NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE STATEWIDE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT FEDERAL AID JOB PROGRESS REPORT F-20-52 2016 LAHONTAN CUTTHROAT TROUT STUDY WESTERN REGION NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES DIVISION ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT Table of Contents Content Page SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... 1 BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................. 1 OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................. 2 PROCEDURES ............................................................................................................... 3 FINDINGS ....................................................................................................................... 6 MANAGEMENT REVIEW ............................................................................................... 9 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................. 13 NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES DIVISION ANNUAL PROJECT REPORT State: Nevada Project Title: Statewide Fisheries Program Job Title: Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Study Period Covered: January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 SUMMARY Lahontan cutthroat trout (LCT, Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi) population monitoring surveys were completed in the Montana Mountains (Crowley Creek, Washburn Creek, Riser Creek, and Pole Creek), Trout Creek Mountains (Corral Canyon Creek), Black Rock Range (Colman Creek, North Fork Battle Creek, and Battle Creek), and Santa Rosa Range (Andorno Creek, Threemile Creek, Long Canyon Creek, South Indian Creek, and Indian Creek). Riparian habitat assessments and livestock monitoring occurred in coordination with Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service staff regularly during the spring, summer, and fall grazing seasons. BACKGROUND LCT is the only native trout occurring in the Lahontan Basin. LCT were distributed in the drainages of ancient Lake Lahontan and, as conditions became more arid during the last 5,000 to 12,000 years, they survived as small populations in isolated headwater streams of many mountain ranges throughout Nevada, Oregon, and California. The settlement of the Great Basin brought livestock grazing, urban development, mining, water diversions, and introduction of non-native trout resulting in hybridization and competition that led to significant declines in the range and number of this unique cutthroat trout species. In response to these declines, LCT was listed as endangered in 1970, but reclassified as threatened in 1975. In January 1995, the USFWS released a recovery plan for the Lahontan cutthroat trout. LCT was historically common in the Quinn River, Black Rock, and Little Humboldt sub-basins of the Humboldt River system. The Blackrock Drainage may have had as many as 46 streams occupied by LCT. Presently, LCT is thought to occupy only 15% of its historic stream habitat in the Quinn River-Blackrock drainages. Populations have suffered from habitat loss, hybridization with nonnative salmonids, and extended droughts. Recovery action in the Quinn River drainage is the priority in the 1995 USFWS Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Recovery Plan. The final draft of the LCT Species Management Plan was completed in 1999. This plan, written under the umbrella of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife LCT Recovery Plan, contains management strategies and objectives that outline the processes that will be used to guide activities. Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) and the Quinn- Blackrock Geographic Management Unit (GMU) Team have used this plan to guide recovery efforts since its signing. 1 OBJECTIVES • Coordinate with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to sample up to 30 miles of streams within the McDermitt Basin for hybridization with nonnative rainbow trout and the presence of nonnative fish species. • Augment the Sage Creek population of LCT with a suitable LCT source stock that will be identified through population monitoring and genetic analysis. • Conduct population monitoring on LCT populations in Crowley Creek (Montana Mountains, approximately 1.5 miles), Pole Creek (Montana Mountains, approximately 1.5 miles), Washburn Creek (Montana Mountains, approximately 4 miles), Riser Creek (Montana Mountains, approximately 4 miles), Sage Creek (Trout Creek Mountains, approximately 8 miles), Corral Canyon Creek (Trout Creek Mountains, approximately 4 miles), Line Canyon Creek (Trout Creek Mountains, approximately 3 miles), North Fork Battle Creek (Black Rock Range, approximately 2 miles), Battle Creek (Black Rock Range, approximately 1 mile), Colman Creek (Black Rock Range, approximately 4 miles), Threemile Creek (Santa Rosa Range, approximately 4 miles), Eightmile Creek (Santa Rosa Range, approximately 4 miles), South Fork Indian Creek (Santa Rosa Range, approximately 4 miles), Andorno Creek (Santa Rosa Range, approximately 3 miles), and Long Canyon Creek (Santa Rosa Range, approximately 5 miles). • Collect fin clips from LCT populations as available and submit samples to the University of Nevada, Reno for genetic analysis. • Coordinate with BLM, Winnemucca District staff to complete regular monitoring on the Jordan Meadows Allotment in the Montana Mountains to ensure land use practices are occurring as permitted. • Examine the feasibility of conducting a chemical treatment to eradicate nonnative fish in Wash O’Neil Creek and complete the treatment if favorable conditions permit. • Survey waters on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge to determine suitability for establishing out-of-basin population of LCT to use in recovery efforts. • Mechanically eradicate nonnative brook trout from Abel Creek in the upper one mile of stream habitat, and examine the possibility of reestablishing Abel Creek LCT in North Fork Abel Creek. • Reintroduce LCT in Happy Creek in the Jackson Mountains. • Conduct General Aquatic Wildlife Surveys (GAWS) Level III stream surveys on streams as needed and identified to assist in LCT recovery efforts. • Capture LCT from North Fork Battle Creek, Battle Creek, and Colman Creek to assist in recovery efforts within the McDermitt Creek system by augmenting existing LCT populations or reestablishing LCT populations in streams within the McDermitt Creek watershed. • Collect disease free and pure brood-sized LCT or fertilized eggs to be hatched and raised in a controlled hatchery environment and later stocked as fingerling sized trout in waters within the McDermitt Creek system. • Introduce LCT into Cottonwood Creek in the Wassuk Mountain Range, Mount Grant (Mineral County). 2 PROCEDURES Coordinate with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to sample up to 30 miles of streams within the McDermitt Basin for hybridization with nonnative rainbow trout and the presence of nonnative fish species. NDOW staff attended an angler outreach meeting in McDermitt, NV on September 13, 2016 to hear concerns from the angling public on efforts to reestablish LCT within the McDermitt Basin. Several possible alternatives were discussed on moving forward with LCT recovery in McDermitt Creek, but no action plans were established. NDOW staff also attended a Trout Creek Working Group meeting hosted by ODFW on September 14, 2016 where land management issues in the Trout Creek Mountains were discussed. Augment the Sage Creek population of LCT with a suitable LCT source stock that will be identified through population monitoring and genetic analysis. Based on 2016 surveys completed on LCT occupied waters throughout the NWGMU, Battle Creek, North Fork Battle Creek, and Colman Creek were identified as potential source stocks for augmentation and reintroduction efforts in Sage Creek. However, no LCT were moved into Sage Creek due to low water conditions during early fall 2016. Conduct population monitoring on LCT populations in Crowley Creek (Montana Mountains, approximately 1.5 miles), Pole Creek (Montana Mountains, approximately 1.5 miles), Washburn Creek (Montana Mountains, approximately 4 miles), Riser Creek (Montana Mountains, approximately 4 miles), Sage Creek (Trout Creek Mountains, approximately 8 miles), Corral Canyon Creek (Trout Creek Mountains, approximately 4 miles), Line Canyon Creek (Trout Creek Mountains, approximately 3 miles), North Fork Battle Creek (Black Rock Range, approximately 2 miles), Battle Creek (Black Rock Range, approximately 1 mile), Colman Creek (Black Rock Range, approximately 4 miles), Threemile Creek (Santa Rosa Range, approximately 4 miles), Eightmile Creek (Santa Rosa Range, approximately 4 miles), South Fork Indian Creek (Santa Rosa Range, approximately 4 miles), Andorno Creek (Santa Rosa Range, approximately 3 miles), and Long Canyon Creek (Santa Rosa Range, approximately 5 miles). LCT population monitoring was completed on Riser Creek (May 24 and June 14, 2016), Long Canyon Creek (June 7, 2016), South Fork Indian Creek (June 8 and July 7, 2016), Indian Creek (June 8, 2016), Crowley Creek (June 15, 2016), Threemile Creek (June 22, 2016), North Fork Battle Creek (June 28 and 29, 2016), Andorno Creek (July 12, 2016), Corral Canyon Creek (July 13, 2016), Washburn Creek (July 20, 2016), and Colman Creek (July 26, 2016). All LCT captured during surveys were measured and released unharmed into the water where they were captured. Single-pass electrofishing with 30.5 m (100 ft) transects at established survey locations were completed on Long Canyon Creek, South Fork