A Multifaceted Approach to Guadalupe Bass (Micropterus treculii) Restoration in a Texas Hill Country River

The Blanco River is located in a portion of Texas undergoing some of the most rapid urbanization in the United States.  Incompatible development, unsustainable water use, unsound vegetation clearing, untenable grazing practices, and non-native invasive species are major stressors on the river’s aquatic life.  Historically it was home to Guadalupe Bass, but as a result of hybridization with introduced Smallmouth Bass they were extirpated.  A restoration project was initiated in summer 2011 when severe drought reduced upper sections of the river to a series of enduring pools, and provided an opportunity to remove Smallmouth Bass upstream of a natural fish passage barrier.  Genetically pure Guadalupe Bass were stocked in the restoration area once flows returned.  Genetics monitoring in 2014, and in 2015 following a historic flood which breached the fish passage barrier, indicated only pure Guadalupe Bass in the restoration area.  While the success of Guadalupe Bass reintroduction efforts were encouraging, stressors affecting the overall health of the system needed to be addressed.  The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and The Nature Conservancy encouraged voluntary collaboration with private landowners, community leaders, government agencies and other non-governmental organizations to improve overall aquatic system function.