Return of the Apache Trout: Arizona's state fish finally taken off endangered list

Phoenix, Arizona: In a massive victory for conservation, the Apache Trout, Arizona's state fish, has officially been removed from the federal list of endangered and threatened species.

The Apache Trout was first listed as endangered in 1967 due to overfishing and habitat loss caused by the introduction of non-native species like brown and rainbow trout.

At its lowest point, only 14 populations of the fish were found in about 30 miles of streams. However, a coordinated recovery effort by state leaders, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, and various wildlife agencies has increased the number of genetically pure populations to 30 across 175 miles of habitat.

Major risks to the Apache trout are its easy hybridization with the rainbow trout and major forest fires. The 2011 Wallow Fire resulted in the loss of stream barriers erected to prevent hybridization, while the 2017 Frye Fire destroyed a stocked population in Ash Creek in the Pinaleño Mountains.

While the Apache Trout is no longer considered endangered, state and federal officials stress that efforts to protect the species will continue. Multiple projects are planned with the White Mountain Apache Tribe and the US Forest Service to further restore and expand the trout’s natural habitat.

The recovery efforts also received a significant boost from President Biden’s Investing in America Plan, which provided $5.1 million toward restoration efforts.