Speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 10
Existing Protection or Other Status Designations
Speckled dace in Canada receive general protection under federal legislation, such as the fish habitat section of the federal Fisheries Act, and provisions of various provincial statutes designed to protect the environment, water quality and fish. None of this legislation specifically protects speckled dace. In 2003 and 2004 fisheries agencies did take the step of advising water licencees in the Kettle River basin that failure to provide sufficient flows to maintain fish throughout all life stages, and other actions that affect fish, are offences under the federal Fisheries Act. Currently, BC water licences are issued with a condition that allows use to be curtailed if water is required to protect fish; however, analysis indicates that this restriction may not protect fish under the current level of use (Aqua Factor Consulting Inc. 2004).
The speckled dace was originally designated Special Concern by COSEWIC in 1980; status was re-examined in November 2002, based on an update status report, and the species was designated as Endangered. The Nature Conservancy Global Rank is G5 as it is abundant in many areas of the western US (NatureServe 2005). The BC Conservation Data Centre ranks it as S1 (Red).
There are several forms of speckled dacethat are listed under the Endangered Species Act in the US. Foskett speckled dace, R. osculus ssp. 3, (from Oregon) is listed as Threatened. Subspecies nevadensis, oligoporus, and lethoporus are listed as Endangered. Subspecies reliquis is extinct (NatureServe 2005). In addition 11 other subspecies of speckled dace are ranked at risk on the NatureServe website: R. o. lariversi, Big Smokey Valley, Nevada; R. o. moapae, Moapa River, Nevada; R. o. ssp., Amaragosa River, California; R. o. ssp., Diamond Valley, Nevada; R. o. ssp., Meadow Valley, Nevada; R. o. ssp., Owens speckled dace, California; R. o. ssp., Monitor Valley, Nevada; R. o. ssp., Oasis Valley, Nevada; R. o. ssp., White River, Nevada; R. o. ssp., Santa Ana speckled dace, California; R. o. velifer, Pahranagat speckled dace, Nevada. R. o. reliquus of Grass Valley, Nevada, is presumed extirpated.
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