Cuatrociénegas discussion  minimal income at field station from reservations, starting to become known,  expenses $700 per month, made about $2k so far Old business, future meetings  rotation, Cuatrociénegas as regular location in México  no decision by ExComm, already scheduled 4 years out New Business  Dean Hendrickson resigned as Webmaster, seeks volunteer to assist take over that role o Description of duties/needs by DAH o Web site outdated and needs fair amount of work o DAH will continue with basics and requested to have anyone interested contact him  Conservation International, Mike Smith o Desert springs management, work with local communities to keep springs flowing, looking for recommendations for specific sites, pupfish in particular  Phil Pister – field trip o ca. 20 on field trip Sunday at 0800 o banquet tonight, drink ticket  Election results: David Ward is new Member-at-Large, incumbents win other posts on Excomm.