Virgin River habitat protected for endangered fish

Friday, Jan. 28, 2000 | 11:12 a.m.

The habitat for two endangered species of fish received protection Thursday along an 87-mile stretch of the Virgin River, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said.

The designated habitat for the woundfin and the Virgin River chub includes the river and its flood plain winding through southwestern Utah, northwestern Arizona and southeastern Nevada.

The fish and their habitat face further declines as urban and other water developments try to meet the needs of a rapidly growing human population, the agency said.

Critical habitat includes areas that are essential to protect threatened or endangered species. At times the areas may require special management or protection, a statement from the agency said.

Both fish are already protected by the Endangered Species Act, said Michael Spear, manager of the wildlife agency's California-Nevada operations office.

The woundfin, a small, silvery minnow, was placed on the endangered list in 1970 and is found in only 15 percent of its historical range. The Virgin River chub, a medium-sized silvery minnow, was listed as endangered in 1989 and is now found in 65 percent of its historical range.

The service said both species declined in numbers because of lost habitat, which has been degraded by the creation of channels, the impounding of water, losing water through diversion and alterations to the natural stream flow, temperature changes and sediments.

Also contributing to the decline was the introduction of a non-native fish, the red shiner, into the area.

The new protection for the habitat is not expected to affect current landowners and water users, officials said.

"The designation of critical habitat only affects the activities of federal agencies and has no effect on a private landowner engaged in private activities that require no federal permit or funding," Spear said in a prepared statement.

Janet Bair, the service's assistant field supervisor for the Southern Nevada field office, said local, state and federal agencies are working together on conservation efforts to protect species.

"While we continue to work with landowners and water users to ensure their activities don't impact the species, we do not expect this designation to require any additional actions or restrictions on land and water users," Bair said.