The Presence of Salish Sucker and the Native Fish Fauna at Naval Radio Station Jim Creek, Washington

Naval Radio Station (NRS) Transmitting (T) Jim Creek is home to one of few known populations of Salish Sucker in Washington (Wydosky and Whitney 2003).  They were documented in the Cub Creek system of the Jim Creek watershed about 20 years ago; however, the native fish fauna have never been scientifically evaluated (Linda Wagoner, pers. comm., 2015).  The reported presence of the Salish Sucker (Catostomus sp.) is of particular significance given its decline in the western U. S. and British Columbia (McPhail and Taylor 1999).  Although the Salish Sucker has not been taxonomically separated from the Longnose Sucker (Catostomus catostomus), the Salish Sucker diverged from the Longnose Sucker in western Washington and western British Columbia during the last four major glaciations of the Pleistocene Period and became reproductively isolated (Wydosky and Whitney 2003).  Populations of Catostomus catostomus east and west of the Cascade Mountains are referred to as Longnose Sucker and Salish Sucker, respectively, and they differ morphologically, i.e., snout size and lateral line scale counts.

Though reproductively isolated from their parent species, the Salish Sucker in western Washington is thought to contribute significantly to the ecological or genetic diversity of the species (McPhail and Taylor 1999).  The Salish Sucker is listed as an endangered fish species in Canada (Campbell 2001), but has no federal listing status in the U.S. (Pearson and Healey 2003).  At the state level, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) list the Salish Sucker as a "monitored species," a designation for species that are not considered endangered, threatened or sensitive.  These listings may reflect the fact that Salish Sucker populations are more stable in Washington and declining rapidly in British Columbia (McPhail 1987, Pearson  1998.

Information collected from these surveys will place  NRS (T) Jim Creek in a strong position to ensure compliance with natural resource laws, such as the Endangered Species Act (16 USC 1531 et seq), Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (16 USC 2901 et seq), Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 USC 661 et seq), and SAIA (Section 2905 (c)).  Additionally, surveys of the lakes will inform natural resources management at NRS (T) Jim Creek in the future, providing a better understanding of the native fish fauna inhabiting the lake system.  The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the presence of Salish Sucker within lake habitats and beaver pond complexes between Upper Twin Lake and Cub Creek Reservoir; and (2) describe the native fish fauna inhabiting Upper Twin Lake.