7781

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7781
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Title: Recovery Plan for WOUNDFIN,
• USFW Year: 1979.
• Copyright Material: NO

NARRATIVE
After considerable deliberations, it is the opinion of the Recovery Team
that the woundfin could be considered reasonably safe from extinction if
the existing .and potential habitat in the Virgin River is upgraded and
stabilized and one other population established in a different drainage
within the probable historic range. To delist the woundfin entirely, a
third self-sustaining population should be established, again in a separate
drainage within the historic range. For these transplanted populations
to be considered self-sustaining the populations will have to number
over 100,000 adults and exist in the habitat for at least 10 years. The
number 100,000 was chosen to provide a specific goal. It indicates the
stocked fish have greatly expanded their numbers in the new habitat and
have found a suitable niche. This number compares favorably to the
minimum estimate of woundfin in the Virgin River. In addition, both the
Virgin River habitat and the habitat of the transplanted population will
have to be free from threats associated with physical, chemical, or
biological modification that might make the habitat unsuitable for woundfin..
Designation of critical habitat for the Virgin River would satisfy the
initial stage of this protection.
In order to accomplish the major goal of returning the woundfin to non-
endangered status the following recovery effort is being proposed.
(1) Maintain and enhance existing woundfin populations.
As of now the only viable woundfin population is in the Virgin
River. The Recovery Team recommends that the first order of
business in the recovery effort should be to protect and maintain
this existing population. It appears that the Virgin River
population is in no immediate jeopardy providing the remaining
habitat is not further degraded. The population, however, could
be enhanced by rehabilitation of portions of the Virgin River
that are marginal at best.
(1.1) Monitor populations and habitats.
Population monitoring provides a means of assessing the well-being
of a species, and feedback on the success of management techniques.
Little is known about past woundfin population fluctuations in the
Virgin River, and a data base is essential to further management
attempts. Therefore, to get a long term indication of how woundfin
populations fluctuate the Team recommends that woundfin populations
in the Virgin River be monitored at least twice a year until the
species is delisted.
(1.11) Establish procedures and schedules.
A suggested monitoring procedure is contained in the Appendix
along with a list of the location of seven sampling stations
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