There are only six known populations of the Railroad Valley Springfish, all within 30 miles of each other in Central Nevada's Railroad Valley, but now they are guaranteed the valley will always be a safe harbor.

Wednesday, the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe and a host of natural resource partners celebrated the reintroduction of the springfish into its native habitat and the signing of a Safe Harbor Agreement at Big Warm Spring southwest of Ely.

The agreement was signed as the Tribe and other members of a cooperative conservation partnership celebrated the reintroduction of Railroad Valley Springfish into their native habitat.

Members of the partnership include the Nevada Department of Wildlife , U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resource Conservation Service, The Nature Conservancy and U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division.

"The Nevada Department of Wildlife is proud to be a participant in this proactive project. It shows how one community's commitment can really make a difference for wildlife," said Doug Hunt, the wildlife agency's deputy director. "The efforts accomplished through this partnership will significantly advance the conservation and recovery of this species unique to Central Nevada."

Safe Harbor agreements guarantee landowners will not incur any new restrictions on the use of the land if they improve, restore, maintain or create habitat for endangered or threatened species.

The conservation partnership have been working to restore the springfish's native habitat. Their efforts include the removal of a catfish farm, reconstruction of a stream channel and removal of non-native fish.

In addition, upland and riparian vegetation has been re-established at Big Warm Spring, an area of cultural significance for the Shoshone Tribe. The estimated cost for the project is $700,000.

In the near future, the department will begin a similar restoration project at a piece of property known as Locke's Ranch about 30 miles southwest of Big Warm Spring.