02-17-2004, 03:39 PM
Apache Trout[/url] [left]During the Pleistocene epoch, a large area of this continent was covered with ice. The southwestern area of what is now the United States was much cooler and wetter. Cooler ocean temperatures enabled ancient forms of salmon to move south off the shores of Mexico. Due to submerged land areas, the fish were able to move into the Gulf of California and upstream to the Gila River Basin. As time passed and there were geological changes, the fish were restricted in their movements and became separated into two groups. One group became the Gila trout, the other became the Apache trout.[/left]![[Image: apache_trout.jpg]](http://southwest.fws.gov/fishery/images/species/apache_trout.jpg)
Photograph provided by Bob David, Alchesay-Williams Creek NFH [left]Apache trout[/url] (Oncorhynchus apache) were recognized as a unique species many years ago. They are found in the White Mountains of east central Arizona. The streams in the area merge to form the Salt River which empties into the Gila River near Phoenix, Arizona. It was found in the White and Black river drainages, the headwaters of the Little Colorado drainage, and the Blue River in the San Francisco River drainage. These streams are all close to each other in the White Mountains. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in conjunction with the White Mountain Apache Tribe, have undertaken a large-scale propagation program on the reservation. The program is designed to replace rainbow trout with Apache trout in waters throughout its native range. Originally, the Apache trout was listed as endangered. Later, its status was changed to threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on July 19, 1975 (40 FR 29864).[/left]
The Apache trout is beautiful. It is iridescent gold on the sides, darkening to shades of brass and copper on the head to olive-green on the upper body. Rounded spots are sparse on the front of the body, but increase in density towards the tail. Most spots, especially those towards the front, have a light "halo" around them. A light yellow cutthroat mark is present beneath the lower jaw and the fins are tipped in white, yellow, or orange depending on the season and food supply. This species has the largest dorsal and adipose fins of any North American trout. There is no pink band on its sides, which the Gila trout has. They occupy small, high elevation streams where they tend to be small. Females average 9-10 inches in size. Males are 12-14 inches in length. In warmer water, they can reach larger sizes. Apache trout feed on invertebrates and smaller fish. There are few studies on reproduction. Spawning is known to occur from March through mid-June.
Apache trout occur in small, cold, high-gradient streams flowing through conifer forests with substrates consisting of boulders, rocks, gravel, and sand. The headwaters of the White and Black river drainages on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation contain the largest groups. Larger streams may have several thousand Apache trout. Intermittent tributaries have few or no year-long residents, but may serve as spawning and nursery areas.
Apache trout have been declining in number due to loss of habitat, as well as competition with introduced salmonids for food and space. In addition, rainbow and cutthroat trout contaminate the Apache trout gene pool through hybridization. Introduction of other salmonids has reduced the Apache trout populations to those existing mainly in headwater areas upstream from natural barriers. Changing land uses such as grazing and timber harvesting damaged streams and altered the water quality, preventing reproduction.
Today, over 20 streams contain pure populations of Apache trout where natural or manmade barriers prevent invasion of nonnative species. Recovery goals include increasing this number to no less than 30 populations before the Apache trout is removed from the Endangered Species list.
In 1983, Alchesay-Williams Creek National Fish Hatchery in Arizona initiated an attempt to raise Apache trout. Wild trout were spawned in a remote area and eggs transported to the hatchery for hatching and rearing. By using specialized food, mechanical feeders, and other technology, hatchery raised Apache trout increased to over 500,000 by 1990. Today, over 1.2 million eggs are produced each year for use in sport fishing and recovery programs. [center][/center]
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Photograph provided by Bob David, Alchesay-Williams Creek NFH [left]Apache trout[/url] (Oncorhynchus apache) were recognized as a unique species many years ago. They are found in the White Mountains of east central Arizona. The streams in the area merge to form the Salt River which empties into the Gila River near Phoenix, Arizona. It was found in the White and Black river drainages, the headwaters of the Little Colorado drainage, and the Blue River in the San Francisco River drainage. These streams are all close to each other in the White Mountains. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in conjunction with the White Mountain Apache Tribe, have undertaken a large-scale propagation program on the reservation. The program is designed to replace rainbow trout with Apache trout in waters throughout its native range. Originally, the Apache trout was listed as endangered. Later, its status was changed to threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on July 19, 1975 (40 FR 29864).[/left]
The Apache trout is beautiful. It is iridescent gold on the sides, darkening to shades of brass and copper on the head to olive-green on the upper body. Rounded spots are sparse on the front of the body, but increase in density towards the tail. Most spots, especially those towards the front, have a light "halo" around them. A light yellow cutthroat mark is present beneath the lower jaw and the fins are tipped in white, yellow, or orange depending on the season and food supply. This species has the largest dorsal and adipose fins of any North American trout. There is no pink band on its sides, which the Gila trout has. They occupy small, high elevation streams where they tend to be small. Females average 9-10 inches in size. Males are 12-14 inches in length. In warmer water, they can reach larger sizes. Apache trout feed on invertebrates and smaller fish. There are few studies on reproduction. Spawning is known to occur from March through mid-June.
Apache trout occur in small, cold, high-gradient streams flowing through conifer forests with substrates consisting of boulders, rocks, gravel, and sand. The headwaters of the White and Black river drainages on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation contain the largest groups. Larger streams may have several thousand Apache trout. Intermittent tributaries have few or no year-long residents, but may serve as spawning and nursery areas.
Apache trout have been declining in number due to loss of habitat, as well as competition with introduced salmonids for food and space. In addition, rainbow and cutthroat trout contaminate the Apache trout gene pool through hybridization. Introduction of other salmonids has reduced the Apache trout populations to those existing mainly in headwater areas upstream from natural barriers. Changing land uses such as grazing and timber harvesting damaged streams and altered the water quality, preventing reproduction.
Today, over 20 streams contain pure populations of Apache trout where natural or manmade barriers prevent invasion of nonnative species. Recovery goals include increasing this number to no less than 30 populations before the Apache trout is removed from the Endangered Species list.
In 1983, Alchesay-Williams Creek National Fish Hatchery in Arizona initiated an attempt to raise Apache trout. Wild trout were spawned in a remote area and eggs transported to the hatchery for hatching and rearing. By using specialized food, mechanical feeders, and other technology, hatchery raised Apache trout increased to over 500,000 by 1990. Today, over 1.2 million eggs are produced each year for use in sport fishing and recovery programs. [center][/center]
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]just was wonderin;. these are also pure breds and not stocked.