Translocation is one of the most commonly proposed management actions for securing and recovering native fish species. However, the success of native fish translocations has varied widely due to several limiting factors, including the presence of nonnative fishes. The Blue River Native Fish Restoration Project involved construction of a fish passage barrier, removal of nonnative fish, translocation of three native fish species (Spikedace Meda fulgida, Loach Minnow Rhinichthys cobitis, and Roundtail Chub Gila robusta), and monitoring to determine the success of these actions. After construction of a physical fish passage barrier, the three focal species were stocked several times upstream of the barrier. Nonnative fish were removed annually using multiple gear types, including spearfishing, backpack electrofishing, and trapping. Monitoring data demonstrated a significant shift in the fish assemblage from one with a substantial component of nonnative fishes to one that was exclusively native fishes. Persistence, reproduction, increased abundance, and dispersal were documented for all three focal species within the study area, meeting criteria for establishment success. All nonnative fishes, including the primary targets of removal efforts—Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus and Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus—were successfully suppressed, if not eradicated entirely, during the study period. Our results illustrate the importance of long-term monitoring to track and successfully achieve native fish recovery goals. In addition, our results demonstrate that nonnative fish can be mechanically removed from warmwater streams if initial abundance is low, distribution is restricted, and fish passage barriers are in place. Results from this study may be informative for managers hoping to improve the conservation status of warmwater stream fishes through creation of a fish passage barrier, nonnative species removal, and native fish translocation efforts.

中文翻译：

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成功恢复亚利桑那州蓝河的本地鱼类群落

易地是保护和恢复本地鱼类物种的最常提议的管理行动之一。然而，由于一些限制因素，包括非本地鱼类的存在，本地鱼类易位的成功程度差异很大。蓝河本地鱼类恢复项目涉及建造鱼类通道屏障、移除非本地鱼类、三种本地鱼类（Spikedace Meda fulgida、泥鳅 Minnow Rhinichthys cobitis和Roundtail Chub Gila roda 的迁移）)，并进行监控以确定这些操作是否成功。建立物理鱼类通道屏障后，在屏障上游多次放养三种重点物种。每年使用多种渔具类型移除非本地鱼类，包括鱼叉捕鱼、背负电捕鱼和诱捕。监测数据表明，鱼类种群发生了重大转变，从主要成分为非本地鱼类的群体转变为完全为本土鱼类的群体。研究区域内所有三个焦点物种都记录了持久性、繁殖、丰度增加和扩散，满足建立成功的标准。所有非本地鱼类，包括清除工作的主要目标——Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus和 Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus——在研究期间，即使没有完全根除，也被成功抑制。我们的结果说明了长期监测对跟踪和成功实现本地鱼类恢复目标的重要性。此外，我们的结果表明，如果初始丰度低、分布受到限制并且鱼类通道障碍到位，则可以从温水溪流中机械去除非本地鱼类。这项研究的结果可能为希望通过创建鱼类通道屏障、去除非本地物种和本地鱼类迁移努力来改善温水溪流鱼类保护状况的管理人员提供信息。