From Salton Sea Desert Pupfish Investigations EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Ron Sutton, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 1999
"The desert pupfish was listed as a California endangered species in 1980; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) listed this species and its critical habitat as endangered in 1986 because of habitat alteration, the introduction of exotic species and contaminants, and other habitat impacts. The desert pupfish is the only fish endemic to the Salton Sink. The Ecological Planning and Assessment Group of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to conduct a survey of the endangered desert pupfish (Cyprinodon macularius) community for the Salton Sea Restoration (Project). Spatial and temporal movements, habitat information, feeding, and spawning use would be determined in representative areas of past sampling success. Data would be collected and submitted in a format compatible with the Project's Geographical Information System (GIS) including metadata standards. Consequently, close coordination would be maintained with the University of Redland's GIS Department, the current GIS clearinghouse for the Project. Information from this study can be used to determine how various proposed Salton Sea restoration actions might affect the desert pupfish.
Objectives:
The objectives of this study are to determine the movement of pupfish within and between various habitat types and to address the purposes (i.e., feeding, breeding, dispersal, and avoidance of predators) for which pupfish are utilizing these areas. To address these needs, the Ecological Planning and Assessment Group would develop and implement a sampling program to provide detailed information, both spatial and temporal, on the movements and habitat use patterns for the endangered desert pupfish. The sampling efforts would be concentrated in representative areas of past sampling success (i.e., shoreline pools, irrigation drains in close proximity to the Sea, and natural tributaries to the Sea that have suitable habitat). Sampling would occur when the species is most vulnerable to capture (March through September)."