Arizona Wildlife Conservation Strategy

West Clear Creek-Headwaters to waterfall COA

This section of West Clear Creek and its headwater tributaries are a medium priority management. Currently the management unit is functioning well with large populations of native fish and self-sustaining brown trout and rainbow trout populations. Roundtail chub are present in large numbers throughout the management unit. The only species native to West Clear Creek which is not currently present in the system is Gila trout. Removing the non-native trout without harming the native fish community is not possible with the currently available chemical removal methods. Aside from wildfire protection, risks associated with management actions (including nonnative species removal) outweigh potential perceived benefits to the existing native population.

Watershed

Verde River

Map

Conservation Potential

Medium

Management Priority

Native Aquatic Species Management (Native Fish-Self-sustaining); Sport Fish Recreation (Sport Fish-Basic Yield)

Primary Strategy Species

Fish

Desert Sucker, Roundtail Chub, Sonora Sucker, Speckled Dace

Secondary Strategy Species

Fish

Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Roundtail Chub