Saving the Santa Ana Sucker

Santa Ana Sucker, effluent-dominated streams, and diatom / benthic invertebrate distributions

Flows in parts of the upper Santa Ana River in Southern California are almost entirely reliant on tertiary treated effluent from wastewater treatment plants.

Flows in parts of the upper Santa Ana River in Southern California are almost entirely reliant on tertiary treated effluent from wastewater treatment plants.

Santa Ana River Watershed, Southern California

The Santa Ana River provides water for several cities in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties. Most of the water flowing down into this watershed is captured for municipal and agricultural use. However, this watershed is home to several endangered species, including the Santa Ana River wooly - star (Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum), mountain yellow-legged frog, (Rana muscosa), southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), least Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus), San Bernardino kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami parvus), and the Santa Ana sucker (Catostomus santaanae). Species inhabiting the Santa Ana River are subject to multiple disturbances, including homeless encampments, storm-flows, recreational off-roading, dams, flow impoundment, general urbanization, and flow shutdowns.

For over the past decade (exact time uncertain), flows from treatment plants have entirely shut down, resulting in a completely dry stream-bed.

For over the past decade (exact time uncertain), flows from treatment plants have entirely shut down, resulting in a completely dry stream-bed.

These flow shutdowns result in thousands of stranded and dying fish.

These flow shutdowns result in thousands of stranded and dying fish.

We rescue these stranded fish and hold them in water chambers.

We rescue these stranded fish and hold them in water chambers.

Once flow is restored, we release the fish back into the river.

Once flow is restored, we release the fish back into the river.

What is the effect of urban flow shutdowns on the survival of santa ana sucker and their food subsidies?

We collected insects and diatoms several times before and after a shutdown event, and Santa Ana Sucker feces as a part of an interdisciplinary Santa Ana Sucker rescue team to document how these urban disturbances affect the persistence of this threa…

We collected insects and diatoms several times before and after a shutdown event, and Santa Ana Sucker feces as a part of an interdisciplinary Santa Ana Sucker rescue team to document how these urban disturbances affect the persistence of this threatened food web.

This project is highly interdisciplinary, involving multiple conservation agencies, water districts, government researchers, and academics. My research is part of a larger Upper Santa Ana River MSHCP where we coordinate endangered species conservation efforts between all of our stakeholders.

Collaborators