7781 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING REINTRODUCTION SITES FOR WOUNDFIN ' 1. Historic habitat. Streams should be in historic habitat of the woundfin. Areas adjacent to historic habitat that logically con- tained the species, but where it was not recorded historically, should also be considered. 2. Physical habitat. Waters selected for reintroduction of woundfin should be permanently flowing medium to large streams in the low desert biome (below 3,000 feet elevation). Until more detailed information on habitat requirements has been determined, selected streams should provide habitats similar to those found in the Virgin , River near Beaver Dam Wash, Arizona. Substrate should be sand or sand/gravel with abundant runs and riffles. Water temperatures should follow ambiant fluctuations. It is not known if high silt loads are necessary for woundfin survival, but they do not appear to pose a problem in the Virgin River. 3. Biological habitat. Most biologists believe woundfin are not well adapted to compete with a wide variety of additional fish species. Reintroduction streams should contain few exotic species of fish, or show a general depauperate fauna. Predator populations should be at low numbers or absent. Food items, including aquatic and terrestrial insects should be present but need not be abundant. G. Manmade threats. Woundfin seem able to exist in the Virgin River, in spite of 100 allocation of the water to irrigation, by living in return waters. However, they do not seem to be able to withstand industrial or agricultural pollutants. Site selection should take present and future water demands, allocations, and uses into account. 5. Environmental impacts. Introduction of woundfin back into historic areas should not result in major impacts to the habitat or its associated fauna because the woundfin is a natural part of that habitat and fauna. However, the impact of the reintroduction should 60 still be considered in light of potential changes in the ecosystem that may have taken place since the woundfin was extirpated.