Conservation fisheries, INC. (CFI) proposes to reintroduce endangered duskytail darters into the french broad river, implementing the intention of an ESA section 10(j) rule designating the proposed…

Conservation fisheries, INC. (CFI) proposes to reintroduce endangered duskytail darters into the french broad river, implementing the intention of an ESA section 10(j) rule designating the proposed project area as a nonessential experimental population (NEP) for this fish. The project includes outreach recovery actions that have not been previously implemented and prevent extinction of a critically vulnerable duskytail darter population. The USFWS, the states (tennessee and virginia), seven islands foundation, and CFI will manage and coordinate reintroductions, monitoring, public awareness, and other tasks necessary to ensure the projectssuccess. Characteristics suitable for the target species remain intact as described in the final 10(j) rule (USFWS 2007), and the presence of other sensitive fish and mussels (snail darter, pink mucket pearlymussel, and lake sturgeon) in the NEP reach provide indications of the health of the riverine community. However, several dams prevent natural recolonization of many nongame fishes, including the subjects of this proposal. To date, limited reintroductions of threatened yellowfin madtom have been attempted in the french broad river NEP. Yellowfin madtom reintroduction efforts will continue under a recovery challenge grant awarded to CFI in 2023. The recovery challenge grant application originally included both yellowfin madtom and duskytail darter, however during the application process, the request was limited to only yellowfin madtom. Since that application was submitted, CFI has secured or is in the process of securing an additional 102,765 in funding to support the addition of the duskytail darter to this reintroduction effort. The project brings new partners into existing, long-standing CFI-agency partnerships. The collaboration with other nonprofit organizations, local universities, and public schools will advance the far-reaching goals of the 2007 NEP. The outreach component will secure broader public interest and political support for the recovery of aquatic species, and these two fishes. The success of the project will inform future projects for other species included in the NEP designation.