RENO (AP) - A northern Nevada tribe has assumed a leadership role in managing the waters of a reservoir used for the purpose of maintaining and protecting two native species of fish.

The "team lead" for management of Stampede Reservoir's waters was transferred Friday from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.

The move gives the tribe the top role in scheduling releases of water from the Sierra reservoir located east of Truckee, Calif.

The water is stored solely for the endangered cui-ui (kwee-wee) fish and Lahontan cutthroat trout in the Truckee River and Pyramid Lake.

Fish and wildlife officials hailed the transfer as a "significant event."

A 1999 agreement signed by the fish and wildlife service, tribe, Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Indian Affairs called for the tribe to assume leadership status upon completion of a plan to protect fish in Pyramid Lake.

The cui-ui is a native sucker fish that has been on the endangered species list for more than 30 years.

The Lahontan cutthroat trout was once common east of the Sierra,
but it vanished from the Truckee River watershed in the 1940s.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-04-26-08 2008EDT