HUMPBACK CHUB TRANSLOC

HUMPBACK CHUB TRANSLOC

IN GRAND CANYON: IN GRAND CANYON:

Grand Canyon Wildlands Co

SWCA Environmental Consul

Grand Canyon National 

BACKGROUND, FEASIBILITY, EXPERIMENTAL 

AND COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATION
GRAND CANYON 

SENSITIVE SPECIES POPULATION REC

California Condor

Black-footed Ferret

Endan

Am

Vasey

California Condor

Desert Bighorn
WHY IN-CANYON HBC TRANSLOCA

•NPS mandate and within scope of GRCA m•Reintroducing T&E fish into historic range 

often an effective recovery strategy

•Recommended measure in 1995 EIS and R

(1 of 7 conservation measures to allevia

1994 Jeopardy Opinion developed joint

Reclamation, FWS, AGFD, GRCA, and Navajo Nation Nat. Herit. Program)

•Contribute to protecting HBC, improve AE•Learn how to establish second HBC popula•Avoid catastrophic loss of LCR population 

to a HAZMAT spill 

•One of many needed actions / experiments
Inform TWG of NPS progress on translocation

• SWCA habitat restoration study• GCWC synopsis of translocation planningSpecifically• Life history synopsis, threats, conserv. strategi• Translocation rationale in relation to HBC mg• Habitat information studies and implications• Preliminary recommendations• Finalization, FWS, NEPA complianceTWG feedback is welcome

OBJECTIVES
Variable Habitat Needs

Population estimates Mainstem (1990-1993)a: 3,750 (>200mm TL) LCR (1992)b: 4,

Peak time of spawning condition Mainstreama = Mar- Jul; LCRb = Feb- May

Spawning temp. range (optimal) 11.5- 23°C (16- 22°C)a,b,c

Incubation temp. range (optimal) 12- 22°C (72 hr @ 19- 22°C)h Larval survival temp. (optimal) 12- 22°C (21- 22°C)hOptimal growth temp. 16- 22°C d,f,h,IEggs/female 2,523/femaleEggs/kg bbody weight 5,262/kghEgg diameter 2.6- 2.8mmhSize at hatching 7mmdMaximum size 480mm TL; 1165 gaMaximum age 22 annular ringsgSex ration (M:F) 49:51aAge at maturity males = 3-4 years; females = 3-4 yearsaSize at maturity (TL) males = 202mm; females= 200mmaSize at annulus (TL) 1= 96 mm; 2= 144 mm; 3= 186 mmaLength-weight relationship log W = -4.564 +2.816 log TL, R2= 0.92aCondition factor (TL) Mainstreama: males= 0.783-1.023; females= 0.883-1.092

Growth rates LCRa: TL = 114.43* loge (age+1) + 14.921, R2= 0.97 

YOY in Labf: ; 10.63mm/30 d @ 20°C; 2.30mm/30 d @ 10°C 

Scale back calculationsa; YOY in LCR: 10.30 mm/30; YOY in 

4.00mm/ 30 d 

Survival Age 1-3 = 0.01/yr ; age 3+ = 0.67-0.896, ave. = 0.755a

HBC LIFE HISTORY CHARACTERISTICS (Valdez e
Logical interactions that account for humpback chub (HBC) population status. Each b

be considered in the context of the habitat template and in relation to the various life st

Recreation

impacts

(LCR mouth)

Scientific handling

Biotic 

interactions

Flow and geomorphologic c

Sed

Nulls: range, population dynamics, health

Nears

quality & 

Water temperature

Geochemistry

Foodbase

Diseases /

parasites

Predation

Competition

LC stream & 

Mainstream CR (Dam FX)

Lower Paria R.Other tributaries

Other CR instream Sites

Habitat Template: Historical, Existing, and Potential Distribution

Restricted

gene flow
Strategic planning & administrative support:

HBC Comprehensive Plan, LCR Management Plan

Adaptive, science-based in situ mainstream 

and tributary habitat and health mgt

Ex situ propa

Genetics mgt. plan, 

including emergency 

responses and salvage plan

Linked elements of conservation planning for HBC in Gran

Stocking / reintrod

in situ HBC or 

necessary) ex s

CHRONIC MGT. ISSUES ACUTE MG

In situ propagation 

/ reintroduction / 

translocation

Hatchery manag

plan

Alleviate impacts, improve conditions:

* Daily and extreme mainstream and tributary

flow management

* WQ mgt (temperature, turbidity, nutrients, 

pollutants)

* Unnatural habitat/geomorphic limitations* Non-native fish predator &competitor impacts * Non-native parasite management * Reduce handling and recreation impacts* Improve foodbase, if necessary
In situ propagation / 

reintroduction / 

translocation

* In situ Propagation: Improve recruitment success b

managing mainstream flows and predators

* In situ Reintroduction: Stocking fish back into hist* In-Canyon Translocation: 

Elsewhere in lower LCR (FWS effort)Other tributaries, as “insurance” population(

No reproduction necessaryMonitoring, research, and learningShort-term to long-term time frame

Fully self-sustaining second HBC population

Where – river is present assumptionLong-term – mulidecadal
SITE SELECTION

Paria RiverClear CreekBright Angel CreekShinumo CreekTapeats CreekDeer CreekKanab CreekHavasu CreekSpencer Creek

HABITAT SUITABILITY
Native Fish Habitat Restorat

in Selected Tributaries of 

the Grand Canyon 

A Potential Recovery Effort for Native Fishe

William Leibfried

Kara Hilwig

Matt Lauretta 

SWCA Environmental Consultants,

and

Dr. Jeffrey Cross

Grand Canyon National Park
• The National Park Service is charged with 

preserving and protecting the natural resourwithin Grand Canyon. 

In tributaries of the Grand Canyon, the native fish commu

has been impacted by a host of non-native fish species

• Removing non-native 

fish may provide an opportunity for recovery of the native fish community in tributaries of the Colorado.

Purpose
Goals for Native Fish 

Habitat Restoration Effort

• Determine the feasibility of reducing non-nat

fishes in Grand Canyon tributaries.

• Develop a long-t

action plan for controlling and managing non-nfishes in tributarthe Grand Canyo
Native Fish Habitat Restorati

in Selected Grand Canyon Tribu

Selected tributaries include• Shinumo Creek• Tapeats Creek• Kanab Creek
Shinumo Creek Fish Sampling E
CPUE (m

N/100 sec 

± S.E

speckled rainbow and bluesuckers iShinumo February March 20February March 20
CPUE (Mean N/100 Sec ± S.E.) for speckled dace 

rainbow

Trout for a removal site located in Shinumo Creek (

6.6) that was sampled March 2004 and February an

2005

Speckled dace and rainbow trout CPUE for the removal site in Shinu

Creek (RKM 5.3-6.6)

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

234

TRIP

CPUE (Fish/100sec)

SPDRBT
Evaluation Criteria

• Presence of barriers to fish movement• Non-native predator load• Native fish abundance and suitable hab

including temperature

• Effectiveness of non-native removal• NPS jurisdictional limits
TRIBUTARY EVALUATION

KEY: 

Bad So-so Good

 Paria R.* LCR Clear Cr. BA Cr. Shinomu Cr. Deer Cr. Tapeats Cr. Kanab Cr. 

Criteria 1 R 61 L 84 R 88 R 109 R 136 R 133 R 144 R 

Habitat Suitability 1 3 2 3 3 2 2 2 

Water Quantity 1 3 1 3 3 1 2 1 

Water Quality 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

Water Temp. 1 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 

Fish Barrier 1 2 3 2 3 3 1 2 

 Fishes 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 

Human Disturbance 2 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 

Access 3 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 

Adjacent Mainstream 

Rearing Habitat 331 2 1 2 2 1 

Shared Mgt. 

Responsibilities 323 3 3 3 3 2 

Total 20 25 22 25 25 23 21 19 

Individual % 67 83 73 83 83 77 70 63 % Rel to LCR 80 100 88 100 100 92 84 76 
Havasu Creek previously re

several issues exi
PARIA MOUTH POND

REARING POND DEVELOPMENT

Suggestion:Consider developing experimental native fish rearing 

in the gravel mine at the mouth of the Paria

Fence to keep out non-natives and cool in summer w

mainstream water

Justification:Historical population concentration, now gone

Ponding during pre-dam floods was habitat thsupported HBC at Paria R.

Need opportunity to do detailed, in situ experiments

Suitable, replicated siteEase of accessLimited impact on public
• Complete assessment of upper BA Creek

• Complete consultation and compliance• Move 300 or more young-of-the-year (YOY; 

<100mm in length) HBC humpback chub fro

mouth of LCR in late summer to Shinumo Cr(above barrier falls), and perhaps other tribut

• Conduct this action as a collaborative agency 

experiment

• Continue to consider other actions, e.g., Paria 

PRELIMINARY RECOMENDATIO
• Finalization of translocation plan

• FWS Section 7 consultation• NEPA compliance, incorporate public comments• Implement action(s)• Seasonally monitoring using efficient and non-st

means, their health and survivorship

• Assessment of results to inform management of t

implications for additional translocation efforts asecond HBC population establishment 

GENERAL SCHEDULE