Anthony T. Robinson

The objective of the surveys within the Mineral Creek watershed during 2009 were to document occurrence of Gila chub and other fish species within perennial waters in Devils Canyon and the portion of Mineral Creek between Big Box Dam and the ASARCO Ray Mine tunnel.

Mineral Creek is a tributary to the Gila River in Pinal County Arizona. Mineral Creek is impounded by Big Box Dam just upstream of ASARCO Ray Mine.

Gila chub Gila intermedia was federally listed as endangered with critical habitat in 2005 (Federal Register 2005). Upper Mineral Creek, the watershed immediately upstream of the ASARCO Ray Mine Big Box Dam, was designated as critical habitat for Gila chub at the time of listing. According to Robinson (2008a), Gila chub were last documented in upper Mineral Creek in 2000. Subsequent surveys completed in 2002, 2006 and 2008 were not able to document the presence of Gila chub, and the species is considered extirpated from upper Mineral Creek (Robinson 2008a).

Media Point of Contact

Susan Blake
susan.blake@usda.gov

Apache Leap Special Management Area
Apache Leap SMA website