Desert Fishes Gouncil 7 "(Dedicated to the (Newhvatfipti ot LARiehica' MegAt 9.1.def: 407 West Line Street Bishop, California 93514 February 21, 1975 To: All Persons and Agencies Concerned From: Chairman, Death Valley System Committee Subject: Second Annual Meeting of Death Valley System Committee. Subject meeting was held at Furnace Creek Inn, Death Valley National Monument, on February 10, 1975 with 27 in attendance (list attached). Superintendent James B. Thompson referred to the ping-pong justice involved in the matter of the Devils Hole pupfish, wherein the existence of the species has essentially been bounced back and forth between the courts. Although the species remains highly endangered, it still exists. Perhaps through the efforts of the Council, reflected Superintendent Thompson, we can solve the problem of how to manage the species for survival. Toward this end, and toward the solution of similar problems within the Death Valley System, he again welcomed the Committee to Death Valley National Monument. Status reports were then given for the endemic fishes of the Death Valley System as follows: 1. Pahrump killifish, Ernnetrichthys latos. Manse Spring remains essentially unchanged as far as the water level is concerned. Heavy vegetation makes accurate counting nearly impossible. The species still persists there, however. The transplanted population at Corn Creek near Las Vegas has dropped from approximately 1,400 a year ago to about 250 at this time. Competition with Gambusia affinis remains a problem, and consideration will be given to making an attempt to eliminate this species. A letter received subsequent to the meeting from Wayne Logan from the Ely Bill office revealed (as suspected by Dale Lockard) that E. latos no longer exists at Shoshone Ponds. Happily, though, Wayne reported that the Pahranagat bonytail (Gila robusta 'ordani) is doing well, and one specimen measuring 10 inches in length was taken. A recovery team concept planned for E. latos is described under the following section covering the Devils Hole pun-fish, C. diabolis. Among other things, the level of Manse Spring will be monitored. Until the recovery team is operative, Dale Lockard will oversee the status of this fish. 2. Devils Hole pupfish, Cyprinodon diabolis. The current population in Devils Hole is approximately 200, and it should be 400 at this time of year. Since September the population has dropped between 25 and 30 per month. The Hoover Dam refugium population has also declined, and the size of the fish has decreased somewhat from the extraordinary growth noted during the early stages of the refugium. In order to provide a more coordinated approach to the preservation of the species, a recovery team is planned under the chairmanship of Jim Deacon of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Membership in the team would include Chuck Osborn, Fish and Wildlife Service; Osborn Casey, Bureau of Land Management; Herb Guenther, Bureau of Reclamation; Dale Lockard, Nevada Department of Fish and Game; David Soltz, California State University, Los Angeles; and Dean Garrett, National Park Service. I would also serve on the team in an advisory capacity as Chairman of the Death Valley System Committee and to coordinate any aquarium culture or other recovery activities which might occur within California. Formation of the team is contingent upon receipt of approval from the Depart- ment of Justice. An identical team, under the chairmanship of Dale Lockard, is being formed for the Pahrump killifish. 3. Ash Meadows speckled dace, Rhinichthys osculus nevadensis. Population status remains essentially unchanged. Chuck Osborn will determine the feasibility of constructing a barrier below Jackrabbit Spring and intro- ducing the subspecies into Corn Creek following removal of Gambusia affinis. 4. Ash Meadows pupfish, Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes. Population status in• Big Spring and Jackrabbit Spring remains unchanged. Bob Love agreed to monitor the populations throughout the year and, as a weekly visitor to the area, is in an excellent position to do so. The Nature Conservancy is proceeding with management plans for Big Spring. 5. Warm Spring pupfish, Cyprinodon nevadensis pectoralis. The School Spring population remains in satisfactory condition, as do the other four populations in Ash Meadows. However, as with all endemic Ash Meadows fishes, the subspecies must •be considered endangered as long as the pumping threat remains. A recovery team has been nominated for C. n. pectoralis as follows: Chairman. Jim Yoakum, BLM, Reno. Team members: Cal Allan and Dale Lockard, Nevada Department of Fish and Game; Chuck Osborn, Fish and Wildlife Service; and Jim Deacon, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The initial thrust of the team will be directed toward land ownership and possible acquisition, and estimation of population numbers in the five springs containing the subspecies. 6. Owens chub, Gila bicolor snyderi. The status of this subspecies remains unchanged. The Owens Piver Gorge below Crowley Lake (Mono County) contains a small, stable population which appears to be secure. As soon as a few operational problems are overcome at the Owens Valley Native Fish Sanctuary, another introduction will be made there. Earlier introductions were ineffective because of chemical treatments conducted to remove illegally established populations of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Phil Pister will oversee recovery operations. 7. Owens dace, Rhinichthys osculus subsp. A general inventory of Owens Valley fish populations made during 1974 revealed that several populations of Owens dace exist in the northern portion of the valley from the Bishop Creek drainage northward. These populations will be monitored regularly, and another introduction will be made into the Owens Valley Native Fish Sanctuary as discussed previously for the Owens chub. Phil Pieter will supervise this work. 8. Rhinichthys osculus subsp., Amargosa River near Beatty, Nevada. There has been no known change in the status of this undescribed subspecies. Jim Deacon will handle existing collections and make further collections as necessary to improve our knowledge of both status and taxonomy. As necessary, assistance will be requested and provided by Cal Allan and Chuck Osborn. 9. Rhinichthys osculus subsp., Amargosa River Gorge, below Tecopa. There has been no known change in the status of this subspecies. Jim Deacon will handle existing collections and assist in further collecting as necessary. A general fish population survey of the Amargosa River Gorge is currently planned for this area during mid-April, which will significantly improve our information concerning both distribution and population numbers. Phil Pister is coordinating this interagency endeavor. It is of interest that BLM has closed the Amargosa Gorge to off-road vehicle use. 10. Mohave chub, Gila bicolor mohavensis. Four of ten transplant operations have been successful, and the subspecies is felt to be reasonably secure. Operation of the Zzyzx Springs population is now in the hands of BLM, and this former resort area may be used by the State College and University System for teaching and research purposes. Jim St. Amant is coordinating recovery efforts for this subspecies. 11. Owens pupfish, Cyprinodon radiosus. Phil Pister will continue with the program currently underway to establish the species in areas throughout its former range. The California Department of Fish and Game and the Inter-Agency Committee on Owens Valley Land and Wildlife are negotiating for the acquisition of privately held land within Fish Slough, the location of the Owens Valley Native Fish Sanctuary. The Owens Valley Native Fish Sanctuary is already designated as an ecological reserve. Other populations in the northern Owens Valley will continue to be monitored. 12. Tecopa pupfish, Cyprinodon nevadensis calidae. On February 11, the day following the Death Valley System Committee meeting, a group of us met with a landowner in the Tecopa area who is very interested in desert fishes and the welfare of this subspecies in particular. He showed us an area where a relict population may still exist, and we shall collect from there at the earliest opportunity. Because the area is heavily overgrown, collecting with nets was impossible. Traps will be used during the next collect- ing effort, and the collection (if we are successful) will be sent immediately to Bob Miller at the University of Michigan for taxonomic studies. Further recovery operations will be dependent upon Bob's determinations. If they are positive, immediate action will be taken to assure the preservation of an adequate gene pool. Phil Pister will coordinate this effort. 13. Cottonball Marsh pupfish, Cyprinodon milleri. There has been no known change in the status of this species. Population numbers and habitat conditions will be monitored by Pete Sanchez. 14. Saratoga Springs pupfish, Cyprinodon nevadensis nevadensis. The population at Saratoga Springs remains stable and, if the integrity of the aquifers supplying the springs can be retained and no exotic fishes are introduced, the subspecies should remain safe. Pete Sanchez will continue to monitor the situation. 15. Amargosa pupfish, Cyprinodon nevadensis amargosae. This subspecies is apparently well established throughout the Amargosa River within California, with substantial populations noted in the area near Tecopa at the head of the Amargosa River Gorge. More detailed information will be obtained during the April field survey described under Rhinichthys