Summer and winter steelhead are a candidate for listing. In addition, the status of Coastal Cutthroat is in review. In short, all anadromous fish species in the Rogue are listed or being considered under the Endangered Species Act. Priority Streams Sucker Creek supports coho, fall chinook, and steelhead. The upper portion of the watershed is designated as an Aquatic Diversity Area due to high species diversity.
Sucker Creek is effected by low flow due to natural conditions and irrigation withdrawal.
Prior to an OWT instream water right, a portion of the creek went dry during the summer months. Additional flow will benefit habitat and water quality. South Fork Little Butte Creek is one of the most important coho spawning and rearing tributaries in the Upper Rogue Basin. It also supports spring chinook, summer and winter steelhead, and cutthroat trout. It is also listed on the Clean Water Act 303d list as water quality limited for habitat modification, flow modification, sediment and temperature.