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Gila Trout Salvaged From Sfream Following Wildfire ZFRO participated in amulti-agency effort to evacuate Afederally listed Gila trout from Raspberry Creek located on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, AZ, due to threats of ash and debris flows associated with monsoonal rains as a result of the KP Wildfire in May of 2004. Biologists from AZFRO, Alchesay-Williams Creek National Fish Hatchery, Apache-Sitgreaves and Gila National Forests, and Arizona Game and Fish Department used pack horse and mules to transport 30 Gila trout to Mora National Fish Hatchery and Technology Center for refuge from the fire. This effort was guided the "Emergency Evacuation Procedures for Gila Trout" drafted by the New Mexico FRO. Apache Trout Recovery Efforts Continue in FY 2004 ZFRO is the Service's lead station in the recovery of the federally listed Apache trout in Arizona. In FY 2004, FRO implemented activities critical to the recovery of the species including: revising the 1983 Apache Trout Recovery Plan; reintroducing 2 populations into restored, protected habitats on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, increasing the number of pure populations to 22; chemically removing non-native trout from 2 streams on the Apache- Sitgreaves National Forest, restoring over 30 miles of habitat; completing population estimates by implementing the Basin-wide Visual Estimation Technique in 5 streams located on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation and the Apache- Sitgreaves National Forest; developing a comprehensive Microsoft Access database for the archival of the survey data; coordinating the 2"d Annual Apache Trout Work Week where personnel from federal, state, tribal non- governmental organizations completed population surveys in 6 miles of stream and mechanically removed non-native trout from approximately 15 miles of habitat in two streams; and continuing to provide biologically sound management recommendations on recovery, particularly a strategy for replicating and re-establishing extant Apache trout populations. Annual Humpback Chub Stock Assessment Completed he Little Colorado River is a tributary to the Colorado River in TGrand Canyon and provides important spawning and rearing habitat for endangered humpback chub and 3 other native fishes. In FY 2004, AZFRO completed 4 monitoring trips to obtain stock assessment information on humpback chub, as well as provide population information on the other native and non-native fish that inhabit the Little Colorado River. The population estimates generated by these efforts correspond to current recovery goal objectives and report the number of adult humpback chub that return to spawning grounds each spring. .. ;_ ~ ~-- ~ ~ a ~ ' Translocation of Humpback Chub Deemed a Success I n FY 2003, AZFRO translocated 283 juvenile humpback chub to upstream areas of the Little Colorado River in hopes of increasing humpback chub recruitment to adulthood. During post-translocation monitoring during FY 2004, translocated humpback chub demonstrated significant growth and survival. An additional 299 juvenile humpback chub were translocated upstream in FY 2004, resulting in a total of 582 fish being placed into previously unoccupied habitats. The growth rates and retention of humpback chub suggests that survival in previously unoccupied habitats is possible and may contribute to an expansion of the species range. 4 Arizona Fishery Resources Office FY 2004 Annual Report