Oregon State Univ. The subspecies has this status wherever found including the State of Oregon. The Foskett speckled dace occurs naturally in a small springhole and overflow rivulets in what appears to be mixed rangeland at the edge of an alkali playa. The wet areas at the spring, along the course of the rivulets, and at the sump on the edge of the playa supports growth of grasses and some aquatic vegetation, including cattails. The main population is in the springhole, which is about 6 feet in diameter and mostly 6 to 12 inches deep.
Individuals live in tiny outflow rivulets that are at times only a few inches wide and deep.
Cover utilized includes overhanging bank edges, grass, exposed grass roots, and filamentous algae. Water in the spring is clear, the current slow but significant. The subspecies appears to be non-territorial and is known to form small aggregations. Individuals have been collected from a spring hole with water from about two inches to one foot deep. They have been mainly associated with filamentous algae, exposed grass roots, and emergent aquatic vegetation.