With the help of Steve Parmenter (biologist, California Department of Fish out of Bishop) and Judy Holman (biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service wildlife biologist, Ventura FWO), the vision of two Lewis Center students back in the fall of 2003 has moved one step closer to its full realization. 
At about 4 pm on October 2, 2008, 473 Mohave tui chub from the Lark Seep refugia complex on the China Lake Naval Weapons Center were released into the Deppe Pond refugia on the Mojave River Campus of the Lewis Center for Educational Research. Five students helped release the fish into a new "refugial" home . On Monday, October 5, 2008, 75 more Mohave tui chub, all generally smaller than the fish released four days earlier, were also released into Deppe Pond. These new fish, from the Lark Seep refugia system, brings the founder population up to 548 fish.
All the fish were measured before transfer and release and all were less than 101 mm or 3" in total length. They were collected from among three major habitat areas in the Lark Seep refugia, but not in equal proportions. The fish arrived in good condition and were seen vigorously feeding in the following days.
A short 2 min. video documenting the release, shot by the Victor Valley Daily Press videographer, Patrick Thatcher, can be viewed at this link. Additional photographs can be viewed in the future at this link. An earlier article describing the establishment of this new refugia can be viewed at this link.
At about 4 pm on October 2, 2008, 473 Mohave tui chub from the Lark Seep refugia complex on the China Lake Naval Weapons Center were released into the Deppe Pond refugia on the Mojave River Campus of the Lewis Center for Educational Research. Five students helped release the fish into a new "refugial" home . On Monday, October 5, 2008, 75 more Mohave tui chub, all generally smaller than the fish released four days earlier, were also released into Deppe Pond. These new fish, from the Lark Seep refugia system, brings the founder population up to 548 fish.All the fish were measured before transfer and release and all were less than 101 mm or 3" in total length. They were collected from among three major habitat areas in the Lark Seep refugia, but not in equal proportions. The fish arrived in good condition and were seen vigorously feeding in the following days.
A short 2 min. video documenting the release, shot by the Victor Valley Daily Press videographer, Patrick Thatcher, can be viewed at this link. Additional photographs can be viewed in the future at this link. An earlier article describing the establishment of this new refugia can be viewed at this link.
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