Publication

Summary of Findings by the External Expert Panelists: Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Population Monitoring Workshop, Isleta Casino and Resort, 8-10 December 2015

URL: https://webapps.usgs.gov/mrgescp/documents/Hubert%20et%20al_2016_Summary%20of%20Findings%20by%20the%20External%20Expert%20Panelists%20RGSM%20Population%20Monitoring%20Workshop.pdf

Date: 2016/05/17

Author(s): Hubert W., Fabrizio M., Hughes R., Cusack M.

Publication: Prepared for U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, 118 p.

Abstract:

The Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program (Collaborative Program) is comprised of multiple stakeholders representing diverse interests related to water operations and management within the Middle Rio Grande (MRG), New Mexico. The Collaborative Program works to comply with the Endangered Species Act and support the recovery of the federally listed species that occupy this reach. The Collaborative Program has a special emphasis on the Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus amarus; RGSM) and the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) and, simultaneously, to protect existing and future water uses while complying with applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations. The Collaborative Program is transitioning to become a Recovery Implementation Program (RIP), and will be establishing sufficient progress metrics for the RIP that may include species demographics.

As part of a transition to a RIP, the Collaborative Program is beginning its review of the Monitoring Program, including its indices and methodologies. However, there is disagreement among the parties of the Collaborative Program regarding whether the trends detected by the Monitoring Program fully meet the needs of the Collaborative Program. To address these concerns, the Bureau of Reclamation sponsored a workshop in December 2015 to discuss the current Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE) methodologies and sampling design as the Collaborative Program’s next step in further development of the Monitoring Program.