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Arizona will once again have two native trout species before the turn of this century.
Arizona Game and Fish Department Director Duane Shroufe announced that Gila trout from the Spruce Creek area of the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico will be reintroduced Sept. 29 to Dude Creek near Payson.
"This is truly an historic occasion that culminates decades of biological work both in Arizona and New Mexico. The Gila trout has exciting sport-fish possibilities down the road and will hopefully parallel the success of our native Apache trout," Shroufe said.
Shroufe pointed out that the reintroduction is being made thanks to work by a host of cooperators, but would not be occurring at all without the efforts of the New Mexico Game and Fish Department.
"Gila trout conservation efforts in New Mexico began in 1923. Successful expansion of Gila trout territory in New Mexico since 1970 has brought us to the point where we can once again reintroduce these special native trout to Arizona waters," Shroufe said.
Dave Propst, New Mexico Game and Fish native fish biologists, said repatriation of Gila trout to its native range in the Verde River drainage in Arizona represents a major accomplishment for the conservation and recovery of this species. "This multi-agency effort adds considerable security to the most imperiled of the Gila trout lineages," Propst said.
Propst explained that should a catastrophic fire occur in the Spruce Creek area of the Gila Wilderness, then that particular lineage of Gila trout could be lost without the Dude Creek reintroduction.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials said that the Dude Creek reintroduction is a major and necessary step toward meeting the recovery goals of this species. "Bringing the Gila trout back to one of its former homes in Arizona gets us a step closer to our goal of recovery and eventual delisting of another native," said David L. Harlow, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Arizona ecological services supervisor.
Larry Riley, fisheries branch chief for Arizona Game and Fish, explained that once downlisting occurs, it is possible to have a fishable population of Gila trout in both Arizona and New Mexico.
"It is realistic to expect a sufficient population of Gila trout in Arizona within five years to support downlisting. Once downlisting occurs, then creating a sport fishery for this colorful native is a possibility we will aggressively pursue," Riley said.
Nongame Branch Chief Terry Johnson explained that Gila trout growth rates are similar to those for rainbow trout. "All indications are that Gila trout are hardier than rainbows or Apache trout and can withstand much wider variations in water temperatures and conditions," Johnson said.
Both Riley and Johnson added that it is also possible that within five years, the recovery of the Apache trout will be attained. It is also possible to have the downlisting of the Gila trout occur within that same time period.
"To have the downlisting of the Gila trout and the delisting of the Apache trout within the same time period would be a dream come true. It^s possible. Hopefully, it^s likely.
Barring any catastrophic events, these are reachable goals," Johnson said.
The U.S. Forest Service has also played a role in the reintroduction effort. "We are proud to be a partner in this project that brings the Gila Trout back to the Tonto National Forest," said Chuck Bazan, Forest Supervisor for the Tonto National Forest.
Uploaded: 9/22/1999
Uploaded: 9/22/1999