Nevada Tui Chub Faces Extinction Threat as Lithium Mine Draws Federal Attention.

A rare fish species native to southwestern Nevada is at the center of a growing environmental concern, as federal officials recommend it for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Fish Lake Valley tui chub, found only in Esmeralda County, is the first species to receive a positive listing recommendation under the second Trump administration.

According to a federal document released May 20, the tui chub’s habitat is under significant threat from water extraction linked to lithium mining operations, particularly in the already overdrawn Fish Lake Valley groundwater basin. The document also highlights geothermal energy development and agriculture as additional contributors to the area's declining water supply.

The tui chub is endemic to a small network of springs in Esmeralda County—Nevada’s least populated county with under 1,000 residents. Nearly all of these springs have dried up due to agricultural water use. Environmental advocates from the Center for Biological Diversity report that the sole remaining spring has shrunk by more than half.

“The Fish Lake Valley tui chub is barely clinging to existence,” said Patrick Donnelly, the Center’s Great Basin director. “Nevada has already lost too many native fish species. We can’t afford to lose another.”

One of the most significant threats comes from Ioneer, an Australian firm constructing a lithium-boron mine at Rhyolite Ridge. While the company did not offer immediate comment, conservationists argue the project could further deplete water crucial to the tui chub’s survival.

The Trump administration has also signaled possible changes to how habitat degradation is defined in legal terms, which critics say could erode protections under the ESA in favor of industrial development.

Originally enacted in 1973 under President Richard Nixon, the ESA has played a critical role in restoring species like the American bald eagle and the American alligator. Public comments on the tui chub proposal will be accepted starting May 21 before a final decision is made by the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-05-nevada-fish-species-slated-trump.html

This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.