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7 Area Report for the Interbasin of Nevada November 19, 1981 Donald W. Sada The single greatest threat to aquatic habitats in the Interbasin has passed with the decision to deploy MX missles from existing silos in the west and midwest. This does not mean, however, that these aquatic resources are secure. In response to continued habitat degradation resulting from agricultural diversion and oil field development, and the detrimental influence of exotic fishes, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has prepared listing packages to list five fishes in the region as threatened or endangered. These are: the Railroad Valley springfish Crenichth s nevadae), Hiko White River springfish Crenichth s baileyi rag ndis , White River springfish Crenichth s baileyi bai eyi , Big Spring spinedace (Lepidomeda mollispinis pratensis , and the White River spinedace (Lepidomeda albivallis). There is no indication when these listings will occur. The Nevada Department of Wildlife reorganized their rare and endangered list of fishes during 1981 by designating those species whose status is uncertain as sensitive and those whose livelihood is insecure as protected. Those included on the protected list are further segregated into protected, rare, or endangered categories. Within the Interbasin, the sensitive species list includes the Hot Creek Valley tui chub Gila bicolor ssp.), Little Fish Lake Valley tui chub Gila bicolor ssp. , Railroad Valley tui chub Gila bicolor ssp.), Moapa roundtail chub Gila robusta ssp.), relict dace Relictus solitarius), White River speckled dace Rhinichth s osculus velifer), and the Meadow Valley desert sucker Catostomus c arki ssp.). The White River spinedace (Lepidomeda albivallis , Big Spring spinedace (Lepidomeda mollispinis pratensis), White River desert sucker Catostomus clarki intermedius), White River springfish (Crenichthys baile i), Moapa dace Moa a coriacea , Nevada pupfish C rinodon nevadensis , and Railroad Valley springfish Crenichth s nevadae are each considered rare. The Pahranagat roundtail chub Gila robusta jordani), Pahrump killifish (Empetrichthys latos latos), and Devils Hole pup fish C rinodon diabolis) are considered as endangered. Several studies regarding native fishes of the region have been initiated and/or completed since the 1980 Desert Fishes Council Meeting. The most comprehensive was conducted by Jim E. Deacon and concerned the collection of baseline data in representative springs that would be influenced by MX missle system construction and operation. The representative springs in Nevada that were investigated during this study were Big Spring on Locke's Ranch, Nye County; Preston Big Spring and Shoshone Ponds, White Pine County; and the outflow of Ash Spring, Pahranagat Valley, Lincoln County. The information gathered during these studies dealt primarily with the physical and biological. characteristics of each spring. This is the first study to provide thorough baseline information describing "typical" spring habitats in the Great Basin. Other studies in the region included a life history investigation of the Railroad Valley springfish in its native and introduced habitats. Cindy Williams will complete this study in the next several months. Jim Deacon