Umatilla dace (Rhinichthys umatilla)

Photo not available for this species
Category: Fish
State status: Candidate
Vulnerability to climate change (More details)

Moderate

Climate vulnerability

Sensitivity to climate change

Low-
Moderate

Little information is available regarding the sensitivity of Umatilla dace to climate change. Umatilla dace may benefit from increasing water temperatures, as they are currently restricted to warmer habitat areas (e.g., mainstem and downstream areas), preferring zones with slightly warmer water temperatures (18-20°C). They are also found in cooler habitats, although they may exhibit reduced mobility and retreat to interstitial spaces at cooler temperatures. Umatilla dace is likely sensitive to reduced streamflows resulting from reduced snowpack, earlier snowmelt, and drought, particularly if streamflow declines are exacerbated by shifts in human water use. Juveniles and young-of-the-year occupy stream margins, making them vulnerable to stranding as streamflows decline.

Confidence: Low

Exposure to climate change

Moderate-
High

  • Lower stream flows
Confidence: Moderate

Conservation
This species is identified as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) under the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). SGCN-classified species include both those with and without legal protection status under the Federal or State Endangered Species programs, as well as game species with low populations. The WDFW SWAP is part of a nationwide effort by all 50 states and five U.S. territories to develop conservation action plans for fish, wildlife and their natural habitats—identifying opportunities for species' recovery before they are imperiled and more limited.
This species is identified as a Priority Species under WDFW's Priority Habitat and Species Program. Priority species require protective measures for their survival due to their population status, sensitivity to habitat alteration, and/or recreational, commercial, or tribal importance. The PHS program is the agency's main means of sharing fish and wildlife information with local governments, landowners, and others who use it to protect priority habitats for land use planning.