The New Mexico Wildlife Federation cordially invites you to a public meeting for the Rio Grande Recreation and Restoration Plan. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 5th at the Santa Fe Convention Center in the Nambe Room. The meeting will last from 6 to 8:00 pm. It is intended to provide an overview of the project and an opportunity for you to voice your opinions about the recreational opportunities that interest you most. Land management agencies and community groups are working to improve the the available recreational opportunities in the publicly managed land along the Rio Grande in the Buckman area and want your opinion.
A meeting of the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program Biology Committee is scheduled November 5-6 at the Farmington Civic Center. On the agenda is the discussion of possible modifications of their flow recommendations for the downstream endangered fish. This meeting is a great opportunity for concerned sportsmen and concerned guides to work together to ensure healthy future flows for the trout fishery. The Bureau of Rec's new low flow plan (based on the SJRBRIP flow recommendations) is designed to drive normal flows in the summer, fall, and winter (some 70% of the year) to as low as 250/350 cfs. We recently learned that these low flows are designed to accommodate the maximum number of future water projects and will not benefit the endangered fish. Since these future projects are contingent on public funding and are projected to be 30 to 50 years out, if ever. In the meantime, it would only be reasonable to relax the current flow recommendations to allow healthier normal flows for the trout fishery and the river ecosystem! Relaxing these required low flow provisions only makes sense and we can get this done, but concerned anglers and guides must work together. Let‘s show up and let the BOR and the SJRBRIP know that the trout fishery does matter!!
The Department of Game and Fish is urging anglers and others who visit the Pecos River Canyon to take measures to prevent the spread of an invasive species of algae that could present many problems for the Pecos River and other state waters. The New Mexico Environment Department confirmed a bloom of Didymosphenia geminata in the Pecos River near Cowles in August. Commonly called "didymo," the single-celled algae's large, ugly growths on stream gravels have earned it the descriptive name, "rock snot." It is an aquatic nuisance species known to be transferred around the world on boats, fishing equipment and footwear. Didymo can undergo explosive growth, creating massive algal blooms in the form of dense mats that can impact native algae and invertebrates -- the food base for native and sport fish. It appears to prefer habits low in nutrients and organic productivity, but can be found in freshwater streams, rivers and lakes. The apparent increase in invasiveness of didymo may be related to factors including inter-basin transfer by humans, climatic changes, altered grazing, and genetic changes. This is the second aquatic invasive species known to exist in the Pecos River. Whirling disease, a protozoan parasite that attacks the spinal columns of trout, is found in the Pecos River. Whirling disease also is known to "hitchhike" on unwashed fishing tackle and waders. To help prevent the spread of didymo and whirling disease, anglers and others are urged to:
Check: Before leaving the river, remove all obvious clumps of algae and look for hidden clumps. Leave them at the site. If you find clumps later, don't wash them down the drain; treat them with approved methods below, dry them and put them in a rubbish bin.
Clean: Soak and scrub anything that may have contacted algae for at least one minute in either hot (140 ยบ F) water, a 2 percent solution of household bleach, or a 5 percent solution of salt, antiseptic hand cleaner or dishwashing detergent.
Dry: If cleaning is not practical (pets, livestock), wait until it is completely dry, and then wait at least 48 hours before contact or use in any waterway. For more information about invasive aquatic species, contact Brian Lang, (505) 476-8108 or brian.lang@state.nm.us. To review the New Mexico Invasive Species Plan, please visit the Department of Game and Fish Web site, www.wildlife.state.nm.us.
The Truchas Chapter of Trout Unlimited has started a Rio Grande Cutthroat Restoration Fund last year. The monies in this fund are to assist governmant agencies and non-profits like the Truchas Chapter and New Mexico Trout carry out specific Rio Grande Cutthroat restoration projects. The High Desert Angler is lending support to the Truchas Chapter by carrying some great Truchas Chapter branded merchandise. These ballcaps and shirts look terrific and sport the Truchas logo. All money for merchandise sold goes into the Restoration Fund. Come into the High Desert Angler and have a look at this stuff and help the Truchas Chapter restore our native fish.
