Sunfish and Bullhead Removal for Native Fish Recovery in Red Tank Draw

Funded by Bureau of Reclamation’s Central Arizona Project (CAP), this project focused on removing non-native Green Sunfish and Black Bulkhead to protect the native Roundtail Chub in Red Tank Draw. Biologists from the Arizona Game and Fish Department mechanically removed non-native fishes using backpack electrofishing, mini-hoop nets, Swedish gill nets, and snorkeling with spears. The removal efforts were greatly informed by earlier baseline surveys that helped determine feasible locations for eradication and favorable conditions for translocation. Eventually, Green Sunfish were suppressed and Black Bullhead were eradicated. Biologists also achieved a ten-fold increase in catch per unit effort of Roundtail Chub from 2018 to 2019.