News Release Archive

Bureau of Reclamation and Forest Service Issue Finding of No Significant Impact on Plan to Restore Native Fishes in Redrock Canyon

Media Contact: Patricia Cox (623) 773-6214 , (623) 773-6214, pacox@lc.usbr.gov
John McGlothlen , jwmcglothlen@lc.usbr.gov

For Release: July 21, 2008

The Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Forest Service have issued a Finding of No Significant Impact on a proposal to construct a fish barrier, eradicate non-native fishes and restore native amphibian and fish species into Redrock Canyon in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. The draft EA was released in September 2007 and, following a 30-day public comment period, Reclamation and the Forest Service have determined that the proposed action will not significantly impact the environment.

Redrock Canyon is home to 4 species of native fish including the endangered Gila topminnow. Several native amphibians also reside in the watershed, most notably the threatened Chiricahua leopard frog and endangered Sonora tiger salamander. The purpose of the proposed action is to establish self-sustaining populations of five native fish species (Gila topminnow, Gila chub, desert sucker, speckled dace, longfin dace), the Chiricahua leopard frog, the Sonora tiger salamander, and possibly other aquatic and semi-aquatic native species, in the Redrock Canyon watershed.

A copy of the final Environmental Assessment, Reclamations FONSI and the Forest Service FONSI/Decision Notice can be obtained by calling Reclamations Environmental Resource Management Division at 623-773-6251, e-mailing rkonst@lc.usbr.gov , or by downloading the documents from the Phoenix Area Office website at http://www.usbr.gov/lc/phoenix/

Questions may be directed to Mr. John McGlothlen of the Environmental Resource Management Division, at (623) 773-6256.

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