Fish Management at the Pueblo of Zuni

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Steven Albert, Director of the Zuni Fish and Wildlife Department
Endangered Species Bulletin September/October 1999

Zuni Bluehead Sucker

The 600,000-acre (240,000-hectare) Zuni Reservation encompasses a landscape of broad mesas, tall sandstone buttes, and open valleys on the western slope of the Continental Divide. Straddling the States of Arizona and New Mexico, this semi-arid terrain does not harbor many native fishes, and the few that are present have had their habitats drastically altered.

One of the rare fishes here is the Zuni bluehead sucker (Catostomus discobolus yarrowi). Although not federally listed, this fish is considered endangered by the State of New Mexico, a species of special concern by the State of Arizona (AZGF, 1996), and a species of concern by the American Fisheries Society (Williams, et al. 1989). It historically inhabited headwater streams of the Little Colorado River, feeding on algae scraped from rocks and cobble with the papillae (protuberances) on its lower lip. This fish is small (most are in the 3.9-5.9 inch or 100-150 mm range) with mottled greenish to black markings dorsally and a cream-white belly. Zuni bluehead suckers rely on shady, cobbled streams with runs and pools.

Although Zunis have always known of the fish, and early explorers and naturalists noted its presence, the first systematic attempt at determining the population and distribution of the Zuni bluehead sucker was conducted by the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1980. Hanson (1980) found fairly substantial numbers of fish in limited areas along the upper Rio Nutria and a few tributaries in New Mexico, with most found on the Zuni Reservation. Its range was fragmented, with the largest population inhabiting the rocky Nutria Canyon.

Subsequent surveys in the 1990's noted steep declines in the fish, with outlying populations either extirpated or producing no young (Propst and Hobbs, 1996). Currently, the species remains in only 4 short reaches of stream, each less than 1.2 miles ( 2 kilometers) long.

Threats to the Habitat
Though apparently never abundant in historic times, the species has nevertheless undergone dramatic declines since the turn of the century, and currently occupies less than 10 percent of its former range (Propst, 1999). Historically, the Zuni and other rivers, though cloudy at times (especially during summer thunderstorms), were relatively clear. Many streams were perennial with wide, braided channels abundant bankside vegetation. Spring "flushing flows" kept silt out of pools and riffles, and kept the cobble and rock substrate clear of silt. Four major factors have contributed to changes in this river system:

(1) Dam construction changed the hydraulics of the river, making many formerly perennial watercourses semi-perennial or ephemeral. Water stored in large lakes and reservoirs, while locally raising the water table and making water available at a specific site, reduces both the availability in other reaches of a stream and the total amount of water in the system. Additionally, the construction of many reservoirs leads to downstream erosion. Where formerly sediment rich river water would travel a stream depositing and picking up sediment as it went (depending on factors such as stream velocity and channel shape), the post-dam sediment drops out in the upstream end of a reservoir where the water velocity nearly stops. Water exiting the reservoir is relatively clear and, having nothing to deposit, can only pick up sediment, resulting in erosion immediately downstream of the reservoir.

(2) In an effort to reduce flooding and increase the efficiency of water transport, many rivers were channelized and cleared of vegetation. Unfortunately, this had the effect of increasing the water speed, reducing infiltration and increasing erosion. Wetlands that provided a buffering effect from severe storm events and erosion were removed and muddy streambanks tumbled into the rivers and streams.

(3) The invasion of alien plants, especially saltcedar (Tamarix pentandra). This plant was introduced into the United States in the early 1800's as an ornamental plant and again in the early 1900's as a means of erosion control. Unfortunately, it soon escaped cultivation and spread rapidly, especially in the rivers and streams of the arid Southwest. Saltcedar produces abundant seeds, germinates rapidly, out-competes native vegetation such as cottonwoods and willows for water and light, and uses much more water than these native plants (Carmen and Brotherson, 1982).

(4) Poor grazing management in some areas has allowed cattle to remove all the riparian vegetation from stream reaches, trample the banks, and muddy the water.
These habitat changes have altered the aquatic habitat and reduced the supply of algae upon which the sucker feeds. Other factors, such as predation and competition from introduced non-native fish, may also be factors in the sucker's decline.

The Next Steps
The Pueblo of Zuni has protected the stronghold of the suckers' habitat in Nutria Canyon by designating it as a wilderness and eliminating livestock grazing. The Zuni Fish and Wildlife Department and the Zuni Conservation Project have initiated an aggressive riparian management and recovery program, with the ultimate aim of restoring as much river and stream habitat as possible. Although there are some factors beyond our control (the dams on the river, for example, will never be removed), we are undertaking the following management actions:

Removing non-native vegetation, such as saltcedar, and replanting native cottonwoods and willows.

Slowing erosion and siltation with in-stream structures such as check dams to slow the water flow. Many of these structures are based on traditional Zuni practices and incorporate natural local materials, such as rocks, logs, and brush.

We are working with the Fish and Wildlife Service and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to conduct regular population surveys.

References
Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGF). 1996. Wildlife of Special Concern in Arizona (draft). Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix.

Carmen andJ.D. Brotherson. 1982. Comparison of sites infested and not infested with saltcedar (Tamarix ramossissima) and Russian Olive (Elaegnus augustifolia). Weed Science 30:360-364.

Hanson, B. 1980. Fish survey of the streams in the Zuni River drainage, New Mexico. Report prepared for the Water and Power Resources Service, Boulder City, Nevada. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Propst, D.L. 1999. Threatened and Endangered Fishes of New Mexico. New Mexico Game and Fish, Technical Report 1.

Propst, D.L. and A.L. Hobbs. 1996. Distribution, Status and Notes on the Biology on the Zuni Bluehead Sucker, Catostomus discobolus yaITowi, in the Zuni River Drainage, New Mexico. Williams, J.E., J.R. Johnson, D.A. Hendrickson, S. Contreras-Balderas,J.D. Williams, M. Navarro-Mendoza, D.E. McAllister, and J.E. Deacon. 1989. Fishes of North America: endangered, threatened, or of special concern: 1989. Fisheries 14:2-20.

Williams, J.E., J.R. Johnson, D.A. Hendrickson, S. Contreras-Balderas, J.D. Williams, M. Navarro-Mendoza, D.E. McAllister, and J.E. Deacon. 1989. Fishes of North America: endangered, threatened, or of special concern: 1989. Fisheries 14:2-20.