The Rio Grande flowed a little faster the last two days because of water released in hopes of encouraging the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow to spawn.
A total of 3,000 acre feet was released for the minnow over the last two days (May 14 and 15) to create a pulse of water in the river to mimic natural conditions. The minnow spawns in response to several stimuli such as day length, an increase in temperatures, water surges or pulses in flows that are more pronounced during the spring snow melt.
Since the spring runoff was not occurring naturally because of the drought, the decision was made to release water from Abiquiu Reservoir. The Bureau of Reclamation leased the water to help meet the needs of the minnow. The increased flows should reach the San Marcial area by Monday (May 19).
Last year flows were also increased artificially in mid-May which successfully resulted in a large number of eggs being released.
A consortium of public and private entities, known as the Middle Rio Grande Collaborative Program, is seeking practical, long-term solutions to the challenge of balancing water demands in the valley. Leasing water for the minnow is just one conservation tool.
The Rio Grande silvery minnow is a native fish first listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1994. The minnow was once one of the most abundant and widespread of the desert fishes in the Rio Grande Basin. It ranged from Espanola, New Mexico, to the Gulf of Mexico. It was found in the Pecos River from Santa Rosa, New Mexico, downstream to its confluence with the Rio Grande. The silvery minnow has completely died out in the Pecos River and in the Rio Grande downstream of Elephant Butte Reservoir and upstream of Cochiti Reservoir.
Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations and facilities in the 17 Western states. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses nearly 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
http://Southwest.fws.gov
