The Bureau of Reclamation, United States Forest Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, collectively the “Agencies,” are looking for early feedback on a native fish restoration effort on the upper Verde River.
This is NOT part of a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, but simply a forum to assess public opinion on the proposed fish barriers.
Native fish in the southwest have been declining over the last century and a half. Early declines were principally a result of habitat destruction and alteration. However, the establishment of non-native fishes is now the most significant factor preventing persistence and recovery of native fishes in the southwest.
Verde River Basin
Upper Verde River
Angling is a popular activity in the Upper Verde River. The Arizona Game and Fish Department estimates that this area gets nearly 9,000 angler user days per year. Anglers in the Upper Verde River primarily catch a mix of nonnative (red eye bass) and native fish species (roundtail chub).
The proposed project includes construction of two concrete fish barriers in the Upper Verde River, Yavapai County just north of Clarkdale, Arizona. The two barriers would be constructed within the Prescott National Forest.