Waterway barriers that affect threatened and endangered taxa in the state of Texas have not been identified. Until a survey evaluating the needs for fish passage (and passage for other aquatic organisms) has identified critical areas of need, research and habitat recovery cannot occur. Several man-made structures have substantially altered the amount and quality of available habitat for threatened and endangered species in the state of Texas. The effect of these structures on many of these taxa is unknown and we do not even know where the need is for further research and restoration efforts. A graduate student at Texas State University has begun to examine distributions of listed species in Texas to design a priority list of high impact structures and the species they affect will be created to aid in future passage funding decisions for the state..

This canyon is within the range of spikedace and loach minnow, as well as other native aquatic species. The existing road crossing prevents fish passage to 1.5 miles of stream. Using heavy equipment, the old culverts were removed and a new fish friendly road crossing was properly aligned and anchored in place, allowing for 1.5 miles of additional fish passage in Smith Canyon.

The fountain darter and Texas wild rice are federally-listed endangered species found within the first 2.6 miles of the 4.6-mile upper San Marcos River. Cumming’s dam has altered the historic habitat for both endangered species. The removal of this barrier or lowering of the water level could expand the potential habitat upstream of both the fountain darter and Texas wild rice. A student has begun to model the effects of removing or altering Cumming’s Dam within the San Marcos River. Once this recommendation is complete, we will implement the management strategy and begin restoration of the habitat within the current inundation zone..

The upper West Fork Gila River supports the smallest remnant Gila trout population and needs protection and expansion to support downlisting. The 2002 Cub Fire severely impacted the upper water course, widening and drying the channel in the 4 mile reach bounding Whiskey Creek. The objective of this project was to stabilize meander bends, thereby narrowing and deepening the stream channel to remove intermittency and provide passage. Structures constructed of natural materials were placed at strategically located sites to improve passage conditions. The project provides 2 miles of additional access on the Upper West Fork Gila for the relic Whiskey Creek Gila trout population.

Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 56,668 acres in Calhoun County, Texas. Habitats on this island vary with grassland in the interior, tidal marshes on the western boundary, and beaches and dunes on the eastern boundary. An estimated 15 thousand acres of tidal salt marsh runs along the majority of the western edge of Matagorda Island, in the 1960's large sections of this marsh were sectioned off and levees built. These sections were then drained and put into cattle production as part of a large ranch prior to Service acquisition. The Sand Lake Culvert Replacement project replaced four 36 inch culverts with larger diameter culverts. The replacements allowed the hydraulic flow pattern of the marsh to return to a more natural state and enhanced 217 acres of marsh and open water habitat.

Morgan Draw Creek is a stream within the range of the threatened Little Colorado River spinedace. The existing road crossing prohibited the movement of fish through the area especially during several months of low water conditions. Using heavy equipment new culverts were put in place and upstream and downstream work was completed to stabilize the structure. This fish friendly fish passage structure restored 1.5 miles of stream for Little Colorado River spinedace and speckled dace.

The Little Pass Project is located on Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge, a barrier island that encompasses 56,668 acres in Calhoun County, Texas. We removed two failing 24-inch diameter culverts and replaced them with three 36-inch diameter PVC culverts with seawalls, thus reconnecting Big and Little Brundrett Lakes. The project restored flow and provided fish passage to 650 acres of salt marsh nursery habitat for the following species: red fish, black drum, spotted seatrout, mullet, crabs (blue, hermit), shrimp (brown, grass, white), and many other aquatic species.

Fish passage is an important aspect of maintaining healthy fish populations in stream headwater reaches. Paguate Creek is segmented into tribal, state, and private lands. Two roads cross Paguate Creek and crossings crease barriers. Cutthroat trout occupy Paguate Creek, but were restricted to downstream reaches only. Spawning habitat has been impacted by sediment transport and deposition caused by the unimproved stream crossings. The objective of this proposal was to reconstruct two road crossings to allow fish passage to upstream reaches and to reduce sedimentation caused by stream crossings. Two fish passage crossings were retrofitted with web material anchored to the stream bottom to increase spawning habitat for cutthroat trout by 1.5 miles.

Old logging roads exist throughout much of the range of Apache trout. Many of these have culverts that prohibit or limit Apache trout movement, especially during drought conditions. One such culvert exists in the West Fork of the Little Colorado River. Habitat for Apache trout has become fragmented and the need for fish to access upper headwater reaches is important, especially for spawning and in drought conditions. We removed two old culverts (circa 1960s) from the upper West Fork of the Little Colorado River. This opened 2 miles of the uppermost part of the stream which was renovated to remove nonnative trout and was stocked with Apache trout.