U.S. FWS
Environmental Conservation Online System
Conserving the Nature of America

Recovery Plan Action Status

Plan Name: Recovery Plan for the Endangered and Threatened Species of Ash Meadows, Nevada
Plan Status: Final
Plan Date: 28-Sep-90
Lead Agency: USFWS
Lead Office: Nevada Fish And Wildlife Office ( (775) 861-6300 )
Species Action Priority # Action # Action Description Action Status Est. Initiation Date Est. Completion Date Responsible Parties Work Type Labor Type Action Comments Implementation Activities
Amargosa niterwort (Nitrophila mohavensis), Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes), Ash Meadows blazingstar (Mentzelia leucophylla), Ash Meadows gumplant (Grindelia fraxino-pratensis), Ash Meadows ivesia (Ivesia kingii var. eremica), Ash meadows milk-vetch (Astragalus phoenix), Ash Meadows naucorid (Ambrysus amargosus), Ash Meadows speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus nevadensis), Ash Meadows sunray (Enceliopsis nudicaulis var. corrugata), Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis), Spring-loving centaury (Centaurium namophilum), Warm Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis pectoralis) 2 112 Acquire and protect land and water within area of Management Concern: Withdraw BLM lands Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Land Acquisition Program, U.S. Bureau of Land Management Acquisition: Withdrawal Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Administrative Withdraw of BLM lands initiated but not yet complete.
Amargosa niterwort (Nitrophila mohavensis), Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes), Ash Meadows blazingstar (Mentzelia leucophylla), Ash Meadows gumplant (Grindelia fraxino-pratensis), Ash Meadows ivesia (Ivesia kingii var. eremica), Ash meadows milk-vetch (Astragalus phoenix), Ash Meadows naucorid (Ambrysus amargosus), Ash Meadows speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus nevadensis), Ash Meadows sunray (Enceliopsis nudicaulis var. corrugata), Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis), Spring-loving centaury (Centaurium namophilum), Warm Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis pectoralis) 2 113 Acquire and protect land and water within area of Management Concern: Secure private lands Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Land Acquisition Program Acquisition Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Administrative
Amargosa niterwort (Nitrophila mohavensis), Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes), Ash Meadows blazingstar (Mentzelia leucophylla), Ash Meadows gumplant (Grindelia fraxino-pratensis), Ash Meadows ivesia (Ivesia kingii var. eremica), Ash meadows milk-vetch (Astragalus phoenix), Ash Meadows naucorid (Ambrysus amargosus), Ash Meadows speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus nevadensis), Ash Meadows sunray (Enceliopsis nudicaulis var. corrugata), Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis), Spring-loving centaury (Centaurium namophilum), Warm Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis pectoralis) 2 115 Acquire and protect land and water within area of Management Concern: Acquire mineral rights Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 U.S. Bureau of Land Management Acquisition Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Administrative On November 2, 2009, BLM issued PLO No.7737 withdrawing the Ash Meadows ACEC from the mineral mining and entry for 20 years. On December 13, 2010, the BLM issued PLO No. 238 withdrawing approximately 9,460 ac (3,828 ha) of BLM land within the Refuge boundary and about 5,570 ac (2,254 ha) of Service land from mineral mining and entry for 20 years, until 2030
Amargosa niterwort (Nitrophila mohavensis), Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes), Ash Meadows blazingstar (Mentzelia leucophylla), Ash Meadows gumplant (Grindelia fraxino-pratensis), Ash Meadows ivesia (Ivesia kingii var. eremica), Ash meadows milk-vetch (Astragalus phoenix), Ash Meadows naucorid (Ambrysus amargosus), Ash Meadows speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus nevadensis), Ash Meadows sunray (Enceliopsis nudicaulis var. corrugata), Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis), Spring-loving centaury (Centaurium namophilum), Warm Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis pectoralis) 2 116 Acquire and protect land and water within area of Management Concern: Post refuge Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System Management: Other Internal Field Assistance, Internal Administrative Entire Refuge has been posted
Activity Number Description Status Est. Initiation Date Est. Completion Date Responsible Parties Work Type Labor Type Comments Species
116-1 Construct Ash Meadows Fish Conservation Facility for protection of Devils Hole pupfish and other aquatic species in the region. Ongoing Current FY 2010 N/A Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Facility is nearly finished construction in mid 2012. Much potential conservation pending.
Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes), Ash Meadows naucorid (Ambrysus amargosus), Ash Meadows speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus nevadensis), Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis), Warm Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis pectoralis) 2 212 Return spring flows to historic channels: Develop waterflow restoration plan Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System, Nevada Department of Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services Division, U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division Research Volunteer, Graduate Student, Species Expert, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance, Internal Administrative A hydrogeomorphic plan (2005) was completed by Otis Bay which is a starting point for developing waterflow restoration plans.
Activity Number Description Status Est. Initiation Date Est. Completion Date Responsible Parties Work Type Labor Type Comments Species
212-1 Fairbanks Spring outflow was restored and recreated in some areas to benefit native fish. Ongoing Current FY 2009 N/A Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Speckled dace were relocated from the south portion of the refuge to the Fairbanks outflow. Salvage of many 1000s of pupfish was done to facilitate the restoration.
Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes), Ash Meadows naucorid (Ambrysus amargosus), Ash Meadows speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus nevadensis), Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis), Warm Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis pectoralis) 2 2321 Enhance/restore aquatic ecosystems; remove non-native competitive/predatory aquatic species: Determine appropriate methods for removal of non-native aquatic species Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System, Nevada Department of Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services Division, U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division Management: Predator and Competitor Control, Research: Predation, Research: Competition Volunteer, Graduate Student, Species Expert, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance Developed and implemented regular invasive aquatic species removal program.
Activity Number Description Status Est. Initiation Date Est. Completion Date Responsible Parties Work Type Labor Type Comments Species
2321-1 In 2011/2012 invasive crayfish were eliminated from the Indian Springs system(s) in the Warm Springs area to benefit Warm Springs pupfish. Complete FY 2011 FY 2012 Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected The eradication appears (mid 2012) to have been successful. Pupfish are back in the system and reproducing.
Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes), Ash Meadows naucorid (Ambrysus amargosus), Ash Meadows speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus nevadensis), Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis), Warm Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis pectoralis) 2 3433 Manage Devil's Hole; Monitor populations of Devils Hole pupfish; monitor refugium populations: Modify refugia habitats as needed Ongoing Current Prior to FY 1995 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System, Nevada Department of Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Division, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services Division Research: Climate Change, Research: Population Assessment, Research: Ecosystem Studies, Management: International Cooperation, Management: Identify/Protect Foraging, Breeding and Mig Habitats, Management: Captive Standards and Veterinary Care, Acquisition: General, Management: Propagation, Management: Reintroduction, Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation, Management: Disease Control, Research: Population Surveys, Research: Habitat Status, Research: Habitat Requirements, Research: Management Techniques, Research: Taxonomic Studies, Research: Demographic Studies, Research: Propagation, Research: Predation, Research: Competition, Research: Disease, Research: Environmental Contaminants, Research: Reintroduction, Research: Genetics, Management: Population Monitoring Volunteer, Graduate Student, Species Expert, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance Point of Rocks Refugium (Devils's Hole pupfish) individuals were determined to be hybrids from FY 2005 study and hybrids were removed in FY 2006. Point of Rocks Refugium will be modified in FY 2007 to temporarily hold Devil's Hole pupfish. A new refugium is being planned and designed in FY 2006 and 2007 at School Springs. Hoover Dam Refuge was invaded by a snail that prevented any recruitment to the populoation of Devils Hole pupfish. The pupfish were removed and transfered to Willow Beach national Fish hatchery and Shark Reef Aquarium. There are no plans to reestablish pure Devils Hole pupfish in Hoover Dam Refuge because we cannot ensure snails will not reestablish. The refuge near (not at) School Springs is nearly constructed (in 2012) and is currently being commissioned to benefit all aquatic species.
Activity Number Description Status Est. Initiation Date Est. Completion Date Responsible Parties Work Type Labor Type Comments Species
3433-1 Construction of Ash Meadows Fish Conservation Facility is nearly complete and is currently being commissioned. Ongoing Current FY 2007 FY 2013 Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Construction of the new facility is nearly compete. Commissioning and programming of the facility is currently underway.
Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes), Ash Meadows naucorid (Ambrysus amargosus), Ash Meadows speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus nevadensis), Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis), Warm Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis pectoralis) 3 6521 Investigate biological factors affecting recovery; determine population and habitat reconstruction goals for reclassification/delisting: Determine population demography criteria for delisting of aquatic species Ongoing Current FY 2011 Nevada Department of Wildlife, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services Division Research: Population Assessment, Management: Planning, Research: Population Surveys, Research: Habitat Requirements, Research: Demographic Studies, Research: Genetics Graduate Student, Species Expert, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance Efforts are underway to understand DHP population biology in Devils Hole through field studies and establishment of Ash Meadows Fish Conservation Facility.
Activity Number Description Status Est. Initiation Date Est. Completion Date Responsible Parties Work Type Labor Type Comments Species
6521-1 Long-term ecosystem monitoring at Devils Hole, propagation research at UAZ and UNLV, and construction of Ash Meadow Fish Conservation Facility are all helping to establish population demography of DHP. Ongoing Current FY 2007 N/A Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Much work in support of Devils Hole pupfish has been underway with the oversight of an Incident Command Team consisting of one member from each of the 3 agencies with managment responsibility (USFWS, NPS, NV DOW).
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