Secretary Haaland Announces Apache Trout's Removal from Endangered Species List Following Decades of Conservation Efforts

Secretary Haaland Announces Apache Trout’s Removal from Endangered Species List Following Decades of Conservation Efforts

Collaborative Recovery Efforts, Supported by $5.1 Million from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, Lead to Historic Delisting of Arizona’s State Fish

PHOENIX, AZ – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced today that the Apache trout, Arizona’s state fish, has been officially removed from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife. The decision follows more than 50 years of recovery efforts by federal, state, and Tribal partners, bolstered by $5.1 million in funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. This marks the first time a sportfish and a trout species has been delisted due to recovery efforts under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Joined by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, White Mountain Apache Tribe Chairman Kasey Velesquez, and other key stakeholders at a celebration in Mesa, Arizona, Secretary Haaland highlighted the historic milestone. “The recovery of the Apache trout shows the power of collaboration and the critical role of Indigenous Knowledge in conservation,” said Haaland. “This is a testament to the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act, which continues to protect species across the nation.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners reopened more than 60 miles of habitat, enabling the species to flourish once again. Apache trout populations have grown from 14 known groups occupying 30 miles of habitat in 1979 to 30 populations spanning 175 miles of streams today. Key projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, such as the Apache Trout Recovery Fish Passage Infrastructure Project and the Crooked Creek Route 55 Culvert Fish Passage Project, played a pivotal role in this recovery.


First listed as endangered in 1973 due to habitat loss and the introduction of non-native species, the Apache trout’s journey to recovery has been marked by critical conservation actions such as the removal of non-native trout and the reintroduction of Apache trout to their native habitat. Moving forward, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and conservation organizations will continue to manage and protect the species.

“The recovery of the Apache trout is a remarkable success, not only for this species but for the many partners involved in restoring its habitat,” said Martha Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “This effort represents our shared commitment to the long-term health of wildlife and ecosystems across the country.”

The Apache trout recovery marks a key milestone in the success of the ESA, which has protected 99% of listed species from extinction and led to the delisting or reclassification of more than 100 species based on successful recovery efforts.

For more information on the conservation efforts and future management plans for the Apache trout, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s website.