Southern Utah mega-resort near St. George sheltering endangered Virgin River chub from predatory fish
Envisioned as a haven for shoppers, golfers and globetrotting sightseers, a $2 billion hotel and mega-resort under construction in southwest Utah is already providing a home for one of the state’s most endangered species. Black Desert Resort is a 630-acre resort taking shape in Ivins about 8 miles northwest of St. George. In collaboration with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah Tech University last week, resort officials released 400 Virgin River chub into one of Black Desert’s six lakes. The Virgin River chub, a silvery fish that ranges in size from eight-to-18 inches, is protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. The fish species, which is native to the Virgin River, is under threat from habitat loss, drought and the introduction of illegal fish species.