Little Colorado River above Chute Falls (monitoring: May or June)
Havasu Creek
Shinumo Creek [1]
Included as a Conservation measure in the 2008 and 2011 Biological
Objectives:
- Primary: Develop second spawning population
- Provide rearing (grow-out) opportunities, augmentation of mainstem aggregations
Project History
Translocated 1,102 humpback chub (total):
- 2009: 302
- 2010: 300
- 2011: 300
- 2013: 200
June 2014 population estimate: ≈125 to 190 individuals (preliminary; all years represented)
Results
- Meeting Objectives for rearing/”grow-out”
- Annual growth greater than in the mainstem Colorado River but less than in the LCR 2 out of 3 years (2013-14 results pending)
- Large portion of mainstem captures at the mouth of Shinumo are translocated fish
- No reproduction (but fish were still young)
Galahad Point Fire – May-July 2014 [2]
Shinumo Creek flooding (containing ash) reported in July and August
- PIT tag antenna destroyed in July
- >99% decline in fish, overall
- High density of rainbow trout in Merlin Abyss Creek (½ mile of undamaged habitat)
- Bluehead sucker and humpback chub believed to be extirpated
- Significant channel alteration, pools filled
- 80-90% loss of riparian vegetation
Next Steps
- Remove remaining trout in Merlin Abyss
- Monitor habitat recovery
- In 3-5 years restore native fish community throughout watershed (humpback chub, speckled dace, bluehead sucker)
Bright Angel Creek (proposed; following NPS trout reduction)
Havasu Creek above Beaver Falls (proposed; Conservation Measure)
Mainstem translocations in Western Grand Canyon (proposed)
Mainstem translocations at the LCR (proposed; Conservation Measure)
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