Successful Green Sunfish Control in Aravaipa and Bonita Creeks

Introduced non-native aquatic species pose a significant ecological threat to the native fish assemblages in Bonita and Aravaipa Creeks. A fish barrier was constructed in 2008 to prevent the non-native Green Sunfish from moving upstream. After that, the creek was chemically treated with rotenone (piscicide). Neither strategy completely eliminated the non-native populations, so mechanical removal techniques were implemented (backpack electrofishing, dip-nets and seines, and baited minnow traps). From 2009 to 2017, over 27,000 sunfish were removed from Bonita Creek and Horse Camp Canyon. Green Sunfish were eradicated by 2017 and the native Gila Chub population has recovered.