Wildlife officials push for endangered status for Nevada fish

In Nevada, U.S. wildlife officials have put forth a proposal to designate the Fish Lake Valley tui chub as an endangered species, coming amid concerns about the fish's declining population due to environmental factors. The proposal is set to be published in the Federal Register, initiating a 60-day public comment period. This consideration marks a significant step given the reduced pace of endangered species listings during the Trump administration's initial term. The Center for Biological Diversity, which has been actively advocating for this fish, previously settled a lawsuit that mandated a decision on its status by May 2025. The Fish Lake Valley tui chub, characterized by its olive coloration and small size of less than 5 inches in length, has significantly dwindled in number. Once present in multiple springs, the chub now survives in only one spring system located between Las Vegas and Reno. The decline is primarily attributed to extensive groundwater pumping for agricultural practices, notably for alfalfa cultivation, as well as threats from lithium mining and geothermal energy projects. Environmentalists express profound concern regarding the implications of these investment activities on the fish and its habitat. Patrick Donnelly, the director representing the Center for Biological Diversity, emphasizes the importance of this fish as an indicator species, asserting that its extinction could have catastrophic effects on the entire ecosystem. The wetlands of Fish Lake Valley, crucial for various desert wildlife, including pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep, rely on the same groundwater that sustains the tui chub. He has strongly urged for the necessary protections, stressing that Nevada cannot afford to lose any more native fish species, which have previously gone extinct. Further complicating the situation, the Trump administration is working towards redefining the term 'harm' in the Endangered Species Act to exclude habitat modifications caused by agricultural and other land management practices. Should these changes be enacted, environmentalists fear that they would decrease habitat protections, placing numerous endangered species at heightened risk for extinction. As discussions unfold and public comment is invited, the future of the Fish Lake Valley tui chub and its surrounding ecosystem remains precarious and critical.