Early Detection Sampling 

for High-Risk Invasive Fishes 

in Grand Canyon National Park Design by Amy Martin 

GCDAMP- TWG 

April 13, 2023 

Emily Omana Smith, Laura Tennant 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monitoring is key to early detection 

Invasive Fish Species Below Glen Canyon Dam: A Strategic Plan to Prevent, 

Detect and Respond 

Proposed Monitoring 

Recommendations 

Expand existing monitoring efforts 

and allow flexibility 

Conduct additional, targeted 

monitoring trips 

Increase funding of the current 

interagency agreements 

RM/side Location or habitat type Priority 

Currently 

monitore 

d 

Agencies Frequency 

30/L 30 mile spring Med ? FWS HBC aggregation monitoring? 

61/L LCR and LCR inflow area HI yes multiple multiple 

85/R Clear Creek med no 

88/R Bright Angel Creek* 

Med 

yes NPS, FWS 

Oct-Feb NPS weir and backpack, NPS 

June hoopnetting, NPS or FWS 

mainstem hoopnetting in summer 

99/R Crystal Creek* low yes NPS HBC monitoring Visual, 2/year 

108.7/R Shinumo Creek inflow* Hi yes NPS HBC monitoring 2/year 

116.5/L Elves Chasm* med yes NPS HBC monitoring Visual, 2/year 

143.5/R Kanab Creek* Hi yes NPS HBC monitoring 2/year 

156.7/L Havasu Creek inflow* Hi yes NPS HBC monitoring 4/year (2 creek trips, 2 mainstem 

aggregation) 

183.5/R below lava backwater* med ? NPS HBC monitoring once/year 

180-277 

Western Grand Canyon Random 

Stratified sites Hi yes 

NPS/BioWest RZ 

monitoring 6/yr in spring/summer 

204/R Spring Creek* low yes NPS HBC monitoring once/year 

209/L 209 Slough* med yes NPS HBC monitoring once/year 

212/L pumpkin springs low ? NPS? FWS? Visual, 2/year 

225/L Diamond Creek* med yes NPS HBC monitoring once/year 

229&231 Travertine and Travertine Falls* low ? NPS HBC monitoring visual occasionally when takeout at PF 

243/R RM243 backwater Hi yes 

NPS/BioWest RZ 

monitoring 6/yr in spring/summer 

246/L Spencer* med yes NPS HBC monitoring occasionally when takeout at PF 

249/R Surprise Canyon* med yes NPS HBC monitoring occasionally when takeout at PF 

275/L Columbine* low ? NPS HBC monitoring occasionally when takeout at PF 
 

 

 

 

Grand Canyon Surveillance- new 

Sampling: 

- Paria River to above Badger Rapid 

- Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek 

Objective: Surveillance for new detections of smallmouth bass in Grand 

Canyon Park 

Compliance: 

NPS 2013- Comprehensive fisheries management plan for Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Environmental Assessment 

NPS 2019- Expanded Non-Native Aquatic Species Management Plan for Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Canyon National Park below Glen 

Canyon Dam Environmental Assessment 
 

Paria to Badger Reach (PBR) 

Questions: 

1. Are smallmouth bass present below Lees Ferry? 

2. If smallmouth bass are present, how far downstream can they be detected 

(up to Badger Rapid)? 

3. If smallmouth bass are present, what 

habitat do they occupy? 

4. Does mainstem temperature affect capture? 

Sampling: 

Backwater & tributary: April- December 

• Seining 

• Backpack electrofishing 

Mainstem: May- December 

• Boat electrofishing 

If SMB are detected, Rapid Response 

will be triggered. 

This is all funding dependentno funds currently 
 

 

Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek 

Questions: 

1. Are smallmouth bass present/ detectable? 

Sampling- June: 

Backwaters and potential “hotspots”- Seining and/or backpack electrofishing 

Mainstem near Bright Angel Creek, Shinumo Creek, and Havasu Creek inflows – 

Mini-hoop netting 

If SMB are detected, Rapid Response will be triggered,

funding-dependent. 

Funded by the Grand Canyon Conservancy 
Also funded by GCC 

2 sport boats fully 

outfitted for 

electrofishing 
 

 

 

Other Ongoing Grand Canyon Sampling 

• Project: Humpback Chub translocation monitoring- augment 

surveillance sampling 

• Sampling: mini-hoop netting in Havasu Creek (May) and Bright Angel 

Creek (June) 

• Funding: Bureau of Reclamation & NPS 
 

 

 

Potential NPS Rapid Response 

Location and habitat are important! 

- Mainstem- boat electrofishing 

- Isolated backwater, tributary- helicopter- or boat- supported 

backpack electrofishing, seining, netting, chemical renovation 

Funding-dependent- no funds currently identified 

Logistical details remain- support boats, operators, sampling plan, etc. 

• indicated that smallmouth bass densities were substantially reduced in most years by 7 
 

Beneficial Use 

• Scientific studies- otoliths, diet studies 

• Tribal aviaries 

• Human consumption 
 

 

 

 

 

Other Actions 

• Funding- NPS has submitted requests for funding to Reclamation,

several DOI & NPS sources (IRA, BIL), Grand Canyon Conservancy 

• Reporting- Laura Tennant (NPS) & Caitlin Andrews (USGS) set up a

SharePoint to track rare nonnative fish species observations/captures

by all agencies and cooperators. These reports are requested within 1

week of trip return to facilitate rapid response, if necessary. 

• Outreach- flyer developed for posting at NPS sites and for distribution

to commercial river outfitters and recreationalists 
More than 90% of all 

Humpback Chub 

live in Grand Canyon! 

Data from Daniel Leavitt, USFWS 
2023 

Nonnative 

Detections 

 

Project Month Species 

BGS BKC GSF SMB 

GCMRC-TRGD February 37 1 287 12 

37-70 46 23-134 73-105 

AZGFD - LF Trout 

Monitoring March 1 3 1 

46 50-61 85 

GCMRC-TRGD April 

38 1 290 13 Total 

* Data downloaded 4/13/2023 

**All in Glen Canyon stretch to date