Native fish conservation and management in the Upper/Middle Rio Grande, Pecos River, Canadian River, Tularosa and Guzman basins, New Mexico during 2016

Authors: Eliza Gilbert, Thomas P. Archdeacon, Stephen R. Davenport, Melissa M. Mata-Gonzales, Yvette M. Paroz, Dustin M. Myer, Megan J. Osborne, Jill M. Wick

Year: 2016 (xlviii)

Abstract

In 2016, a number of actions were undertaken to further conserve native fishes within these five basins. In the upper Rio Grande basin, surveys were conducted to determine the conservation status of Gila pandora Rio Grande Chub and Catostomus plebeius Rio Grande Sucker. These surveys were coordinated among state, federal, tribal, and nongovernmental agencies and helped initiate development of conservation management plans for these two species. Also in the upper Rio Grande, Oncorhynchus clarki virginalis Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout habitat renovation is ongoing. In the middle Rio Grande, the Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Population Monitoring Project and the Genetics and Propagation Project both received strong positive evaluations by external expert reviewers. Assessments were conducted to ensure the project were providing robust information to stakeholders and to allow programmatic improvements where needed. Surveys of fishes in the Pecos River document the continued presence of multiple Notropis taxa with Notropis simus pecosensis persisting but N. jemezanus and formerly common Hybognathus placitus Plains Minnow appearing to decline. In the lower portion of the Canadian River, just prior to entering Texas, a limited reach of the river supports two rare fish; Notropis girardi Arkansas River Shiner and Macrhybopsis tetranema Peppered Chub. Population and genetics monitoring describing these species’ conservation status is underway. Cyprinodon tularosa White Sands Pupfish is a charismatic and endemic fish of the Tularosa Basin. A study (dissertation) has begun on this species’ ecology. Planning documents (an Environmental Assessment and Conservation Plan) for management of White Sands Pupfish were completed in 2016 and will allow for repatriation of this species to historic habitats and habitat restoration. Genetic and population augmentation continue for this species as well. Within the Guzman basin, habitat restoration designed to increase the carrying capacity of the Mimbres River for Gila nigrescens Chihuahua Chub, which began in 2015 and was completed in early 2016 on land owned and managed by New Mexico and also on land owned by The Nature Conservancy. Recent surveys of these restored areas documented use of the habitat by Chihuahua Chub.