Species Status Assessment Report for the Sharpnose Shiner (Notropis Oxyrhynchus) and Smalleye Shiner (N. Buccula) Version 2
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Species Status Assessment Report for the Sharpnose Shiner (Notropis oxyrhynchus) and Smalleye Shiner (N. buccula) Version 2 Prepared by the Arlington, Texas, Ecological Services Field Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Date of last revision: November 13, 2018 Double Mountain Fork Brazos River Sharpnose Shiner Aerial View of Brazos River Photo credits: Kevin Mayes, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (top), Clint Robertson, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (left); Google Earth (right). Sharpnose and Smalleye Shiner Species Status Assessment Report, November 2018 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This species status assessment (SSA) reports the results of the comprehensive biological status review for the sharpnose shiner (Notropis oxyrhynchus) and smalleye shiner (N. buccula) and provides a thorough account of the species’ overall viability and, conversely, extinction risk. This SSA replaces the previous version published on June 10, 2014. Sharpnose and smalleye shiners are small minnows currently restricted to the contiguous river segments of the upper Brazos River basin in north-central Texas. To evaluate the biological status of the shiners both currently and into the future, we assessed a range of conditions to allow us to consider the species’ resiliency, redundancy, and representation (together, the 3Rs). Both species need a resilient population widely distributed across their range to maintain persistence into the future and avoid extinction. A number of factors influence whether sharpnose and smalleye shiner populations will continue to persist or grow to maximize habitat occupancy and abundance which increases the resiliency of a population to stochastic events. These four factors include (1) wide river channels with diverse habitats including shallow runs, pools, etc., (2) flowing water of sufficient quantity and quality to meet life history and habitat needs, (3) sandy substrates for foraging, and (4) an unobstructed stream reach of sufficient distance to support a successfully reproductive population. Both shiners are currently restricted almost entirely within the contiguous river segments of the upper Brazos River basin in north-central Texas (Figure ES-1); thus maintaining favorable habitat conditions within these river segments is imperative to the continued existence of both species. Our analysis identified two significant stressors affecting the current and future conditions of these species: river fragmentation (by impoundments and barriers to fish passage) and alterations of the natural streamflow regime (by impoundments, drought, groundwater withdrawal, and saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) encroachment) within their range. Secondary factors, such as water quality degradation, likely also impact these species but the extent is not known. These multiple factors are not acting independently, but in unison as combined stressors, which can result in cumulative effects to lower the overall viability of the species. A summary of the species’ needs, stressors, and current and future status is presented in Table ES-1. Our assessment found that the viability of both species of shiner has been reduced (low probability of persistence) in the near term (over about the next 10 years) largely because of the existing limitations of their life history requirements of long, wide, flowing rivers to complete their reproductive cycle. With a short life span allowing only one or two breeding seasons and the need for long, unobstructed flowing river reaches, both species are at a high risk of extirpation when rivers are fragmented by fish barriers and flows are reduced from human use and drought-enhanced water shortages. These conditions have already resulted in substantial range reduction, isolating the one remaining population of both fish to the upper Brazos River basin. The extant population of each shiner species is located in a contiguous stretch of river long enough to support recruitment, is of adequate size, and is generally considered resilient to local or short-term environmental changes. However, with only one location, both species lack redundancy and may lack the genetic and ecological representation to adapt to new or ongoing threats. ii Sharpnose and Smalleye Shiner Species Status Assessment Report, November 2018 Figure ES-1. An overview map of key points regarding sharpnose and smalleye shiner distributions both historically (pink, purple, and golden lines) and currently (red lines). The Red River basin (pink shading), Brazos River basin (yellow shading) and Colorado River basin (blue shading) are shown with major tributaries not known to be historically or currently occupied represented by blue lines. The three main reservoirs of the middle Brazos River that replaced previously occupied habitat are shown in dark blue and labeled. iii Sharpnose and Smalleye Shiner Species Status Assessment Report, November 2018 Table ES-1. Summary of the status of resource needs of Brazos River shiners and implications for viability. RESOURCE CURRENT STATUS FUTURE STATUS Implications for Implications for Scale Resource Function Conditions Causes and Effects Viability Condition Causes and Effects Viability Impoundments; New impoundments; instream mining & instream mining & Sandy substrates and Feeding/sheltering dredging; saltcedar dredging; Reduced Population shallow, wide Presumed adequate encroachment saltcedar Resiliency. channels within extant Conditions for encroachment Enhanced risk of loss range. s individuals are May be reduced in of the one extant Some losses of al Adequate prey base Feeding Impoundments believed to be future in extant range New impoundments population, puts both du resources have i adequate to support species at high risk of iv occurred in Impoundments; the one extant extinction in the Water of sufficient historical range. New impoundments; Ind pollution; population. future. quantity and Feeding/breeding/ pollution; golden algal quality to meet sheltering golden algal blooms blooms life history requirements Reduced mean flows Breeding - Minimum spawning from historical population season flows conditions in extant resiliency range Reduced population Barriers; new Reduced Population Reduced frequency resiliency. impoundments; Resiliency. Breeding - Barriers to Risks of loss of one Flows and increased Enhanced risk of loss ons i Elevated spawning of flood flows from t population movement; extant population unobstructed river groundwater of the one extant la season flows historical conditions resiliency in extant range impoundments; puts both species at length are likely to be withdrawal; population, puts both opu groundwater high risk of further reduced severe drought species at high risk of P Unobstructed flowing Breeding & One extant length of withdrawal; extinction under complicated by extinction in the water greater than migration - river remaining in severe drought current conditions. climate change; future. 275 km in river population the upper Brazos desalinization length resiliency River e Migration & Not currently Reduced resiliency; Reduced Resiliency; id Larger lengths of recolonization - w available; absence of Likely to be further Absence of e unobstructed flowing resiliency, Impoundments New impoundments g ~50% historical redundancy and reduced Redundancy and an water in rivers representation, & range loss representation Representation R redundancy iv Sharpnose and Smalleye Shiner Species Status Assessment Report, November 2018 Long term viability of the shiners depends upon maintaining resilient populations over time within stream segments capable of accommodating their life history requirements, reproduction, and successful recruitment. The availability of these resource needs is affected by potential new reservoir construction within the extant range, increased threats to water quantity such as groundwater withdrawal to meet agricultural and municipal demand, changes to water quality from point and non-point sources, and enhanced chances and severity of drought due to ongoing climate change and water management. Although there is uncertainty regarding the immediacy and extent occupied stream segments may experience fragmentation, changes to water quality, and/or altered flow regimes, we have forecasted what future viability the shiners may have in terms of resiliency, redundancy and representation under various future plausible scenarios and the corresponding conservation actions expected to achieve short- and long-term viability: Sharpnose Shiner (1) Upper Brazos River Basin Restoration • The current population is maintained throughout the currently occupied range (1,002 kilometers (km) [623 miles (mi)] of the Double Mountain Fork and its major tributaries, Salt Fork and its major tributaries, and main stem of the Brazos River). • Conservation efforts to improve fish passage by removing minor barriers, and improve habitat by controlling saltcedar and protecting water quality, continue to be implemented within the occupied range. Work with stakeholders to develop groundwater and surface water management strategies as well as potential water release strategies in the upper Brazos River basin to provide adequate surface water flows. (2) Upper Brazos River Basin Restoration and Lower Brazos River Reintroduction • The current population is maintained throughout the currently occupied range (1,002 km [623 mi] of the Double Mountain Fork and its major tributaries, Salt Fork and its major tributaries, and main stem of the Brazos River). • Conservation efforts to improve fish passage by removing minor barriers,