Clear Lake Hitch Faces 99% Decline Amid Water Scarcity and Invasive Species

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Clear Lake hitch, a large minnow exclusive to Northern California's Clear Lake ecosystem, faces potential extinction despite once thriving in millions.

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes threatened species status for Clear Lake hitch under Endangered Species Act following 2012 petition.

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Spring migration patterns showcase adult hitch swimming upstream through lake tributaries, marking crucial spawning period.

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Population crashes linked to water scarcity during spawning seasons, with numbers falling from millions to mere thousands.

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Climate change, excessive water withdrawal, and invasive species like carp threaten Clear Lake hitch survival.

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Clear Lake splittail, hitch's closest relative, vanished by 1970s due to similar habitat destruction patterns.

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Clear Lake Tribes lead conservation efforts and initiated first scientific research on habitat conditions and threats.

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Tribal and state biologists rescue stranded fish while removing invasive carp from spawning grounds.

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California listed Clear Lake hitch as threatened in 2014, marking first step toward species protection.

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