The Foskett Spring speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus ssp. is
represented by a single population that inhabits Foskett Spring on the
west side of Coleman Lake in Lake County, Oregon. This species was
listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1985.
In 2005, the Native Fish Investigations Project initiated Foskett
speckled dace investigations to monitor 1) population abundance, 2) age
composition, and 3) habitat conditions.

Speckled dace are geographically widespread throughout the western
United States and occur in many isolated subbasins and interior
drainages in south-central Oregon. The Foskett speckled dace became
isolated in Foskett Spring at the end of the pluvial period
approximately 10,000 years ago. Foskett Spring is a natural spring that
rises from a springhead pool, flows through a narrow springbrook into a
series of shallow marshes, and then disappears into the soil of the
normally dry Coleman Lake. A second population of Foskett dace was
established in Dace Spring located approximately 0.8 kilometer south of
Foskett Spring, from an introduction of 100 fish from Foskett Spring in
1979-1980; however recent surveys have failed to document their
continued existence at this location. In 1987, the U.S. Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) acquired, through exchange, the 65 hectare parcel of
land containing Foskett and Dace Springs. Both sites were fenced to
exclude livestock.
The Recovery Plan for the Threatened and Rare Native Fishes of the
Warner Basin and Alkali Subbasin states that this species will probably
not be delisted in the near future because of its extremely isolated
range and potential for degradation of its habitat from localized
events. The primary recovery objective for this species is the
long-term persistence through preservation of its native ecosystem. The
plan further states that the conservation and long term sustainability
of this species will be met when: 1) long-term protection to its
habitat, including spring source aquifers, springpools and outflow
channels, and surrounding lands is assured; 2) long-term habitat
management guidelines are developed and implemented to ensure the
continued persistence of important habitat features and guidelines
include monitoring of current habitat and investigation for and
evaluation of new spring habitats; and 3) research into life-history,
genetics, population trends, habitat use and preference, and other
important parameters is conducted to assist in further developing or
refining criteria 1) and 2), above. Actions needed to meet these
criteria include protecting and rehabilitating fish populations and
habitats, conserving genetic diversity of fish populations, ensuring
adequate water supplies are available for recovery, monitoring
population and habitat conditions, and evaluating long-term effects of
climatic trends on recovery.
Annual Reports and
Publications:
Scheerer, P.D. and S.E. Jacobs. 2006.
Hutton
Spring Tui Chub & Foskett Spring Speckled Dace Investigations.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fish Research
Project E-2-37, Annual Progress Report,
Corvallis.