Hornyhead Chub
Konrad Schmidt
Member of the minnow family growing to 10 inches in length. Olive on top and grows lighter as you move down the body with an iridescent stripe along back. Belly pale yellow. Bright red spot behind eye on males, brassy in females. Males have many small bumps or tubercles on head.
Status in North Dakota
Year-round Resident
Range Map
Hornyhead Chub primary range.
Reason for SWAP Designation
Only known to occur in the Forest and Park rivers in North Dakota.
Water quality degradation is a concern for the rivers this species inhabits.
Threats
Degradation of quality habitat is recognized as the leading cause for decline of this species; specifically, loss and destruction of riparian habitat along waterways caused by current land use practices.
Impaired water quality also contributed to the decline of this species.
Research and Monitoring
- The states rivers and streams are surveyed for species on a 5-year rotating schedule.
- North Dakota DEQ staff survey rivers and streams through their Index of Biotic Integrity program.
Management Recommendations
- Continue to use the Section 404 program to ensures affected rivers and riparian areas are mitigated to replace form and function.
- Continue to work with other federal agencies not covered by 404 to ensure affected rivers and riparian areas are mitigated to replace form and function.
- Continue to work with NDSWC to develop instream flow recommendations.
- Promote incentive programs to restore riparian areas.
- Continue to work with ND 319 Task Force in prioritizing projects within impaired watersheds and implementing BMPs.
- Implement intake conditions or recommendations.
- Cooperate with NDGFD Fisheries staff on state aquatic nuisance species plans.
- Removal of dams and other barriers.
- Retrofitting dams with fish passage structures.
Primary Geological Regions
Habitat Associations
Habitat Use
Found in pools and slow runs of clear, small rivers.
In North Dakota the Hornyhead Chub is presently found in the Forest and Park rivers.
Historically it was also found in the Turtle, Sheyenne and Maple rivers but has not been documented there recently.