Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service stocked endangered northern redbelly dace into a northern Colorado creek on May 13, 2024 [1, 2].
This initiative marks a significant step in restoring a state-endangered species. By expanding the fish population into a groundwater-fed creek on Pawnee National Grassland, officials aim to stabilize the species and prevent local extinction [1, 2].
Biologists released approximately 18,000 northern redbelly dace into the waterway [1]. The operation represents a historic recovery effort for the region, the first time the species has been stocked on federal land in about 20 years [1, 2].
The northern redbelly dace is currently listed as endangered within the state. The selection of the Pawnee National Grassland site was based on the presence of a small, groundwater-fed creek that provides the specific environmental conditions necessary for the fish to thrive [1, 2].
Cooperation between the state agency and the federal Forest Service was essential to facilitate the release. The two organizations worked together to identify the site and manage the transport of the fish to the grassland habitat [1, 2].
This effort is part of a broader strategy to increase the genetic diversity and geographic distribution of the dace. By establishing new populations in protected federal areas, the species becomes less vulnerable to localized disasters or habitat loss [1, 2].
“The first time the species has been stocked on federal land in about 20 years”
The reintroduction of the northern redbelly dace to federal lands indicates a shift toward more aggressive habitat expansion for endangered aquatic species in Colorado. By utilizing groundwater-fed sources, conservationists are attempting to create 'climate refugia'—habitats that remain stable even as surface water levels fluctuate due to drought or temperature changes.
