The Endangered Apache

Trout

David Mosienko and Jaelia Leavitt

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 Table of Contents

Position………………………………………………………………………..… 3

History…………………………………………………………………………….3

Causes…………………………………………………..………………………...4

Consequences……………………………………....……………………………..4

Solutions…………………………………………....…………………………….5

Opposing View……………………………………....…………………………...5

Images, Maps, and Charts………………………………………….…………...6-7

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Position
 Arizona's state fish, the Apache Trout, has long been the focus of conservation groups in

Arizona, and for good reason. It is unacceptable that one of our state symbols be an endangered

species. Their natural range has been astronomically reduced, their numbers fell to almost

extinction, and the resources they used in the wild were damaged or used up. It is our position to

reinforce the state’s, as well as private conservation groups’, efforts to bring back this prized

gem of Arizona.

History of The Problem

Over 100 years ago, the Apache Trout was abundant in over 630 miles of rivers and

streams across the White Mountains in eastern Arizona. Their numbers grew even larger when

the Arizona Game and Fish Department created many lakes and reservoirs in the white

mountains and even stocked natural lakes with the Apache Trout. The trouble with the Apache

Trout came when the Arizona Game and Fish Department started stocking White Mountain lakes

and streams with Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Tiger Trout, and Brown Trout.

All of those species are non native to Arizona and are adapted to waters with limited resources

they would have to compete with other species for. The Apache Trout was the only such fish in

its natural waters, thus they never had much competition and are very small compared to the

other trout species. It was discovered as early as the late 1940’s that the Apache Trout had been

outcompeted for resources

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and have almost gone extinct. Recovery efforts began immediately. State hatcheries produce

thousands of Apache Trout to stock in their native habitat every year. When the Endangered
Species Act was passed by congress, the Apache Trout was one of the first species to be put on

the list.

Causes

The causes of the Apache Trout’s rapid decline in numbers and near extinction are

attributed to the introduction of non native species that compete with the native Apache Trout.

Indeed an honest mistake, it was still a very damaging one. Another big problem we face today is

the hybridisation of the Apache Trout and genetically similar trout species such as Rainbow

Trout and Cutthroat Trout.

Consequences

The consequences of this problem are that our state fish, and the only trout species native

to Arizona is critically endangered and are at only a fraction of strength, numbers, and range of

what they used to be. This is also negative because there is little genetic diversity in non native

trout being distributed across our whole nation. Not all news is bad though, due to conservation

efforts over the past 70 years, The Apache Trout has come back from near extinction and their

numbers

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are rising. In the next few years it is expected their numbers continue to rise and over the next

few decades be gradually re-introduced and spread to their full native habitat.
 Solutions

The solution to continue reviving Arizona’s state fish is relatively simple. Less stocking

of non native trout species and the continuation of breeding and stocking the Apache Trout in its

native habitat in White Mountain lakes, rivers, and streams. This can be done alongside other

native fish species such as Gila Trout to maintain the biodiversity of the ecosystem. Stocking of

non-native fish such as Arctic Grayling would benefit as well because fish like the Arctic

Grayling are similar to the Apache Trout in size and behavior, making them good species to

maintain biodiversity in the water.

Opposing View

Some groups and people would be against the measures described above for the simple

reasons that removing popular fish species such as Rainbow Trout would negatively impact them

in some way. Rainbow Trout is the most popular fish in arizona to fish for, therefore removing it

or reducing its numbers would cause a lot of people to turn away from the cause.

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Images, Maps, and Charts

Images showing the Apache Trout. It is characterised by its gold colour with black spots

Maps showing the historical range of the Apache Trout compared to the range today
Stocking efforts by the Arizona Game and Fish Department have helped bring the numbers of the Apache

Trout up and save them from extinction.

Conservation Groups have also played a huge role in the

comeback of the Apache Trout