01/28/2024
Oh, hello! We didn’t see ya there, green sucker. 👋 This species looks nearly identical to bluehead sucker, but recent genetic data shows that green suckers are a unique species with populations found in the Weber River, Goose Creek, Raft River and likely small portions of the Bear River. There are additional populations in Wyoming, Nevada and Idaho.
These native fish are scrapers, feeding off periphyton (a fancy name for the combination of plant matter and other biological material that grows on underwater surfaces). They have specialized mouthpieces that allow them to “scrape” for their food. 😗
The green sucker spawning season happens in the spring and is triggered by the decline of spring flooding. Once the young fish hatch, they drift downstream until they settle in the slower backwater areas of the river. Then, they spend the next year or two growing in that backwater habitat, where warmer water helps them grow quickly and they can avoid predation. To conserve this fascinating native species, we are:
💚 Conducting streamside egg takes at the Weber River to develop a green sucker brood population at our Logan Hatchery. Green suckers produced at the hatchery will be stocked back into the Weber River to help grow the population.
💚 Repairing infrastructure to allow for fish-passable streams.
💚 Screening irrigation diversions so the fish don’t get trapped in ditches and canals.
💚 Creating backwater habitat necessary for juvenile survival.
💚 Studying fish age and growth to determine maximum age, growth rates, natural mortality rates and life history traits.
💚 Tagging individuals to study their movement distances and preferred habitat.
💚 Enforcing regulations that prohibit the take of non-game fish.
