The Spartian Minnowroach has a restricted range (extent of occurrence (EOO) c. 6,422 km²) , which meets the threshold for the Vulnerable category under Criterion B1 (EOO < 20,000 km²), and the extent and quality of habitat are estimated to be declining. However, the population is not considered to be severely fragmented and the number of locations this species occurs at is unknown.

Therefore, this species is assessed as Near Threatened, as it is close to qualifying for Vulnerable under Criterion B (B1b(iii)).

This species is endemic to the southern Peloponnese, Greece, where its range extends from the Neda (el. Νέδα) River to the Evrotas (el. Εὐρώτας) River.

This species' current population size and trend have not been quantified, and the number of subpopulations is unknown.

Its abundance is understood to have declined significantly since the mid-20^th century, and the subpopulation inhabiting the Neda River has not been observed during recent field surveys. In contrast, the Evrotas River subpopulation is estimated to be relatively stable based on recent studies and conservation actions (see 'Conservation').

This species is most abundant in perennial, spring-fed lowland habitats with little-to-no gradient and dense macrophyte cover, such as the Vassilopotamos River in the Evrotas delta or wetlands at Agios Floros in the Pamisos River system.

Most of the rivers to which it is native exhibit a typical Mediterranean flow regime, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters leading to temporal dewatering of some reaches during periods of low discharge.

The extent and longevity of this seasonal drying varies interannually, but stretches of several kilometres can be reduced to isolated pools or dry out completely for 5-6 months per year. The highest discharge typically occurs between February and April, with minimum flows from June to November, but the latter can extend for several additional months in the event of a dry winter.

The main river stems are fed by intermittent streams and perennial karstic springs. Reaches in the vicinity of the latter tend to flow year-round and form natural refuges for fishes during dry periods. The Spartian Minnowroach often inhabits these permanent stretches, which are characterised by relatively cool, flowing water. 
It typically occurs in deeper reaches with relatively low water movement, exhibiting a preference for vegetated areas with fine substrates close to the river's banks. During periods of water stress, it has been observed to move into riffles when the flow rate decreases.
It demonstrates a relatively high level of tolerance to drought conditions, being able to survive in lentic residual pools with low oxygen levels and quickly recolonise desiccated stretches after rewetting.

This species is chiefly carnivorous and preys opportunistically on both aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates.

This species' decline has been driven primarily by habitat modification and increased water abstraction since the latter half of the 20^th century.

Among the rivers within its range, the degradation of the Evrotas system has been particularly well-studied.

From the 1950s to the 1990s, river engineering and drainage projects were implemented throughout most of the Evrotas catchment in order to control seasonal flooding, irrigate agricultural land and limit disease transmission. The main river stem has in places been widened and straightened with riparian vegetation removed in order to control flash floods, and the lower portion runs entirely between dikes. The Vassilopotamos River has been almost entirely canalised.

More recently, cultivated land has started to encroach on riparian zones, resulting in a loss of natural vegetation, while the irrigation network has been enlarged to include olive and orange groves. Both surface and groundwater are extracted by a number of methods, including irrigation canals, weirs (both permanent and temporary), pumping stations and private or municipal boreholes (of which there are an estimated 3,500).

Historical records suggest that the Evrotas main stem once flowed perennially, but some stretches of the river and most of its tributaries now dry out on an annual basis. The Evrotas has therefore been referred to as an "artificially intermittent" river, since its naturally variable flow regime has been amplified by human activities.

The intensive exploitation of water has rendered the river susceptible to the increasing frequency and longevity of droughts driven by climate change. Major droughts which extended from 1989-1993 and 2007-2008 led to extensive desiccation throughout the Evrotas catchment, and in 2008 a series of major fish kills were reported.

The effects of pollution are also exacerbated during dry periods. Only a single wastewater treatment plant exists in the Evrotas system. Located at the city of Sparta, its effluents are discharged directly into the river and can cause hypoxia with associated fish kills during periods of drought. Elsewhere, domestic cesspool waste infiltrates into groundwater or is illegally dumped into the river itself.

Additional sources of pollution include agro-industrial wastes and diffuse agrochemicals. In particular, the seasonal activity of olive mills and juice factories results in large volumes of unprocessed, acidic, nitrogen and phosphorous-rich wastewater being released into the river. Studies have demonstrated that downstream macroinvertebrate communities are largely eliminated during periods of discharge, while extensive eutrophication is apparent in the lower portion of the system.

In 2013, 72% of the Evrotas River system failed to meet the standards of the European Water Framework Directive when native fish communities were included in its ecological assessment.

The non-native Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) has been observed in the upper Evrotas and may represent a threat to native fishes through predation. However, reports suggest that it does not successfully reproduce and may have been illegally stocked or escaped from local aquaculture facilities.

Elsewhere, the Pamisos and Aris rivers have been canalised throughout most of the Messenian Plain, which is intensively exploited for irrigated agriculture and olive oil production. In addition to the extensive water abstraction and physical modifications to the river, elevated levels of a number of pollutants, including ammonia, nitrates, phenols, total organic carbon and heavy metals have been directly linked to local olive oil, wine and dairy industries. Many livestock farms are also located close to the rivers.

The remaining rivers in which the Spartian Minnowroach occurs are relatively short and descend sharply from inland mountains to narrow coastal plains. The latter areas have been intensively developed for agriculture and tourism, e.g., the "Costa Navarino".

This species is not used or traded.

This species is included (originally as Rutilus alburnoides) in Appendix III of the Bern Convention and Annex II of the European Union Habitats Directive.

In Greece, it is officially protected and currently assessed as Vulnerable for the National Red List.

The lower part of the Evrotas River including the delta and Vassilopotamos system together form the Ekvoles Evrota protected area. The site is included in the European Union's Natura 2000 network (site code GR2540003), and the Evrotas Minnow is among the target species.

The Evrotas River system has been included in two projects co-funded by the European Union since 2005. The first of these was the LIFE project EnviFriendly (LIFE05 ENV/GR/000245), of which a strategic management plan (SMP) published in 2009 was the major output. The river was then from 2014-2019 one of six river systems covered by the GLOBAQUA project, which investigated the effects of water scarcity on aquatic ecosystems and supported further development of the SMP as well as a series of scientific publications.

Some objectives listed in the SMP include the adoption of organic and other sustainable farming practices, improved management of drainage canals, reduction in fertiliser use, restoration of riparian vegetation and the river's bed, establishment of ecological flows below points of water abstraction, enhanced wastewater treatment facilities and extension of existing protected areas. Among these, an organic farming system has already been introduced, while several others are in the process of implementation.

At least two locations in the eastern part of the Spartian Minnowroach's range lie within the boundaries of other Natura 2000 sites, although it is not among the listed target species.

Locations in the Messenian Plain do not appear to be protected at the present time.

At the species level, a number of studies investigating the Spartian Minnowroach's life history, habitat requirements and response to the ongoing threats have been published over the last decade.

It is recommended that future research efforts focus on understanding the status and population trends of subpopulations outside the Evrotas River system, in order to establish whether any of them require priority conservation actions.