Steve Meismer, Local Coordinator for the Virgin River Program, explained that the barrier is designed to prevent the spread of the Red Shiner fish, an invasive species that poses a significant ...

The shiner was first identified as threatened 50 years ago and was put on a waiting list for Endangered Species Act ...

Dams also prevent shiners from migrating up- and downstream to find better habitat during times of low stream flow, and they encourage these fish to linger in deep areas rife with nonnative predators.