News Release Archive

Reclamation begins work on minnow habitat near I-40

Media Contact: Mary Perea, (505) 462-3576, mperea@uc.usbr.gov

For Release: August 16, 2005

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - An experimental project aimed at improving the nursery habitat for the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow is set to begin in Albuquerque this week.

The Bureau of Reclamation hopes to create a prime spot for minnow reproduction in the river just south of Interstate 40.Commuters who cross the river on the interstate will likely see the large equipment working in the area beginning on Wednesday and continuing over the next two weeks. Although the endangered minnow can be found swimming throughout the middle Rio Grande, there is little nursery habitat around Albuquerque at lower flows seen in recent years.

The higher spring runoff in 2004 and 2005 increased the area of nursery habitat throughout the middle Rio Grande, resulting in significant minnow production. The experimental project funded and overseen by the Bureau of Reclamation will create channels, shelves and inlets for rearing minnow eggs and young at various water levels. "This project was designed to provide nursery habitat for incubating eggs and rearing minnow larvae to imitate natural features in the river that support minnow production," said Michael Porter, fisheries biologist for the Bureau of Reclamation.

Planning for the project has been in the works for about a year. Environmental and biological assessments under the National Environmental Protection Act have been completed. Biologists will monitor the area to determine whether it indeed promotes an increase in minnow production in the spring as expected. Reclamation will conduct some re-vegetation work by planting willows in the area in the spring.

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