Volunteering to rehabilitate Arizona’s rare Gila Trout
George Cathey, Principal Engineer for 2% Certified Oxbow Ecological Engineering, LLC, had the incredible opportunity to lend a hand to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) Native Trout and Chub Program and help stock 500 Gila Trout in southeast Arizona.
The volunteers get ready to embark on the hike up the canyon with the trout hatchlings. Photo Credit: Alex Loubere
The Gila Trout are one of the rarest trout species in the United States and are listed as "threatened" by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Filling up the hatchling canisters for the hike up the canyon. Photo Credit: Matthew Rinker
Staff from the AGFD Native Trout and Chub program, Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 5, Canyon Creek Hatchery, Research Branch, and Habitat Branch, along with Trout Unlimited staff and a group of intrepid volunteers, backpacked the precious cargo 4 miles up Mount Graham to their new home in the cool step-pools of Marijilda Creek.
The crews, with precious gila trout cargo on their backs, headed up to the sanctuary pools. Photo credit: George Cathey
Gila trout hatchlings, ready to be released into their new (native) home. Photo Credit: Matthew Rinker
Oxbow Ecological Engineering would especially like to thank the USFWS Mora National Fish Hatchery for delivering the fish. Keep up the outstanding work, Team AGFD!
A gila trout hatchling, now in its new home. Photo Credit: Sheldon Clouse
Learn more about George Cathey’s firm, Oxbow Ecological Engineering LLC., on their 2% Profile Page: