A rare and once-endangered fish, which makes its home in a southern Oregon lake that can reach temperatures of up to 104 degrees, has made a full recovery and was removed from the endangered species list, according to federal officials.
The Borax Lake chub, which lives only in Harney County’s Borax Lake, was granted emergency protection under the Endangered Species Act in 1980 after its numbers dropped precipitously due to geothermal projects around the lake, shoreline degradation from off-road vehicle use and development.
When fully grown, it's essentially a bait-fish; running to a whopping two inches long.
Borax Lake is fed by geothermal springs, accounting for the lake’s extreme temperatures, and the lake also contains high levels of borax, arsenic and lead. Despite high levels of chemicals toxic to other animals, the Borax Lake chub thrive in the 10-acre lake, keeping to the edges where temperatures were more suitable. It is the only animal that is known to live in the lake’s harsh environment.
Presumably, it feeds on algae or something like that, as it apparently has nothing to hunt. I wonder how much in tax dollars were spent to save this important fish. Reminds me of the great California Delta Smelt escapade.
