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PROCEEDINGS OF THE DESERT FISHES COUNCIL 1992 - VOLUME XXIV transects within this reach. In 1991, adults totaled 156, while juveniles totaled 460. This is comparable with a U.S. Fish and Wildlife study several years previous. 5. White River spinedace, Lepidomeda albivallis. A contract has been issued to the U.S.F.W.S., Seattle Research Unit, for obtaining inventory work and habitat requirement information. To date, the National Fisheries Research Center has completed a thorough ichthyological survey of the White River Valley with emphasis on documenting spinedace distribution. Results have so far been disheartening, less than 100 fish have been found in a single spring on State lands at the Kirch Wildlife Management Area. All other spinedace populations in this Valley have been lost. This spring is protected from exotics, namely largemouth bass, but work must be done to increase the spinedace distribution. A contract with Seattle Research Unit will continue through 1992 for recovery efforts. 6. Ash Meadows System populations A coordinated study of the Ash Meadows System populations was implemented under contract with the U.S.F.W.S., National Fisheries Research Center. NDOW personnel assisted FWS personnel with seasonal studies, but only preliminary data has been received from the contracted agency. 7. Virgin River Fishes Recovery efforts by the Nevada Department of Wildlife for the Virgin River fishes have increased over the last several years. In 1988/89 some Nevada sites were not surveyed or only abbreviated census work was done. This year survey work was increased and Woundfin, Plagopterus argentissimus, were found in both the Mesquite and Riverside areas of the Virgin River. Virgin River roundtail chubs, Gila robusta seminuda, were also found in the Mesquite area. Work will continue to monitor the presence and status of these fish at Nevada locations. 8. Razorback sucker, Xyrauchen texanus. The Razorback sucker was listed as Endangered in November 1991 by the FWS. Survey work over the last year has included both Mohave and Lake Mead. Lake Mohave efforts have been as a support role on the Round-up program. Lake Mead efforts totaled six days in the Boulder Basin and Overton arm areas. Thirty-six Razorback suckers were captured, tagged and released. 9. Big Springs spinedace, Lepidomeda mollispinis pratensis. This work was contracted in 1989 to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. To this date the final report has not been submitted to Dr. Jim Deacon for comments and approval. The Shoshone ponds population of Big Springs spinedace appears to have been lost, no fish were taken in the last two years of survey. Another species of fish now inhabits this pond; possibly Meadow Valley Wash speckled dace. 10. Railroad Valley springfish, Crenichthys nevadae. All populations of Railroad Valley springfish were censused or evaluated during 1992. Populations in Railroad Valley, at Lockes Ranch and Chimney Spring, are stable or expanding. A total estimate was not made in any of the spring systems but numbers of fish trapped per hour were excellent in all springs. North Spring which had a very small adult population in 1991 showed good recruitment, with a 95 % young-of-the-year population. Sixty-six fish were trapped in 6.6 trap/hours of effort. The populations in the Duckwater Valley were not censused, but snorkel surveys at Big Warm Springs did indicate that catfish have moved into all headwater areas. Snorkel surveys at little Warm Springs to the south, although severely altered, showed a good population of springfish in one of the smaller spring outflows. The isolated introduced populations at Sodaville and at Hot Creek Canyon remain at stable levels although they have shown slight impacts from recent habitat alterations and development. 11. Relict dace, Relictus solitarius Time was spent obtaining distribution information on this species. Ruby, Butte, and Steptoe, and Spring Valleys were visited. Butte Valley has Relictus populations in all areas where they existed 10 years ago. Steptoe Valley has populations at Georgetown Spring and at the McGill pool, but the Grass springs area no longer holds Dace. Ruby Valley populations appear to be very depressed, a single spring was found to have pure Dace. Introduced speckled dace appear to be increasing their range in southern Ruby Valley and possibly hybridizing with Relictus. Franklin Lake was dry again this year. 12. Fish Lake Valley tui chub, Gila bicolor ssp. Only the McNet ranch population of chubs is healthy, but goldfish have been introduced into this system. Fish Lake was nearly dry, although a single juvenile was dip-netted from shallow areas before total drying. No fish were found in the Pothole springs area. Plans are also being made by the town of Dyer to build a large Park with fishing ponds. This construction has already begun and unfortunately is only a quarter mile from the McNet ranch. Fish Lake Power Company has plans for geothermal wells just north of this area. More distribution work is required in this Valley. 13. Oasis Valley speckled dace, Rhinichthys osculus spp. Drought conditions have restricted the population of this fish to five small areas within the Amargosa Valley. The strongest populations are within the Beatty city limits, and a spring system located at La Fleur in the northern portion of the Valley. Both areas are approximately 100 meters in length, and are somewhat degraded. 9