Deb Haaland Secretary at U.S. Department of Interior | Official website
Mesa, Ariz. — Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced today that the Apache trout, Arizona’s state fish, will be removed from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife after more than five decades of recovery efforts. The collaborative conservation initiative involved federal, state, and Tribal partners and was supported by $5.1 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
The delisting marks a significant achievement under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as it is the first sportfish and trout to be removed due to successful recovery. Secretary Haaland made this announcement alongside Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, White Mountain Apache Tribe Chairman Kasey Velesquez, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Deputy Director Siva Sundaresan, and other conservation partners during a celebration in Mesa.
“After more than 50 years of devoted efforts among federal, state, Tribal and non-governmental organizations, the incredible recovery of the Apache trout reminds us of the transformational power that collaborative conservation efforts – grounded in Indigenous Knowledge – can have on fish and wildlife,” said Secretary Haaland. “This recovery is a testament to the importance of the Endangered Species Act and its tools and resources that are allowing the Interior Department and the federal government to protect vital species in every corner of America.”
Martha Williams, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director, stated: “Thanks to resources from the President’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and partners were able to reopen over 60 miles of habitat and reinforce existing conservation efforts, resulting in today’s impressive announcement.”
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has provided funding for various projects aimed at restoring rivers and streams across the nation. Notable projects for Apache trout include the 2022 Apache Trout Recovery Fish Passage Infrastructure Project and the 2023 Crooked Creek Route 55 Culvert Fish Passage Project led by the White Mountain Apache Tribe.
Exclusively found in streams within Arizona's White Mountains, Apache trout holds cultural significance for the White Mountain Apache Tribe. It was first described as a unique species separate from Gila trout in 1972 before gaining protection under ESA due to habitat loss and non-native species introduction.
Conservation actions such as removing non-native trout species have been crucial for this recovery effort. These initiatives will continue through collaboration between multiple agencies including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, White Mountain Apache Tribe, Arizona Game & Fish Department along with Trout Unlimited under a cooperative management plan.
The journey towards recovery included an initial plan developed in 1979 followed by updates in subsequent years incorporating scientific data assessing current needs while modeling future scenarios ensuring continued protection under ESA which has saved many listed species from extinction so far contributing significantly towards biodiversity preservation nationwide
The final rule will soon be available on Federal Register at www.federalregister.gov by searching docket number FWS-R2-ES-2022-0115.
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