Arizona Wildlife Conservation Strategy

West Fork Oak Creek COA

West Fork of Oak Creek is a high priority water. The primary needed management action includes stocking native Gila trout as a non-recovery population. Anglers strongly support this action, and it would raise the Angler Potential rating to Medium. In October 2015, Gila trout were stocked into the West Fork of Oak Creek. The stream will be managed as a recreational Gila trout stream with periodic stockings when surplus Gila trout from the hatchery system are available. Even though rainbow trout are rarely captured during sampling in West Fork of Oak Creek their possible presences precludes it from being managed as recovery stream for Gila trout.

Watershed

Verde River

Map

Conservation Potential

High

Management Priority

Native Aquatic Species Management (Native Fish-Self-sustaining); Sport Fish Recreation (Sport Fish-Cold Water Self-sustaining)

Primary Strategy Species

Fish

Desert Sucker, Gila Trout, Speckled Dace

Reptiles

Narrow-headed Gartersnake

Secondary Strategy Species