Hatchery Refuge and Propagation

Photo of spawning tanks and raceways at the Aquatic Research and Conservation Center.

Hatcheries are an important tool for conservation and recovery of imperiled fish. The Gila River Basin Native Fishes Conservation Program has established two facilities designed to house and propagate (reproduce) rare populations of native species. Native species are often genetically unique, irreplaceable, and continuing to decline or disappear. This level of protection serves as insurance against catastrophic losses in the wild (for instance, due to forest fires or major droughts).

Aquatic Research and Conservation Center (ARCC)

The Aquatic Research and Conservation Center (ARCC, formerly the Bubbling Ponds Native Fishes Conservation Facility) was established in the early 2000s under the Gila River Basin Native Fishes Conservation Program and is operated by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. It is located adjacent to the Bubbling Ponds Hatchery near Cornville, Arizona. Its primary purpose is to insure against losses of wild populations, provide stock for efforts to reintroduce species into the wild, and to research artificial reproduction methods for native fishes. The facility also serves as the primary treatment site for prevention of diseases in native fishes that are to be transplanted within the Gila River basin.

The facility currently holds endangered Spikedace and Loach Minnow populations from Arizona and New Mexico, and a Roundtail Chub population from Eagle Creek, Arizona. Offspring produced at the facility have been reintroduced throughout Arizona and New Mexico, including Blue River, Fossil Creek, Bonita Creek, Redfield Canyon, Hot Springs Canyon, Saliz Canyon, San Francisco River, West Fork Gila River, and Little Creek.

In 2016, renovations to ARCC began in an effort to expand and improve holding and spawning capacity for native fish. The multi-year renovation will increase the number of spawning raceways, create two large holding ponds, increase biosecurity, and provide space to conduct important research. The renovation is being performed in three phases.

Arizona State University (ASU) Topminnow Holding Facility

Gila Topminnow and Yaqui Topminnow are two endangered, native fish species in Arizona. Six stocks of Gila Topminnow (Bylas Springs, Cienega Creek, Monkey Spring, Parker Canyon, Red Rock Canyon, and Sharp Spring) and one stock of Yaqui Topminnow (North Pond/Tule Spring) were previously housed at ASU's Animal Care and Technologies Buidling in Tempe, Arizona. The primary purpose of the holding facility was to provide a genetic refuge against catastrophic loss of Gila and Yaqui Topminnow lineages in the wild. Each stock was augmented with wild-caught individuals, as available, at least every other year. Fish at the holding facility were also used to stock or augment other captive and wild populations when available.

The Gila River Basin Native Fishes Conservation Program helped maintain these stocks by providing funds for holding tanks, water, water treatment, electricity, fish food, medical care, supplies, and support. In 2022, this project was disbanded and the remaining stocks were moved to ARCC or stocked into captive reintroduction sites.

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Last Updated: 10/20/22