The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to reintroduce the Rio Grande silvery minnow into its native habitat in the Big Bend reach of the Rio Grande in Texas. The agency welcomes public comment and input on the proposal.
The endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow currently inhabits 170 miles of the Rio Grandes 1,885 miles. Other than this middle portion of the river in New Mexico, the fish hasnt been seen for decades in the rest of the Rio Grande, the nations third longest river system.
A hearing on the proposal will be held October 10, at Sul Ross State University, Gallego Center, Room 129 in Alpine, Texas. The hearing begins at 7 p.m. and lasts until 8:45 p.m., with an informal question and answer session beginning at 6 p.m. Residents, state, county and local officials, landowners, farmers, recreationists and others are encouraged to comment on the draft proposal and accompanying environmental assessment to reintroduce experimental populations of the small fish that once inhabited the entire river.
The fish would be considered a nonessential experimental population under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act. The Act encourages experimental reintroductions as a way to help recover a species while keeping federal regulations to a minimum. A non-essential experimental population places no burden on private landowners and water users.
"We believe establishing an experimental population will help ensure the long-term survival and recovery of this species," said Benjamin N. Tuggle, Ph.D., regional director of the Services Southwest Region. "There are private, local, state, and Federal partners who are already doing important work to improve the Rio Grande in the Big Bend reach which also creates and improves habitat for the Rio Grande silvery minnow. By using this technique, we have leeway in which to work with local citizens and other agencies while taking their concerns into account so that current and future water uses and activities will not be restricted."
The Service proposes to place minnows into the area from Mulato Dam (near the western border of Big Bend Ranch State Park) to Fosters Weir, east of the Terrell/Val Verde county line as it contains suitable habitat. Based on recent surveys and information provided by specie experts, the species currently does not exist in this reach or its tributaries and has not been found here since 1960.
However, a larger geographic area is being considered for the reintroduction project in order to capture the maximum extent to which a fish might move. The entire area designated for the experimental population would encompass Little Box Canyon downstream of Ft. Quitman, Hudspeth County, Texas, through Big Bend National Park and the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, to Amistad Dam and the nearby railroad bridge (Big Bend reach of the Rio Grande) as well as the Pecos River from its confluence with Independence Creek to its confluence with the Rio Grande.
The Service contracted for a study examining the suitability of the habitat in the Big Bend reach of the Rio Grande for the Rio Grande silvery minnow. "The study indicated that there is a reasonable likelihood that Rio Grande silvery minnow will survive in this portion of the Rio Grande," said Tuggle. "It also pointed out the need for habitat restoration projects such as removing salt cedar, giant river cane, and other invasive, non-native species."
The draft rule proposes to begin releases of captive-bred Rio Grande silvery minnows in the spring or summer of 2008. "Experimental reintroductions can be a great aid in the recovery of threatened or endangered species," said Tuggle.
Proposed reintroductions are part of a larger recovery effort already underway by the Service, Federal and State agencies, and other partners for the Rio Grande silvery minnow in the Middle Rio Grande. Rio Grande silvery minnow eggs are collected from the wild in New Mexico each year and are raised in captivity to provide individuals for captive propagation and augmentation of the wild population. These efforts have allowed biologists to gain the necessary knowledge to conduct reintroductions. Reintroductions can take place on private or public lands, but only with direct consent from the land owner or manager.
The Service has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment to look at the potential impacts of reintroducing endangered fish into the Rio Grande. The assessment as well as the proposal are available for public comment. Comments must be submitted by November 5.
The notice was published in todays Federal Register and is available on the internet at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ search under "silvery minnow.To request a paper copy or a compact disc, please call 512-490-0057, or write to Adam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, Austin Ecological Services Field Office,10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas, 78758.
