Fish from az1/22/2024 ![]() ![]() ![]() The Arizona Game and Fish Department, along with numerous government agencies, conservation organizations, and many members of the public have become stewards of Arizona's native fish species, striving to preserve a link to the past in order to serve as a legacy to future generations. Many smaller rivers and creeks in Arizona are now dry except for periods of heavy rain.Ī now-dry stream bed found at Santa Catalina Mountain in Tucson, Arizona The state of Arizona first placed native fish on the endangered species list in 1988 however, detrimental human activities including aquifer pumping, reduction in stream flows, and predation from non-native green sunfish, have acted as major contributing factors to the decline of these native species. With one species already extinct, more than 70 percent listed as Wildlife of Special Concern in Arizona, and over 50 percent federally listed as endangered or threatened, a special and irreplaceable part of Arizona could easily be lost, as many of these species are now threatened, endangered, or extinct. Habitat loss and alteration, and the introduction of non-native fish species have caused sharp declines in many native populations. Unfortunately, native fishes have not done as well adapting to the influences of humans on their environment. Their ability to adjust to periods of drought and flash floods is truly a marvel of nature and has been the key to their survival. The state is mostly drained by the Colorado River and its tributary, with the main tributaries being the Gila River, the basin of the Little Colorado River, įor thousands of years, Arizona's native fishes have adapted to life in habitats ranging from small springs to the raging torrents of the Colorado River. Most habitats for these fishes consist of flowing streams among the inland waterways of Arizona. Since water in the state is influenced by the climate, the habitats of Arizona native fishes are diverse. Habitats of Arizona fishes Downstream view of the Colorado River at river mile 175 in the Grand CanyonĪrizona is known to have climate ranging from dry and hot at lower elevations to cold weather on the high mountains. The native fishes of Arizona are the species of freshwater fish that are found naturally among the inland waterways of Arizona, United States. ![]()
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