Ditch Could Be Perfect Niche for Native Fish

Suggested Anchor Introduction

Researchers want to know if New Mexico's irrigation drains and ditches could be home, sweet home for native fish. New Mexico State University's Anna María Pérez-Wright reports.

Story

Click to Listen:

New Mexico State University researchers are on a quest to find native fish. N-M-S-U endangered species expert David Cowley says his team of scientists are investigating whether the state's hundreds of miles of agricultural irrigation drains and ditches can provide enough food to support more than 10 native fish species, including the Rio Grande silvery minnow.

"The purpose of the program is to find ways to accomplish conservation of native species while conserving traditional uses of water like irrigated agriculture."

Using the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District as its testing ground, Cowley has established a series of monitoring stations in the Socorro division, where he intends to sample not only the fish, but also aquatic insects, plants and algae.

"The drains stay wet year round. They are like perennial creeks. Some of them have beautiful habitat."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rio Grande Basin Initiative is funding the project, which will take three years to complete. For N-M-S-U's College of Agriculture and Home Economics, I'm Anna María Pérez-Wright.