Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery
Southeast Region
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Spotfin Chub Project

spotfin chub. Credit: USFWSSpotfin chub. Credit:USFWS

The spotfin chub (Erimonax monachus) is recognized as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). It was once widely distributed throughout the Tennessee River drainage in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. This fish is now found only in isolated sites within the Buffalo, Little Tennessee, North Fork Holston, and Emory River systems. A recovery plan was put in place that focuses on habitat improvement with reintroduction being a possible action.

spotfin culture system. Credit: USFWSSpotfin chub culture system. Credit:USFWS

Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery (NFH) became involved in the reintroduction effort in FY 2007. Juvenile spotfin chubs were transferred from Conservation Fisheries Incorporated (CFI) to Dale Hollow NFH for grow-out in December 2006. These fish (2006 year class) were derived from Little Tennessee River broodstock. Culture systems previously used for Barrens topminnow culture had to be redesigned to accommodate the requirements of this new species. These fish require flowing water and a sand or sand/slate rearing substrate. This marked the first time that this species has been reared at Dale Hollow NFH. A total of 385 spotfin chubs were subsequently released into the Tellico River at a site within the Cherokee National Forest (Monroe County, Tennessee) in August 2007 (FY 2007). This marked the first time that spotfin chubs, grown-out on a Service hatchery, have been released into the wild. This particular reintroduction effort continued in FY 2008 with 165 spotfin chubs, grown-out at the hatchery, being released into the Tellico River.

release site. Credit: USFWSTellico River release site. Credit:USFWS

Hatchery personnel transferred 504 spotfin chubs, grown-out at the hatchery, to CFI in June 2008 (FY 2008). CFI personnel stocked these fish (2007 year class/Emory River Population) into Shoal Creek (Lawrence County, Tennessee) via canoe on the day of the transfer. This stocking was done to produce an experimental, nonessential population of spotfin chubs in Shoal Creek as outlined in the recovery plan. The nonessential, experimental population designation for Shoal Creek allows for reintroduction and protection with less stringent requirements under the Endangered Species Act, ensuring that reintroductions can take place without hindering public use of Shoal Creek.

Reintroduction of this species into sites within its historic range is a collaborative effort between the Service’s Cookeville and Ashville Ecological Services Field Offices, the Cherokee National Forest, Service’s Southeast Fisheries Program, Conservation Fisheries Incorporated, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, The Nature Conservancy, and private landowners.

 
Last updated: January 16, 2009