Efforts to Recover Threatened Species: Aspen Biologists Conduct Annual Surveys of Santa Ana Sucker

Surveys are conducted annually to assess the overall population estimate of Santa Ana sucker in the Santa Ana River. Santa Ana sucker (Catostomus santaanae) is a federally threatened fish species and the survey guides its recovery efforts. This past fall, Aspen biologists volunteered their services to the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (District) and United States Geological Survey (USGS) with this annual survey. Aspen provided seven biologists to assist with the survey effort, including several of Aspen’s key fisheries staff. Aspen fisheries biologists hold permits to work with the endemic southern California fish species. In addition to staff from the District and the USGS, personnel from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Riverside Corona Resource Conservation District, Resource Conservation Agency, and other consulting firms were also present for the effort. Increased flows in the river from Tropical Storm Hilary made the surveys particularly challenging but native fish, including Santa Ana sucker, were captured.