Nooksack Dace

In British Columbia, the Nooksack dace is found in three small streams that feed into the Nooksack River in lower Fraser Valley around Abbotsford, Aldergrove and Clearbrook. Its range reaches all the way into northwestern Washington. Adult members of the species are usually found in riffles-shallow parts of streams where water flows brokenly-with gravel or stony bottoms. Young dace are found most often in shallow, slow waters with sandy or muddy bottoms.

The Nooksack dace is grayish-green in colour on top and dirty to silvery-white underneath, with a brass-coloured stripe over the lateral line and (sometimes) a black stripe in front of the eyes. The fish may have speckles on its lower side, and has distinctive pale markings at the base of its dorsal fin that are visible from above. The dace is rounded on top and flat underneath, with a long nose that overhangs its mouth. Fully grown, the Nooksack dace averages 10 cm in length.

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada