U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus amarus) Draft Revised Recovery Plan January 2007 Draft Revised Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Recovery Plan 2007 DRAFT REVISED RIO GRANDE SILVERY MINNOW (Hybognathus amarus) RECOVERY PLAN Southwest Region U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Albuquerque, New Mexico Approved: _______________________________________________________ Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Date: ___________________________________________ – i – Draft Revised Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Recovery Plan 2007 DISCLAIMER Recovery plans delineate actions which the best available science indicates are required to protect and recover listed species. Plans are published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / National Marine Fisheries Service, sometimes prepared with the assistance of recovery teams, contractors, State agencies, and others. Objectives will be attained and any necessary funds made available subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved, as well as the need to address other priorities. Nothing in this plan shall be construed as a commitment or requirement that any Federal agency obligate or pay funds in contravention of the Anti-Deficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. 1341, or any other law or regulation. Recovery plans do not necessarily represent the views or the official positions or approval of any individuals or agencies involved in the plan formulation, other than the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / National Marine Fisheries Service. Recovery plans represent the official position of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / National Marine Fisheries Service only after they have been signed by the Regional Director / Assistant Administrator. Approved recovery plans are subject to modification as dictated by new information, changes in species status, and the completion of recovery actions. Please check for updates or revisions at the website below. Literature citation should read as follows: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2007. Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus amarus) Recovery Plan. Albuquerque, NM. xiii + 175 pp. Additional copies may be obtained from: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service New Mexico Ecological Service Field Office 2105 Osuna Road NE Albuquerque, NM 87113 Or online at: www.fws.gov/endangered – ii – Draft Revised Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Recovery Plan 2007 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gratefully acknowledges the commitment and efforts of the following individuals to the recovery of the Rio Grande silvery minnow. Without their assistance, this document would not have been possible. Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Recovery Team Technical Subgroup Robert J. Edwards, University of Texas-Pan American, Team Leader Chris Altenbach, City of Albuquerque Robert Dudley, University of New Mexico (consultant) Gary P. Garrett, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Champe B. Green, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sterling Grogran, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District C. Nicolas Medley, New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission John Pittenger, Blue Earth Ecological Consultants/Amigos de Bravos Steven P. Platania, University of New Mexico Michael Porter, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation David L. Propst, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Tribal Subgroup Lawrence Abeita, Bureau of Indian Affairs – Southern Pueblos Agency Joe Jojola, Bureau of Indian Affairs – Regional Office Norman Jojola, Bureau of Indian Affairs – Northern Pueblos Agency John Sorrell, Pueblo of Isleta Cody Walker, Pueblo of Isleta Alex Puglisi, Pueblo of Sandia Brian Bader, Pueblo of Santa Ana Ben Chavarria, Pueblo of Santa Clara Joseph Chavarria, Pueblo of Santa Clara Jason Garcia, Pueblo of Santa Clara Gilbert Guiterrez, Pueblo of Santa Clara Jeffery Lyon, Pueblo of Santa Clara Leif Bang, Pueblo of Santo Domingo Gabriel Cosyleon, Pueblo of Santo Domingo Boyd Nystedt, Pueblo of Santo Domingo Lawrence Cata, Pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh Charles Lujan, Pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh Participation Subgroup Julie Hall, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – iii – Draft Revised Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Recovery Plan 2007 Chuck Hayes, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Lori Robertson, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Rolf Schmidt-Peterson, New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission Herman Settemeyer, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Subhas Shah, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Bryan Shields, Amigos Bravos John Stomp, City of Albuquerque Mike Sullivan, Colorado Office of the State Engineer Steve Vandiver, Colorado Office of the State Engineer U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Liaison to the Recovery Team Jennifer M. Parody, Ph.D. Many other people provided critical expertise in this planning process. Invaluable assistance was provided by team members, consultants, and other individuals who contributed their time and expertise to the preparation of this plan. In particular, we appreciate Kathy Granillo who provided facilitation assitance; Manual Ulibarri and Jason Remshardt who provided technical assistance; Aimee Roberson, Michael Hatch, and Jim Brooks, past U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service liaisons to the Recovery Team; and Chris Kitcheyan, John Antonio, and Stuart Leon, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service liaisons to the Tribal Subgroup. We are also especially grateful to Catherine Dold, consulting writer and editor on the project, and to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the N.M. Interstate Stream Commission for providing funds to help support preparation of the plan. – iv – Draft Revised Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Recovery Plan 2007 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Current Status of the Species Rio Grande silvery minnow historically occupied approximately 3,862 river km (2,400 mi) in New Mexico and Texas. It was found in the Rio Grande from Española, New Mexico, down through Texas to the Gulf of Mexico (Bestgen and Platania 1991). It was also found in the Pecos River, a major tributary of the Rio Grande, from Santa Rosa, New Mexico, downstream to its confluence with the Rio Grande in Texas. Currently, the Rio Grande silvery minnow is believed to occur only in one reach of the Rio Grande in New Mexico, a 280 km (174 mi) stretch of river that runs from Cochiti Dam to the headwaters of Elephant Butte Reservoir. Its current habitat is limited to about 7 percent of its former range. The species was listed as federally endangered in 1994 (59 FR 36988 36995). Habitat Requirements and Threats The Rio Grande silvery minnow uses only a small portion of the available aquatic habitat. In general, the species most often uses silt substrates in areas of low or moderate water velocity (e.g., eddies formed by debris piles, pools, and backwaters). The Rio Grande silvery minnow is rarely found in habitats with high water velocities, such as main channel runs, which are often deep and swift. The species is most commonly found in depths of less than 20 centimeters (cm) (7.9 inches [in]) in the summer and 31-40 cm (12.2-15.75 in) in the winter. Few use areas with depths greater than 50 cm (19.7 in). Throughout much of its historic range, the decline of the Rio Grande silvery minnow may be attributed in part to destruction and modification of its habitat due to dewatering and diversion of water, water impoundment, and modification of the river (channelization). Competition and predation by introduced non-native species, water quality degradation, and other factors may also have contributed to its decline. Recovery Strategy Three goals have been established for the recovery of the Rio Grande silvery minnow: 1. Prevent the extinction of the Rio Grande silvery minnow in the middle Rio Grande of New Mexico. 2. Recover the Rio Grande silvery minnow to an extent sufficient to change its status on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife from endangered to threatened (downlisting). 3. Recover the Rio Grande silvery minnow to an extent sufficient to remove it from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (delisting). Downlisting (Goal 2) for the Rio Grande silvery minnow may be considered when three – v – Draft Revised Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Recovery Plan 2007 populations (including at least two that are self-sustaining) have been established within the historical range of the species and have been maintained for at least five years. Delisting (Goal 3) of the species may be considered when three self-sustaining populations have been established within the historical range of the species and have been maintained for at least ten years. Actions Needed Recovery actions in the Plan are grouped into five areas: 1. Develop a thorough knowledge of the Rio Grande silvery minnow’s life history, ecology, and behavior, and the current status of its habitat. 2. Restore, protect, and alter habitats as necessary to alleviate threats to the Rio Grande silvery minnow. 3. Ensure the survival of the Rio Grande silvery minnow in its current habitat and reestablish the species in suitable habitats within its historical range. 4. Implement and maintain an adaptive management program so that appropriate research and management activities are implemented in a timely manner to achieve recovery of the Rio Grande silvery minnow. 5. Design and implement a public awareness and education program. Estimated Cost of Recovery Costs associated with recovery are estimated for each of the five categories listed above, based on the years in which specific actions are scheduled to occur. These costs are furthered detailed in the Implementation Schedule. Total cost to recover the Rio Grande silvery minnow is estimated