Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Oregon
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

The least chub, Iotichthys phlegethontis, is a small endemic fish species native to Bonneville Basin, Utah. The species was reportedly common in the beginning of the 20th century and was found in streams, freshwater ponds, wetlands, and springs throughout the Great Basin. However, the species began to decline mid-century and has continued to decline for the last two decades. Currently, five wild populations of the species exist. Reasons for the species decline are varied and include: habitat loss and degradation due livestock, energy exploration and development, and groundwater withdrawal; interactions with nonnative species; and isolation and fragmentation of extant populations. To reverse the declines, natural resource managers need explicit tools to identify the most effective conservation strategies. . The goal of this project is to develop decision support tools for assisting biologists to manage the least chub.