Presence of fish in irrigation diversions from the Verde River and Wet Beaver Creek, Arizona

Abstract

Large amounts of water are diverted from the Verde River and Wet Beaver Creek for agricultural irrigation in the Verde Valley. Fish populations in two irrigation diversions were sampled and fish were collected during a one year period to determine habitat suitability, the relative abundance, and fate of fishes. The most abundant species found in these diversions were red shiners and smallmouth bass. Irrigation diversions generally did not provide habitat suitable for fish and did not support large fish communities. Frequent drawdowns and irrigation of fields limited the amounts of suitable habitat in the diversions. Most fish present in the diversions during drawdowns became stranded in shallow pools and were subject to predation by raccoons, herons, kingfishers and man.