Volume 1 | Issue 3 | September 2015

Verde Watershed Fisheries Management Plan Inside this issue: Beginning in 2013, the Arizona Game and Fish Department led a multi-agency team #TRENDINGNOW ...... 2 that was tasked with developing a watershed-based, fisheries management plan A New Conservation Tool: the for the entire watershed that would balance sport fish opportunities Chub CCAA ...... 2 and native fish conservation. That watershed plan is nearing completion. Apache Trout Research ...... 2 IN THE FIELD ...... 3 The Verde Watershed Fisheries that resources will typically be be available to the public Management Plan was applied to address the primary online at www.azgfd.gov. Recent and Upcoming AZGFD- developed using the emphasis first. led Activities ...... 3 The Verde Watershed Department’s new Watershed- Gartersnake and Leopard Frog A Verde Watershed Fisheries Fisheries Management Plan is based Fish Management Recovery Updates ...... 3 Process. This process is Management Plan web map the first plan developed using systematic, data-driven, and was developed as the main this process. The team also BACK AT THE PONDS ...... 4 communication tool for evaluated the effectiveness of addresses socio-political Desert Fish Research and concerns. Department fisheries and the planning process, and Recovery at ARCC ...... 4 aquatic management decisions provided recommendations The team—which included in the Verde River watershed. for future watershed-based state and federal biologists— The web map displays each fish management planning delineated management units individual management unit efforts. and identified a primary and on an interactive map, secondary management allowing users to easily The Verde Watershed emphasis for each unit so that identify high-priority Fisheries Management Plan is more specific prescriptions management units and the in the final stages of review under those categories could primary emphasis for that unit. and will be released soon. be applied. Management The Santa Cruz Watershed emphasis designations were The web tool also provides Fisheries Management Plan is derived from comparisons of photos of waters within the currently being developed current and potential sport fish management units and and will be completed by July and native fish conservation information about primary and 2016. opportunities. Secondary secondary management designations for species. The By Matt Chmiel, Fish Program designation in no way implies Manager, Kingman Region secondary importance, only completed watershed plan will

A screen shot of the Verde Watershed Fisheries Management Plan web tool. Image by AZGFD. Volume 1 | Issue 3 | September 2015 | Page 2

Participating #TRENDINGNOW “landowners enroll their A New Tool in the Conservation Toolbox: Chub CCAA In March 2014, the Department species conservation activities The Chub CCAA seeks to lands through began developing a statewide on their property. preclude the need to list Candidate Conservation either species by leveraging Certificates of Agreement with Assurances for The USFWS added Headwater existing conservation efforts Inclusion and Roundtail and Headwater Chub Chub as a Candidate species in to include non-federal in Arizona (Chub CCAA).* 2006 and in landowners across the obtain 2009, with both being subject species’ range in Arizona. CCAAs are used to identify to ESA listing review under Chub conservation measures regulatory threats to Candidate species the Multi-District Litigation are designed to meet CCAA under the Endangered Species settlement. standards and achieve the assurances Act (ESA) and bring agencies goal of reducing or mitigating and willing non-federal Preceding development of the species threats and from the U.S. landowners together to Chub CCAA, the Department promoting self-sustaining Fish and implement species has been actively managing populations and quality chub conservation. Participating chub through existing plans, habitat. Wildlife landowners enroll their lands including the Arizona through Certificates of Inclusion Statewide 6-species By Jon Cooley, Endangered Species Service…. and obtain regulatory Conservation Agreement, the Coordinator, Wildlife Management 3-species Range-wide Division, and Julie Meka-Carter, assurances from the U.S Fish CAMP Program Manager, Fisheries and Wildlife Service, as well as Conservation Agreement, and Branch incidental take permits to cover the Department’s Sport Fish ongoing land management and Stocking Conservation and <°))))><{ <°))))><{ <°))))><{ Mitigation Program (CAMP).

” *Roundtail and Headwater Chub are identified as individual species per Minckley and DeMarais (2000). The Arizona Game and Fish Department recognizes Roundtail Chub, Headwater Chub, and Chub as a species complex rather than comprised of the three discrete species. Tracking Apache Trout in the White Mountains The opportunity to catch one of Arizona’s ultimately affected angler experience. Tagged unique endemic sport fish brings anglers from fish were monitored daily for 10 days following all over the country to the streams of the White stocking and weekly after this initial period. Mountains. This is home to the Apache Trout, Preliminary results suggest stocked Apache the state fish of Arizona. Trout do not disperse great distances from their Due to high demand of this popular native original stocking locations. Bird predations sport fish, the Department raises and stocks seem to be a significant factor in survival and Apache Trout into select streams in eastern may contribute to lower angling catch rates, Arizona. To better understand the fate of our particularly in the East Fork of the Black River. stocked trout, the Department has embarked Despite this, a large proportion of stocked trout on a multi-year trout stocking study. are harvested by anglers.

This year, 200+ radio-tagged Apache Trout have Investigations into the population dynamics of been stocked in various sections of the West stocked Apache Trout will continue through the Fork of the Little Colorado River or the East 2015 field season. Results of this project will be Fork of the Black River in order to evaluate published in 2017. stocking practices, fish movement, behavior, By Ryan Mann, Sport Fish Biologist, Research Branch mortality, and harvest, and how these factors

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | September 2015 | Page 3

IN THE FIELD

Recent & Upcoming AZGFD-led Activities Around the State

Region I Pinetop: Region II Flagstaff continued: Region V Tucson: • September 14-18: Bear Wallow Creek • September 14-16 and 21-23: Fossil • September 8-9: Upper Bonita Creek Loach Minnow habitat evaluation, Creek fall hoop netting survey monitoring of Gila Topminnow, Desert Narrow-headed Gartersnake survey, • September 16-17: East Fork Black River, Pupfish, and Loach Minnow and native trout survey and barrier Little Colorado River, and Silver Creek • September 21-24: Muleshoe Ranch assessment electrofishing surveys Cooperative Management Area surveys • September 21-25 and October 5-9: • September 22-23: Canyon Creek, Tonto • September 21-24, October 19-22, and Blue River tributary Loach Minnow Creek, and East Verde River November 2-5: Marijilda Creek habitat evaluation electrofishing surveys nonnative trout mechanical removal • September 28-October 1: Lower Blue • September 22-October 2: Grand • September 28-Oct. 1: native fish monitoring Canyon Little Colorado River hoop Trout survey and stocking • October 5-7: Harden Cienega Gila netting survey with USFWS • October 21-23: Upper and Lower Chub translocation to ARCC • September 28-October 2: West Clear Cienega Creek native fish monitoring • October 8: Lower Blue River Creek stock tanks nonnative fish with BLM Spikedace stocking mechanical removal • November 2-6: Middle Blue River • October 12-16: Western Grand Canyon Region VI Mesa: Loach Minnow survey Colorado River electrofishing survey • September 1: Marsh Creek habitat • November 9: Mule Creek, New • October 22-November 1: Grand Canyon assessment Mexico, augmentation stocking of Little Colorado River hoop netting • September 8-11: Phoenix area from ARCC survey with USFWS Topminnow and Pupfish SHA surveys • November 9-12: Blue River native • October 26-29: West Fork Oak Creek • September 10: Horseshoe Ranch Pond trout stream habitat assessments Gila Trout stocking aquatic species augmentation stockings • October 20: Chase Creek habitat and Region II Flagstaff: Region III Kingman: native fish survey • August 27-September 14: Grand • September 1: Boulder Creek Roundtail • October 27: Gap Creek Roundtail Chub Canyon aggregation Chub survey survey survey with USFWS, USGS, and NPS • September 15-17: Conger Creek • October 26-29: Dude Creek Gila Trout • September 1-12: Apache Trout Roundtail Chub survey stocking and survey telemetry surveys • September 22: East Ash Creek survey • November 16: Gun Creek habitat and • September 8-10: East Clear Creek • October 13-16: Grapevine Creek Gila native fish survey Roundtail Chub broodstock collection Trout survey • November 9: West Fork Pinto Creek hb

Gartersnake and Leopard Frog Recovery Updates

While conducting extensive continued success, these sites that the Bill Williams drainage post-release Chiricahua will contribute to recovery is important for Mexican Leopard Frog monitoring in and build a local Gartersnake conservation. the Apache Sitgreaves metapopulation of Chiricahua National Forest, Department Leopard Frogs. Staff have identified several staff detected the first wild potential restoration sites for Chiricahua Leopard Frog egg In May, four Northern Northern Mexican Chiricahua Leopard Frog. Photo by mass from that recovery Mexican Gartersnakes were Gartersnakes. One of these AZGFD. unit since 2003. Recently- captured while sampling the sites is Horseshoe Ranch in Santa Maria River east of the Agua Fria drainage, where released adult and juvenile By Taylor Cotten, Gartersnake Project frogs were also detected, Alamo Lake. This represents Longfin Dace, Desert Pupfish, Biologist, and Christina Akins, Ranid Frog demonstrating successful a range extension for the and Lowland Leopard Frogs Specialist, Nongame Wildlife Branch recruitment. With species and further evidence were introduced to a secured refuge pond. Volume 1 | Issue 3 | September 2015 | Page 4

BACK AT THE PONDS

Arizona Game and Desert Fish Research and Recovery at ARCC Fish Department With support from the Gila River 5000 W. Carefree Hwy Phoenix, AZ 85086 Basin Native Fish Conservation Program, the Department’s Phone: 602-942-3000 Aquatic Research and Fax: 623-236-7926 Conservation Center (ARCC) www.azgfd.gov furthers desert fish conservation in three ways: 1) holding refuge populations of imperiled desert fish, 2) propagating these populations for repatriation efforts, and 3) conducting and supporting research projects.

Founded in the 1990s as a research facility investigating methods of spawning desert fish, the ARCC now holds refuge populations of Roundtail Chub (three genetic lineages), Spikedace (all three extant lineages), and Loach Minnow (four lineages).

Spawning production of our refuge populations was variable in 2015. We had twice as many Roundtail Chub (Eagle Creek lineage) produced this year Top: Loach Minnow and Spikedace holding tanks at ARCC (Photo by (about 3,000) compared to 2014. AZGFD). Bottom: Chub stocking at the Lazy YJ Ranch refuge pond on However, Spikedace had below August 11 (Photo by the Quinsler Family). average production with only 2,000 fish, and, for the first time, than in previous years. This eastern Arizona. Later this virtually no Loach Minnow high density may have impeded fall, our 2015 cohort of recruited from any of the four spawning production. Spikedace (Gila River lineages at the facility. mainstem lineage) will be In 2015, ARCC staff stocked stocked into the San Francisco With limited tank space and Eagle Creek lineage Roundtail River in New Mexico. large populations of Loach Chub (2012 and 2013 cohorts) Minnow, ARCC is operating with into the Blue River and the Lazy By Matt O’Neill PhD, Native Fish 50 percent more fish per tank YJ Ranch Pond along the Blue in Research Biologist, Research Branch

For more information about any of these articles, visit www.azgfd.gov or e-mail [email protected]. Arizona Game and Fish Department Mission To conserve Arizona’s diverse wildlife resources and manage for safe, compatible outdoor recreation opportunities for current and future generations. The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes they have been discriminated against in any AGFD program or activity, including its employment practices, the individual may file a complaint alleging discrimination directly with the AGFD Director’s Office, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix., AZ 85086, (602) 942-3000 or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr., Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. If you require this document in an alternative format, please contact the AGFD Director’s Office as listed above or by calling TTY at 1-800-367-8939.