2014 Project Summaries
Amargosa Canyon Salt Cedar Removal, CA
The Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) supports the only endemic population of the critically endangered Ash Meadows Amargosa Pupfish and the Ash Meadows Speckled Dace in the world. In an effort to address the direct threats of small population size, genetic isolation, and to improve aquatic habitat conditions the Ash Meadows NWR, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, and numerous other partners are working together to restore natural hydrologic connectivity between the Five Springs complex and downstream habitats.
This project removed nonnative species and restored the natural historic floods that were hindered by a road and fallow field. This restoration has benefited the Ash Meadows Amargosa Pupfish, the Ash Meadows Speckled Dace, and numerous other plant and animal species by improved fish passage and connectivity through the removal of barriers and impoundments, yielding increased genetic exchange for the pupfish, and increasing the available habitat for both the pupfish and the speckled dace.
Muddy River Streambank Rehabilitation, NV
The Muddy River Ecosystem Recovery project is designed to recover the endemic Moapa dace and other native biodiversity dependent upon the Muddy River in southern Nevada. It is a basin wide recovery effort focused primarily on upstream portions of the river but extending downstream nearly 30 km to Lake Mead.
​
Two projects at the Muddy River have been funded in part by the Desert Fish Habitat Partnership: Apcar Culvert Replacement and Muddy River Stream Bank Habitat Rehabilitation.
This project entailed removal of invasive species (Tamarisk and Phragmites) and stream bank restoration utilizing natural stream bank stabilization techniques (bioengineering techniques).
Mohave tui chub | China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station Photo
Mohave Tui Chub Habitat Restoration- West Pond and Rainbow Wells, CA
The small spring and groundwater-fed ponds at Zzyzx were the last refuge of the endangered Mohave tui chub (Siphateles bicolor mohavensis) after it was extirpated from the Mojave River. Water quality problems led to the loss of habitat in West Pond, leaving only Lake Tuendae. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife restored water quality and re-introduced Mohave tui chub. West Pond now provides habitat for migratory birds. An additional site on Mojave National Preserve, Rainbow Wells, was also stabilized for creating new habitat for Mohave tui chub.
​
Muddy River Stream Bank Stabilization, CA
This project enhanced ~ 220 acres of the river channel and riparian zone on the San Francisco River through the installation of 3.5 miles of cattle exclosure fencing on the east side of the river and the development of an upland well system. This project is attributed to reducing siltation, trampling of riparian vegetation and excessive nutrient/waste input from cattle, and has improve habitat quality for native fish and other sensitive riparian species.
