Habitat Creation and Re-Establishment of a Refugial Population of Foskett Speckled Dace, a Threatened Desert Fish in Southeast Oregon

The Foskett speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus ssp.) is represented by a single population that inhabits Foskett Spring in Coleman Valley (Warner Lakes subbasin), Lake County, Oregon. Foskett speckled dace was listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1985.  A second population in Dace Spring, located approximately 0.8 kilometers south of Foskett Spring, was established from an introduction of 100 fish from Foskett Spring in 1979-1980, however recent surveys have failed to document their continued existence at this location due to an apparent loss of open water habitat.  In 2009, two new ponds were created at Dace spring.  In 2010, 50 Foskett speckled dace were moved from Foskett Spring to the new habitat at Dace Spring with the goal of establishing a refugial population.  Habitat design criteria and considerations are discussed as well as fish population response, based on 2011 population survey results.  Also, a strategy to avoid deleterious genetic affects which may occur through translocation of limited numbers of fish will be discussed.