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• Andy Clark

Historically, Arizona reservoir aquatic habitat enhancement projects were designed, led, and evaluated by Regional Aquatic Wildlife Programs. These programs typically consisted of two to four biologists, and the habitat projects had to fit in when timing and resources were available. This resulted in long stretches between habitat projects getting done. As of 2022, the Region 6 Aquatic Wildlife program manages six of the the top 15 most fished waters in Arizona. These are all water storage or multiple use reservoirs that are managed primarily as bass fisheries but have a host of other species as well. In the mid 2000s warm water anglers were frustrated with the Department as many of the bass populations were experiencing declines due to multiple issues including drought, aquatic invasive species, and illegal introductions. Despite all these problems, a 2013 statewide angler study found that all six of the main lakes in Region 6 were in the top 10 water bodies fished in the state. Due to the declines in warm water fisheries, in 2013 the Department saw a need to create a Reservoir Fish Habitat Program under the Aquatic Wildlife Branch. The first project of the new program was Roosevelt Lake and included a Reservoir Fish Habitat Partnership grant. Since the development of the Reservoir Habitat program, there have been habitat improvement projects at all but one of the lakes, which is slated for this summer. The program has grown, learned, and thrived over the last ten years. This talk will discuss the progression the program has made and its impacts in Region 6 reservoirs over the last decade including lessons learned and what the future may hold.