Beaver Creek aquatic study for Montezuma Castle National Monument: Fish and herpetofauna
Montgomery WL, Leibfried WC, Hardwick GG. 1995. Beaver Creek aquatic study for Montezuma Castle National Monument: Fish and herpetofauna. Montezuma Castle National Monument Integrated Inventory and Monitoring Studies. Fish and Herpetofauna. Colorado Plateau Research Station, Northern Arizona University. Flagstaff, AZ
This report examines the fish and herpetofauna present in Beaver Creek; the populations are dominated by eight species of non-native, introduced fish. Native fish present include desert and Sonora sucker and longfin dace. The water quality of this system is within acceptable parameters and a healthy, aquatic ecosystem is present; includes approximately 30 pages of figures. The fish community in Beaver and Wet Beaver Creeks near Montezuma Castle National Monument was dominated by nonnative introduced fishes. Eight fish species were documented during surveys conducted during 1992, 1993 and 1994. Desert and Sonora sucker and longfin dace were the native fishes present. Smallmouth bass, green sunfish, yellow bullhead, red shiner and common carp made up the nonnative fishes. Site 1, near Montezuma Well and Site 2, near Montezuma Castle were most diverse. Site 3, near the south monument boundary, was the least diverse and was also the only site that was not perennial. Flooding in Winter 1993, which peaked at more than 5,000 cfs in January, appeared to reduce nonnative fish abundance to the enhancement of native fish populations. This effect was temporary, and by Fall 1993 nonnative fish again dominated the fish community. Water quality parameters were all within acceptable ranges for a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Beaver and Wet Beaver Creek discharges declined from upstream to downstream sites. The most downstream site (Site 3) was intermittent. Winter 1993 flooding peaked at more than 5000 cfs in January. Submerged water bentgrass was the only macrophyte collected in conjunction with young native suckers. One tree frog was captured during this study. (Copied verbatim from the report.)
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Montgomery, W.; Leibfried, William; Hardwick, Gloria
- Date of Issue
- 1995-08-18
- Publisher
- Colorado Plateau Research Station, Northern Arizona University
- Units
- MOCA
- Keywords
- 1, Animals, AZanimals, Beaver Creek (AZ), Communities, Core, Creeks, exotic animals, Fish, Herps, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Native Species, Non-Native Species, NRCA, Water Resources