The Apache Trout was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1967, and downlisted to threatened in 1975. In mid-August, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to remove the Apache Trout from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. The proposal was published in the Federal Register on August 10th (link), along with a press release. This proposal follows the recommendation to delist the Apache Trout made in the 5-year status review published by the Service last August (2022)(press release here). The delisting proposal is open for public comment until October 10th, 2023 (see how to comment in Federal Register notice). The Apache Trout would be the first sportfish, and trout, to be removed from the List.
The delisting proposal follows decades of conservation work by the White Mountain Apache Tribe, Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Trout Unlimited, and others. The 5-year status review relied heavily on information from a Species Status Assessment for the Apache Trout, and showed that there are 30 genetically pure populations of Apache Trout. The main goal of the 2009 Recovery Plan has thus been met.
Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited, said: “The proposed delisting of Apache Trout is a cause for celebration. This will be the first time a trout has ever been removed from the endangered species list. We celebrate the visionary work of the White Mountain Apache Tribe for 70 years to protect the Apache Trout. For the last 50, the Endangered Species Act reinforced the Tribe’s efforts, and partners such as TU stepped up to help conserve the habitat and ecosystem the species needs to thrive. The Apache Trout’s recovery symbolizes a hard-fought win following years of collaboration between the Tribe, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and TU to recover Arizona’s state fish. TU’s scientists took a lead role in developing the Apache Trout monitoring plan, species status assessment, and cooperative management plan. Our staff and volunteer leaders stand ready to help our partners implement those plans to continue protecting the Apache Trout and its habitat over the decades to come.”
As outlined in a previous post, I led the group of species experts in drafting the SSA, and the SSA was highly informed by monitoring data collected under a monitoring plan that I developed, again with agency experts, and that was finalized in 2017. It has been very gratifying to see all of this work (and data!) come together, something that was not clear to me at the time I was doing it. Science that leads to policy, that's where most scientists want to be.
What does this mean for the future of Apache Trout? Well, a Cooperative Management Plan was signed by the action agencies in 2022 . That document demonstrates commitment by the agencies (and Trout Unlimited) to conserve the species, regardless of its ESA listing status. So, if it is delisted, things shouldn't change much for the Apache Trout, other than some conservation actions could move more quickly because there is less consultation that needs to be done with the Service .
The gears of the federal government don't turn quickly, so it may take a while before the Service makes a final decision. But, that decision should be made within the next nine months.
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