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Current Status:

Threats to the woundfin include competition with, and predation by, nonnative fish species; water diversions; continued water development; and loss of habitat.

Achievements:

Propagation techniques for the woundfin are being developed concurrently at the Dexter National Fish Hatchery and Technology Center, New Mexico; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and Washington County Water Conservancy District and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, St. George, Utah. Rearing ponds have been upgraded at the Dexter National Fish Hatchery and Technology Center to increase success in rearing the woundfin and other Virgin River fishes. Eradication of the nonnative redshiner from the Virgin River will begin as soon as plans are completed. The revised Virgin River Fishes Recovery Plan, which includes the woundfin, has undergone agency/public review. Informal section 7 consultations with the Federal Highway Administration on road and bridge construction resulted in outcomes allowing project completion without adverse impacts on woundfin populations.

Current Recovery Needs:

Water flows to provide suitable habitat need to be acquired and protected, and nonnative fish species need to be eradicated from the Virgin River.

Section 6 Funding and Activities:

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources received $15,000 in FY 1991 and $36,000 in FY 1992 to monitor the status of Virgin River fishes, including the woundfin, and to develop and implement an eradication plan for the nonnative redshiner.

Partnerships

Bureau of Land Management: This Federal agency is studying streamflow needs of the woundfin and other components of the Virgin River ecosystem. The agency is participating on the woundfin recovery team, and is attempting to identify appropriate habitat conditions and required minimum flows for Virgin River fishes.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources: Responsible for monitoring population status and trends of the woundfin, this State agency provides much of the monitoring data available to the Fish and Wildlife Service for the Virgin River Fishes Data Base. The agency is also completing a redshiner eradication plan, and has mapped the Utah portion of woundfin habitat, identifying priority areas for redshiner eradication.

Washington County Water Conservancy District: The District participates on the recovery team and in efforts to obtain water and improve habitat within the Virgin River Basin. The District has established a woundfin holding facility that will be used for holding and propagating woundfin during any future eradication efforts. The District has also provided barriers to prevent redshiners from invading areas where they presently do not occur.

Recovery Plan Status:

Original plan approved 7/9/79; revised 3/1/85.