9618

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9618
• Author: Brouder, M. J. and S. Jacks.
• Title: FY 2004 Annual Report ‎(October 1, 2003-September 30, 2004)‎.
• USFW Year: 2004.
• USFW - Doc Type: Pinetop, AZ.
• Copyright Material: NO

Conserving this Nation's fish and other aquatic resources cannot be successful without the partnership of Tribes; they manage or
influence some of the most important aquatic habitats both on and off reservations. In addition, the Federal government and the
Service have distinct unique obligations toward Tribes based on trust responsibility, treaty provisions, and statutory mandates. The
Fisheries Program plays an important role in providing help and support to Tribes as they exercise their sovereignty in the
management of their fish and wildlife resources on more than 55 million acres of Federal Indian trust land and in treaty reserved
areas.
AZFRO Assists Tribe with Annual San Carlos Lake
Survey
The annual survey of the largemouth bass and black crappie
populations in San Carlos Lake was completed by AZFRO.
Both important sport fish populations continue to do well despite
on-going drought conditions, continued water releases for
downstream irrigation use, and decreasing lake volume. However,
great concern over the lakes future ability to sustain these
economically important sport fisheries remains as the lake is fast
approaching only 2% of its capacity.
AZFRO Assists Tribe in Analyzing Angler Creel Survey Data
Approximately 2,000 individual angler surveys were completed by the White Mountain Apache Tribe's Wildlife and
Outdoor Recreation Division biologists in FY 2004. Last fiscal year, AZFRO assisted the Tribe in designing the
creel survey and developing the database. This fiscal year, AZFRO assisted the Tribe with analyzing and summarizing
these data to allow the Tribe to better understand and manage their economically important recreational fishing
program.
Talkalai Lake Survey Completed on San Carlos
Reservation
With the threat of a major fish kill in San Carlos Lake during the
summer of 2004, AZFRO assisted the San Carlos Apache Tribe with
a comprehensive survey of the resident sport fish populations of
Talkalai Lake. Data collected from this survey were used to better
understand the current status of sport fish populations and to help
the Tribe develop management recommendations in the event that
San Carlos Lake experiences a major fish kill, causing angler
pressure to increase at nearby Talkalai Lake.

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Arizona Fishery Resources Office FY 2004 Annua! Report '