A previously unknown least chub population was discovered in a seepage channel and portions of the San Pitch River below Gunnison Dam in 2016. Hydrology is compromised here and habitat is limited. This nearly caused a large loss of fish in 2018 which had to be salvaged from an isolated pool in the river channel and moved to the ditch. The Least Chub Conservation Team recommended to begin transferring fish to refuges. A limited transfer of approximately 50 fish took place in 2020 to Mud Basin. DWR policy under the Conservation Agreement and Strategy is to secure at least two refuges for each wild population. Therefore, we recommend a second transfer in 2021 to Manti Meadows WMA where spring flow has been improved recently and new pond habitats have been created through a WRI-funded project. If this site is deemed unsuitable as a refuge due to the presence of nonnative fish or inadequate habitat conditions, we recommend augmenting the Mud Basin refuge with a second transfer and evaluating the efficacy of eliminating nonnative fish from Manti Meadows. Although the Mud Basin population was reproducing well in its first year, it was founded with only about 50 individuals. Its genetic diversity would be improved through augmentation from the wild Gunnison population.

1. Collect surrogate fish from San Pitch River below project site for disease certification. Complete fish transfer and HACCP plans and submit to SLO for approval. 2. Survey Manti Meadows WMA to confirm presumed absence of nonnative fish. Perform any other necessary habitat (physical, vegetation) and water quality measurements. 3. Collect least chub from project site and transfer to Manti Meadows WMA.

Utah Wildlife Action Plan. 2015. Least Chub are listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need under the WAP. Threats to its persistence include: 1) invasive nonnative species (very high), 2) drought (very high), and 3) dam and water management (high). All of these are factors threatening the wild population at the proposed project. Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Least Chub. 1998. Goal to ensure conservation of Least Chub within its historic range, with main objectives to 1) restore and maintain a minimum number of populations throughout its historic range that will ensure its continued existence and 2) to eliminate or significantly reduce threats to the species and its habitat to the greatest extent possible. Both objectives are applicable to the proposed project. San Pitch River Watershed Water Quality Management Plan. 2003. The San Pitch River is listed as 3C, protected for nongame fish and other aquatic wildlife. Nongame species of concern in the area include Least Chub and Southern Leatherside Chub. Control of nonnative vegetation (a proposed WRI project to facilitate the proposed transfer) to benefit wildlife and improve the water budget is one of the objectives of the water quality management plan. Division of Wildlife Resources Strategic Management Plan. Resource Goal: Expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. A proposed WRI project to facilitate the proposed transfer of fish by reducing nonnative vegetation around an area utilized by least chub and thereby improving their habitat is directly applicable to the Strategic Plan.

NEPA not required because property is private and not a federal action. No other compliance issues should apply.

Collect 65-70 dace from San Pitch River downstream of dam near Twelvemile Creek and deliver to Logan Hatchery for disease certification. Assist AIS crew as necessary with site inspection. Complete fish transfer and HACCP plan and submit to SLO for approval. Confirm lack of nonnative fishes (particularly mosquitofish) at Manti Meadows WMA. Collect least chub from site (seepage ditch and any river habitats) using minnow traps and electrofishing as necessary. Place fish in aeration tank and transfer to refuge (Manti Meadows or Mud Basin). Transfer may need to be accomplished in two efforts if first effort is time consuming or less productive than desired (e.g. <100 fish).

The least chub population below Gunnison Dam will continue to be monitored under ESMF block funding after the second transfer is completed. In addition, a project has been proposed for funding under Section 319 to remove dense growth of Russian Olive and tamarisk which is crowding the channel and likely reducing available habitat via water consumption. The status of this removal effort would be monitored annually for at least the first few years if the project is approved. Mud Basin pond is in the Northern region and will continue to be monitored by the NRO. Manti Meadows will be added to the refuge populations monitored annually by the CRO if it is suitable for use as a refuge.

San Pitch River Watershed Stewardship Group - contacted Jace Farnsworth (Coordinator) and Jay Olsen. The group is very supportive of the proposed project and has collaborated with the NRCS on nonnative vegetation control projects in the basin. We will be participating in the next meeting of the group in February to answer any questions about the proposal. USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service - collaborates with the watershed group and other entities to improve water availability and quality. Our proposed project is consistent with its goals in the San Pitch River watershed and it is supportive of project. Sanpete Water Conservancy District - Our proposed project is consistent with its goals in the San Pitch River watershed and it is supportive of project. Gunnison Irrigation Company - contacted Allen Dyreng (President of GIC) and property landowner who has no objections to project.

The least chub population below Gunnison Dam will continue to be monitored under ESMF block funding after the second transfer is completed. It is possible that future transfers may be necessary if conditions warrant (i.e., either the the wild population or refuge populations are needing). In addition, a Section 319 project has been proposed to remove dense growth of Russian Olive and tamarisk which is crowding the channel and likely reducing the amount of available habitat via water consumption. The status of this removal effort would be monitored annually for at least the first few years after the project is completed, if it is approved.

07/01/2021

06/30/2022

2022

1. Collect surrogate fish from San Pitch River below project site for disease certification. Complete fish transfer and HACCP plans and submit to SLO for approval. 2. Survey Manti Meadows WMA to confirm presumed absence of nonnative fish. Perform any other necessary habitat (physical, vegetation) and water quality measurements. 3. Collect least chub from project site and transfer to Manti Meadows WMA.

1. Collect surrogate fish from San Pitch River below project site for disease certification. Complete fish transfer and HACCP plans and submit to SLO for approval. This site was surveyed in October 2021. Insufficient numbers of least chub (7) were found to utilize these fish for a transfer or even disease certification due to flows in the San Pitch at the site being reduced so that fish were restricted to just a very small pool. After conferring with the NRO, the decision was made to pursue the alternative plan of obtaining fish from Mud Basin where the first refuge for this population had been established in June 2021 and use those fish to establish the new refuge at Manti Meadows. The decision was made to delay the stocking from spring to summer of 2022 to coincide with least chub surveys at Mud Basin. 2. Survey Manti Meadows WMA to confirm presumed absence of nonnative fish. Perform any other necessary habitat (physical, vegetation) and water quality measurements. This survey was performed in pond and marsh habitats located throughout Manti Meadows WMA using approximately 20 minnow traps set for several hours. No fishes were captured. No fish have ever been observed at the site during previous or subsequent visits. In December 2021, the CRO was notified by the heavy equipment crew at the nearby Sixmile WMA that nonnative species were observed. Warm springs on Sixmile WMA are connected to Manti Meadows WMA and have been augmented to supply newly created ponds at the latter which are intended for least chub introduction. A subsequent visit and survey in January 2022 confirmed mosquitofish and several tropical species present. Samples were retained and some later identified as species of cichlids and guppies. These fish have likely been present for at least several years. Although they do not appear to present a current threat to the effort to reintroduce least chubs to Manti Meadows, there will need to be control efforts undertaken in the near future to attempt to eradicate them from the source and determine whether there is any possibility of them reaching or persisting in wetland habitats further downstream, from which they could possibly enter Manti Meadows. A reconnaissance effort in the spring suggested that the tropical species at Sixmile were extremely unlikely to survive downstream passage through a culvert structure under the highway or to persist for long (particularly through winter) if they did reach the wetlands between the two WMAs. However, the ability of mosquitofish to do so could not be ruled out. 3. Collect least chub from project site and transfer to Manti Meadows WMA. This activity was undertaken successfully on 30 August 2022 with assistance from the NRO. Mud Basin was the fish source. An estimated 1,800 least chub were transferred to two separate sets of ponds with separate supplies of spring water.

Once least chub are introduced, Manti Meadows will be surveyed annually using minnow traps to document their abundance and determine whether any unwanted species are present. Nonnative fish control efforts and follow up surveys at Sixmile WMA spring and wetted habitats between it and Manti Meadows will need to be undertaken to determine the effectiveness of these efforts in removing undesirable species. Signage and increased monitoring at the Sixmile spring may be needed to reduce the possibility of further illegal introductions at that spring. Similar measures may be needed at Manti Meadows (walk in access) to help reduce the possibility of illegal introductions there. There is also a recurring issue with trespass cows on the property which is impacting habitat and water quality at the ponds and which could compromise the success of the least chub introduction if measures are not taken. There are currently plans to request funds from WRI/ESMF to begin a fencing project around the affected ponds. We will also continue to monitor the wild population in the San Pitch River below Gunnison Reservoir. Although it is not clear what the true source of this population is and it currently appears to be reduced locally due to water scarcity, it has shown the ability to rebound when the hydrology improves.