Native fish conservation, and management in the upper/middle Rio Grande basin, Pecos River, Canadian River, Tularosa and Guzman basins, New Mexico during 2009

Authors: W. Jason Remshardt, Stephen R. Davenport, David L. Propst, Stephanie M. Carman, Robert K. Dudley, Steven P. Platania

Year: 2009 (xli)

Abstract

Native fish conservation in New Mexico is accomplished through long term monitoring of protected species, captive propagation, stream restoration, and interagency water management. Long term monitoring programs track abundance of many rare native desert fishes including Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus) in the Rio Grande, New Mexico, Pecos bluntnose shiner (Notropis simus pecosensis), gray redhorse (Moxostoma congestum), and blue sucker (Cycleptus elongatus) in the Pecos River, Arkansas River shiner (Notropis girardi) in the Canadian River, White Sands pupfish (Cyprinidon tularosa) in the Tularosa Basin and Chihuahua chub (Gila nigrescens) in the Guzman Basin. In 2009, an amendment and supplement to the draft revised Recovery Plan for Rio Grande silvery minnow was submitted for public comment. This included revised recovery goals and a population viability analysis. After final review, these will be incorporated into a final revised Recovery Plan. Since 2006, population estimates have been used as an additional resource to standard monitoring for management. Results from the most recent population estimation (fall 2008) were made available in 2009. The total population estimate for all reaches combined (N = 2,283,790) had a standard error [SE] of 740,860.73. The overall proportion of each age-class exhibited a similar pattern among the three reaches (i.e., populations were highest in the Isleta and Angostura reaches and lowest in the San Acacia Reach) and was not significantly different than the estimate from 2007. For the majority of 2009, Rio Grande silvery minnow appear to have had another good year for spawning, which should translate into increased numbers of reproductively capable females available to spawn in the spring of 2010. Population monitoring for Pecos bluntnose shiner has been conducted since 1992. Surveys continued in 2009 and catch rates increased compared to 2008. White Sands Pupfish monitoring has been conducted at least annually since 1995. In 2008, monitoring protocol was updated to better address conservation goals and sampling objectives. Additionally, genetic maintenance of the Lost River population, a replicate of the native Salt Creek ESU was instituted. Investigations are underway to replicate the Malpais Spring population. As usual, fish are present, reproducing, recruiting, and populations look good. Limited monitoring and studies of the status of Pecos River suckers including blue sucker, gray redhorse, and smallmouth buffalo continued in 2009. Both blue sucker and smallmouth buffalo continue to be absent from the mainstem of the Pecos River. Gray redhorse, which was uplisted from state threatened to endangered in 2009, is still found in one locality in the mainstem Pecos. The state recovery plan for these species will be drafted in 2010. Golden algae kills continued through the lower Pecos River in New Mexico. Fish kill reports were down compared to previous years but toxic water (bioassays) was detected at various monitoring locations. Efforts are underway to renew the multi-agency conservation agreement and establish a monitoring protocol for Pecos pupfish. Chihuahua chub from Dexter were stocked in Mimbres River near town of San Lorenzo, New Mexico. Monitoring of two permanent sites was conducted in 2009, and chubs were present at both sites. A new population was found in the upper Mimbres River, unsure if it is relict or from chubs that have moved upstream from stocking efforts.