The Renovation and Modernization of the Aquatic Research and Conservation Center

Authors: Ryan Mann, Kristohper Stahr, Joshua Walters

Year: 2018

Abstract

The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Aquatic Research and Conservation Center in Cornville, Arizona serves the primary function of housing and propagating rare lineages of small-bodied desert fishes, such as the endangered Loach Minnow and Spikedace, supporting conservation efforts in Arizona and New Mexico. The facility also conducts research and provides resources and space for emergency salvage operations. The facility was built incrementally with limited grant funding and has been largely built using military surplus shipping containers as tanks. While adequate for meeting current conservation needs, the existing systems limited production levels and research capabilities and were insufficient for future conservation goals. Thus, a renovation was initiated in 2014, with the objectives of expanding and improving holding and spawning capacity for fish, modernizing fish culture and hatchery infrastructure, and increasing biosecurity. To date, $1.2 million has been contributed to the project and two of three planned phases have been completed, improving overall functionality and performance of the facility.