Evaluation of Long-Term Mechanical Removal of Brown Trout from Apache Trout Recovery Streams (2003-2014)

The primary strategy for achieving recovery of threatened Apache Trout Oncorhynchus gilae apache is to protect populations through natural or artificial barriers and removal of nonnative trouts above these barriers using various techniques. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and White Mountain Apache Tribe have jointly been conducting recovery activities for Apache Trout on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation for decades. Efforts to reduce or remove Brown Trout Salmo trutta in several Apache Trout recovery populations on the Reservation began in 2003 and occurred periodically until 2007. Following a significant long-term funding commitment from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, we began intensive removal efforts on three streams in 2008-2014. Due to successful results, we have begun mimicking our techniques on other streams and our presentation will highlight the successes, failures, and lessons learned.