Report to the Rio Grande Compact Commission

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Activities in the Rio Grande Basin Calendar Year 2020

Releasing RGSM into the Rio Grande, NM

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southwest Region 2

P.O. Box 1306 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103-1306

Prepared by Shawn Sartorius, Field Office Supervisor, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 8, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................ 2 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Activities in the Rio Grande Basin ............................................... 1 Endangered Species Act Consultations .......................................................................................... 1 Implementation of the 2016 BiOp for MRG Water Ops and Maintenance .................................... 1 Federally-Listed and Candidate Species Updates ........................................................................... 1

Endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnow ................................................................................... 1 Upper/Middle Rio Grande Basin ................................................................................................. 1

Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Rescue and Salvage ................................................................... 2 Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Augmentation and Monitoring .................................................. 4 Rio Grande Silvery Minnow in the Big Bend Region of the Lower Rio Grande .................... 9

Endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher .......................................................................... 10 Endangered New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse ................................................................. 11 Threatened Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo .............................................................................. 14 Rio Grande Chub (Gila pandora) and Rio Grande Sucker (Catostomus plebeius) ................... 16 Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki virginalis) ................................................. 16

Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program ........................................................................................ 16 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges along the MRG ................................ 16

Valle de Oro NWR .................................................................................................................... 21 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................................. 23

1

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Activities in the Rio Grande Basin

During calendar year 2020, staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) from Ecological Services, Fish and Aquatic Conservation, and our National Wildlife Refuge System conducted activities associated with fish and wildlife conservation and management including:

1. Activities directly involving the endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus amarus; silvery minnow), endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus; flycatcher), the endangered New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus; jumping mouse); the threatened western distinct population segment of Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus; cuckoo); and, other federally-listed or candidate species in the Middle Rio Grande (MRG) and Lower Rio Grande (LRG);

2. Conducting formal consultations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA); 3. Cooperative efforts by the Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program; 4. Activities by staff of the Service’s National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) along the MRG.

Endangered Species Act Consultations

In 2020, the Ecological Services conducted eleven informal consultations, three formal consultations, and provided over 862 species lists letters for projects within the MRG. We continue to implement the automated Information, Planning, and Conservation System (IPAC) at https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/. The IPAC allows federal, state, tribal agencies, and the public, to view federally listed species by a project area in a county, or conduct informal ESA consultation, as appropriate.

Implementation of the 2016 BiOp for MRG Water Ops and Maintenance On December 2, 2016, the Ecological Services finalized a Biological and Conference Opinion (2016 BiOp) for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), State of New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (NMISC; along with the Office of the State Engineer), and Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) on their proposed water management and maintenance activities along the MRG in central New Mexico. During 2020, we have been working with Reclamation and their partners implementing activities described in the 2016 BiOp. Specifically, we attended water operations calls, participated with the various teams and groups associated with the Collaborative Program, reviewed the Lower Reach Plan, the Escondida Habitat Restoration Project, the channel realignment project on Bosque del Apache NWR, and fish passage concepts at the San Acacia Diversion Dam. We also utilized a process to delegate certain monitoring activities that were exempted by the 2016 BiOp.

Federally-Listed and Candidate Species Updates

Endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnow

Upper/Middle Rio Grande Basin The New Mexico FWCO conducts research and long-term monitoring investigations of fishery resources in the Rio Grande Basin and provides technical management expertise to other Federal agencies and Native American Tribes and Pueblos. Within the Rio Grande Basin, these projects

2

are mostly related to conservation of the federally endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus amarus). The Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (RGSM) currently occupies only about seven percent of its historic habitat; a 280-kilometer (174-mile) stretch of the Rio Grande from Cochiti Dam to the upper most portions of Elephant Butte Reservoir (USFWS 2010). Decline of this species is primarily attributed to destruction and modification of its habitat as a result of dewatering and diversion of water, water impoundment, and channelization (USFWS 2010). Competition with, and predation by, introduced nonnative species, water degradation, and other factors such as global climate change have also contributed to its decline (USFWS 2010). Projects undertaken in FY 2020 included: coordination and implementation of RGSM rescue and salvage, coordination of hatchery augmentation, a study on the effects of mechanical pumping and simulated drying on Rio Grande Silvery Minnow and the fish assemblage downstream of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Rescue and Salvage Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (RGSM) Hybognathus amarus are often trapped in isolated pools during times of river drying from June to October each year in the Middle Rio Grande (MRG) in New Mexico. Rescue of RGSM is performed by staff from the New Mexico Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (NMFWCO) with assistance and coordination from several other agencies. Rio Grande Silvery Minnow are collected from isolated pools each day and transported on utility terrain vehicles equipped with water tanks and supplied with pure oxygen. Rescued RGSM are then transported and released into areas with continuous flows. Rescued RGSM are classified as either dead or alive, hatchery or wild origin, and adult or young-of-year based on their standard length. River drying began early in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fish were not rescued until June 8th, though drying began approximately one week earlier. Between 1 June and 13 August 2020, we conducted rescue activities on 41.7 unique miles of main channel of the MRG that became intermittent. All miles were within the San Acacia Reach. However, several miles were not rescued near Abeytas and on Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. We rescued 3,914 live RGSM. Of these, 29 were young-of-year (YOY) RGSM, 76 were hatchery-reared RGSM, and 3,809 wild RGSM. In addition, we found 136 dead RGSM during river intermittency. Spring run-off was low, resulting in few YOY in 2020. The 2019 cohort was collected in moderate numbers, but fewer than would have been expected when compared to the 2018 cohort rescued in 2019. Lack of spring runoff combined with early and extensive low-flows may have contributed to lower than expected numbers of adult RGSM encountered during fish rescue in 2020. Trends in the declining numbers of RGSM halted in 2015, rebounded in 2016, and in 2017 RGSM became the most common fish in our collections (Figure 4). We found more RGSM per km (0.6 miles) in 2017 than in any year since 2007. Recruitment in 2018 was near zero, and collections were almost entirely composed of adult fish. In 2020, the number of adult fish was about what was expected after 2019. However, 2020 was very similar to 2018, a very early dry season following a very wet year, but compared to 2018, we found far fewer adults in 2020. Recruitment was unsurprisingly low in 2020, due to poor spring runoff (Figure 1).

3

Figure 1.Number of young of year (YOY), hatchery marked adult, and wild adult Rio Grande Silvery Minnow collected per km during salvage activities in the Middle Rio Grande in 2009-2019 and average daily discharge (m3s-1) in the Rio Grande at Albuquerque, NM (USGS gage 08330000). The number of YOY collected in 2016 does not reflected an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 YOY < 30 mm standard length found dead in a single isolated pool.

Figure 2. Daily survival of Rio Grande Silvery Minnow collected from isolated pools in 2018 and 2020 and held in captivity. In 2018 and again in 2020, we estimated survival of rescued Rio Grande Silvery Minnow for 3–5

4

weeks post-rescue. Overall, survival of fish rescued from isolated pools was poor (Figure5). Survival of fish rescued from isolated pools during warmer months was < 10% (Figure 2). Further investigation is needed to determine if there is a difference between adults and young-of-year, as not enough young-of-year were collected to make a comparison. Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Augmentation and Monitoring A poor spring run-off in 2020 led to near-zero recruitment. Nearly all wild RGSM collected in 2020 were adults, presumably from the moderately strong 2019 year-class. Early and extensive river drying combined with recruitment failure resulted in the need for high levels of augmentation in all three reaches. The catch rates from the September 2020 monitoring were compared with the target catch rate of 1.0 RGSM per 100 m2 for each site. The total number of RGSM needed was ~170,000 for all three reaches combined. New Mexico FWCO staff, with assistance from Southwestern Native ARRC, and Albuquerque BioPark’s Aquatic Conservation Facility, stocked ~210,000 RGSM at nine sites in November and December 2020. 2018 and ~37,000 at three sites in February 2019 as part of an experimental evaluation of the effect of season on survival of stocked fish. All three experimental sites were located in the San Acacia Reach. Very limited augmentation monitoring within the Pueblos of Sandia and Isleta was performed in FY 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveys were completed only in March 2020 and no extensive conclusions could be made from these limited collections. However, staff assisted the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation project examining the effects of reduced flows on fish, fish habitat, and fish movement. We performed fish and habitat surveys during June and July 2020 at 10 randomly selected locations between the water pumping station at the South Boundary of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge at river mile 74 and the confluence with the Low Flow Conveyance Channel below river mile 55. Each site was surveyed five times: twice prior to decreasing pumping rate, and three times during weekly flow reductions. Mesohabitats, except for run habitat, changed little in available surface area during flow reductions until all pumping ceased. Run habitat was affected differentially and decreased in surface area with every flow reduction. We found very little change in the spatial distribution of fishes during decreased flows, suggesting movements to refuge patches were at the site scale and not the reach-scale (i.e., no evidence of a large-scale movement to escape drying; Figure 3). Ultimately, the absence of pumping eliminates the offset used to mitigate drying for ~21 miles of RGSM habitat below the Bosque del Apache South Boundary pumping station where river intermittency is experienced during very low water years. There are fewer fish below the South Boundary of BdA compared to areas upstream, but the absence of additional wetted refuge during summer months is likely to decrease the number of minnows available to recolonize when flows return. Finally, New Mexico FWCO staff assisted with tagging hatchery-reared RGSM with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. Approximately 10,000 fish were tagged and released in the San Acacia reach in March 2020 as part of a study on movement near the San Acacia Diversion Dam conducted by Utah State University on behalf of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Larger groups of PIT-tagged Rio Grande Silvery Minnow are expected to be released in FY 2021.

5

Figure 3. Changes in estimated numbers of fish at the reach-level and per site during pumping reduction and cessation of flows in the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico, downstream of BdA. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals.

FWCO 2021 Proposed Activities • Continue evaluation of the effects of stocking season on survival and reproduction of RGSM. • Continue Pueblo fish assemblage monitoring. • Continue PIT-tagging RGSM to assist Utah State University and BOR with a movement

study. • Continue RGSM rescue and studies on survival of rescued fish

6

Southwestern Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center (ARRC), Rearing/Breeding Operation and Maintenance Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Propagation and Augmentation Southwestern ARRC in Dexter, NM utilizes the joint expertise of federal and state agencies, and educational institutions to significantly aid in reestablishing, stabilizing, and enhancing populations of silvery minnow within its historic range of the Rio Grande Basin. In 2020, Southwestern ARRC maintained a refuge/ brood stock of 14,000 wild-caught adult fish. The refuge population was augmented with 10,000 young of year fish collected in mid-May as wild caught eggs near highway 346 in Jarales (Isleta Reach) of the Rio Grande. The fish were placed in isolation/quarantine during hatch and initial enumeration prior to being stocked into two .10 acre ponds for growout during the summer months. A total of 199,114 age-0 Rio Grande silvery minnow were produced and released into the Middle Rio Grande this year. In addition, the Center maintained 20,000 age-1 fish for research activities. In August, 40,500 age-0 fish were tagged with red Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE) tags. Only 20% of the age-0 fish produced were tagged due to Covid pandemic impacts on operations and the need to follow safe, mitigating measures for continued operations. An equal subsample of tagged fish was added to each load/location stocked into the Middle Rio Grande. Over 60,083 fish were released near Santa Ana Pueblo; 119,723 near the Sevilleta NWR and Socorro, NM and 19,308 near the Alameda bridge, Albuquerque, NM. For a second consecutive year NMFWCO (Albuquerque, NM) and Bureau of Reclamation staff tagged 7,932 age-1 Rio Grande Silvery Minnow with Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT) and stocked them into the Middle Rio Grande. These fish are part of two experimental studies to examine the reproductive phenology of the species in the San Acacia reach of the Rio Grande and for tracking the movement of fish in the river. The average total length of fish released was >60.0 mm; with and average weight of 2.00 grams each and condition factor of 0.92. Southwestern ARRC Fish Health staff conducted annual health inspections for silvery minnow lots from three propagation facilities; Southwestern ARRC, Albuquerque BioPark, and Los Lunas Silvery Minnow Refugium. The ongoing health monitoring for this species provides a measures of quality control/ assurance on behalf of the silvery minnow captive propagation facilities and the Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Act Collaborative Program. Genetic monitoring of silvery minnow continued this year. Fin clips were collected from the 2020 year class stocked out and the 2020 refuge population and transferred to the University of New Mexico for genetic analysis.

Southwestern ARRC staff continued to provided support and information to the Collaborative Program and participate in biannual meetings of the Genetics Management and Captive Propagation Workgroup.

7

Figure 4.Releasing RGSM into the Rio Grande, NM. USFWS Photo

8

Figure 5.VIE Tagged RGSM. USFWS Photo A shli

9

Figures 6&7.Inserting PIT tag into Rio Grande silvery minnow. USFWS Photo Rio Grande Silvery Minnow in the Big Bend Region of the Lower Rio Grande In 2008 silvery minnow reintroductions efforts began in the Lower Rio Grande centralized around Big Bend National Park. Stocking and monitoring efforts continued until 2018. Few silvery minnow were collected in the Big Bend reach over the course of the reintroduction effort. The last stocking occurred in 2017. Monitoring of those fish in 2018 yielded a return rate of

10

0.011%. Throughout the duration of the reintroduction the overall return rate of stocked fish was 0.013%. After evaluating data and reports of the Big Bend 10j experimental population, we no longer believe that stocking minnows in the Big Bend reach is prudent. The FWS has determined that the reintroduction efforts have not been effective and are seeking to discontinue those efforts. We will work with our conservation partners to seek alternative areas where silvery minnow may be reintroduced in the near future. Some of these efforts may include working with Tribal partners north of Albuquerque to develop Safe Harbor Agreements or Habitat Conservation Plans for the introduction of minnow north of Albuquerque, NM.

Endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher During the summer of 2020, Reclamation conducted surveys and nest monitoring of the flycatcher in the Belen, Escondida, Bosque del Apache, San Marcial Reaches (including the Elephant Butte Subsection) in the Middle Rio Grande and the Hatch Reach, Radium Spring Reach, Las Cruces Reach, and Mesilla Reach in the Lower Rio Grande. In 2020, fewer surveys were completed by Reclamation as well as other agencies and consultants due to COVID-19 restrictions. Staff of Bosque del Apache NWR conducted surveys within the managed portion of the refuge to the west of the active Rio Grande floodway. The U.S. Corps of Engineers conducted surveys in areas adjacent to Albuquerque, New Mexico. In total, 385 total flycatcher territories were detected by Reclamation and others along the Rio Grande from the Albuquerque area to the Texas state line. Similar to previous years, the San Marcial and Elephant Butte Reservoir area was the most productive with a total of 185 territories. The lower than expected number of territories was likely due to a decline in survey effort, and not actual territories. The local flycatcher population in the San Marcial and Elephant Butte Reservoir area declined to 264 compared to 337 in 2019. The population in the lower part of the state (south of Caballo Reservoir near Hatch, New Mexico) increased in 2020 to 120 total territories.

Tamarisk Leaf Beetle The tamarisk leaf beetle (Diorhabda spp.) continued to severely defoliate tamarisk (otherwise referred to as “saltcedar”) throughout the majority of the Rio Grande this year. The defoliation takes place while flycatcher nesting activity was taking place, but adverse effects to nesting activities are not easily identifiable as impacts vary depending on vegetation species composition and density at site specific nesting locations and have not been determined at this time. Tamarisk defoliation is a concern to flycatchers nest success because if defoliation occurs at a nest site while the nest is active, we presume that flycatcher eggs and fledglings may be more susceptible to effects of temperature, humidity, weather events, or increased predation. In December of 2019, the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service provided an environmental assessment associated with development of a conservation program for the flycatcher and its habitat. This program may include restoration, surveying and data collection, invasive species control, and other aspects all with the overarching goal of providing benefit to the flycatcher throughout its range, including the Rio Grande in New Mexico.

11

Figure 8. 2007-2019 distribution of tamarisk beetle in the western USA. (Source: RiversEdge West).

Endangered New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse From June through October 2020, Bosque del Apache NWR and Southwestern Region Division of Biological Sciences Inventory and Monitoring staff conducted photographic monitoring of the New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus) on Bosque del Apache NWR. High resolution trail cameras were placed on mounts as "camera traps" and are an efficient means of collecting data over a long period with minimal labor and stress to the animals being surveyed.

In 2020, seven unique detections of jumping mice were made at seven different camera locations. Detections are considered unique if photos were taken at different locations or at the same location but on different nights. The detected jumping mice were along the refuge’s Riverside Canal and within multiple moist soil management units on Bosque del Apache NWR (refuge). Most observations in 2020 occurred in close proximately to jumping mouse locations from previous years or near or within jumping mouse habitat created in 2019.

The refuge experienced extreme drought conditions during the 2020 growing season, with limited water availability within the Riverside Canal. With the use of underground pumping wells and in coordination with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), the refuge was able to maintain suitable habitat throughout the

12

known occupied habitat areas on the refuge. The refuge is currently working with MRGCD, BOR, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Water Resources Division, and the New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office to prepare for an extreme drought condition scenario in 2021. New Mexico as a whole will likely experience limited surface water availability according to current prediction models.

Figures 9&10.Photo point of New Mexico meadow jumping mouse rookery habitat creation project progress at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge during 2020 field season.

13

Figure 11.New Mexico meadow jumping mouse habitat creation site adjacent to Riverside Canal at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge during 2020 growing season. In 2020, the refuge and Inventory and Monitoring staffs continued implementation of the 5-year Jumping Mouse Plan. The plan outlines specific goals and needs to create and restore habitat for this species. Refuge staff have focused on habitat creation and restoration in areas adjacent to suitable jumping mouse habitat, and thus far, have mechanically and/or chemically treated nine moist soil units and several areas bordering the Riverside Canal. The refuge has also installed six water control structures, a Langemann gate and three flow-metering devices (supported by MRGCD) to effectively provide consistent water to these areas. In addition, refuge staff have begun restoring the six acre former rookery unit and will continue efforts to remove non-desirable plants adjacent to the Riverside Canal, thus, establish the appropriate plant community to further expand jumping mouse habitat southward. To ensure that targets for desirable conditions are being met (proper soil moisture, vegetation height and structure, etc.), continued monitoring of habitat restoration efforts and identification of thresholds that will trigger additional management actions will continue.

14

Figure 12. New Mexico meadow jumping mouse captured by motion-sensing camera at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge during 2019 monitoring season. Threatened Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo Since 2007, Reclamation has conducted comprehensive presence/absence surveys for the cuckoo along the MRG from Highway 380 (San Antonio, New Mexico) to Elephant Butte Reservoir.

Over time, these formal surveys expanded in effort to extend from Belen to El Paso, Texas. In 2020, the survey effort decreased due to COVID-19 restrictions. There were 66 cuckoo territories observed by Reclamation. The Middle Rio Grande contained slightly more territories (36) than the lower Rio Grande (30 territories). In addition, staff of Bosque del Apache NWR conducted formal cuckoo surveys in habitats west of the active floodplain of the Rio Grande and estimated that nine territories (based on analysis of 40 individual detections) were present during 2020. Though territory numbers seem to be on a decline in the figure 9 below, the reaches not surveyed in 2019 had approximately 20 territories (or 82 detections) in 2018. Assuming those territories were still present in 2019 in those unsurveyed areas, the overall total for the bosque is comparable to recent historic years.

15

Figure 13. Cuckoo (YBCU) detections and territories during 2006-2019. (Source: Reclamation). Please note that territories identified by Reclamation north of Elephant Butte Dam are depicted in this figure; territories observed by others or south of Elephant Butte Dam are not included. In October 2014, we re-opened the comment period on the proposal to designate 546,335 acres of critical habitat for the cuckoo in 80 separate units in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. In New Mexico, proposed critical habitat includes 8 units in New Mexico. The proposed critical habitat includes a 10-mile long segment of the upper Rio Grande from Ohkay Owingeh to near Alcade, New Mexico; a 6-mile long segment near San Ildefonso Pueblo upstream to La Mesilla; and, a continuous 170-mile long segment from Elephant Butte Reservoir (at River Mile 54) upstream to Cochiti Dam. Critical habitat has not been finalized at this time and a new revised proposal was announced in the Federal Register on February 27, 2020. The final designation of critical habitat is anticipated to be announced in the Federal Register on or before April 6, 2021. In 2018, we received a petition to delist the cuckoo based on the petitioners’ opinion that the original listing of the species was in error. We published a 12-month finding September 16, 2020. After thoroughly reviewing the best available scientific and commercial information, we found that delisting the yellow-billed cuckoo is not warranted and consequently, the DPS will remain listed as threatened under the ESA. To reach this finding, we reviewed existing information as well as new information about western yellow-billed occupancy and habitat compiled from states, tribes, and federal agencies.

16

Rio Grande Chub (Gila pandora) and Rio Grande Sucker (Catostomus plebeius) On March16, 2016, we received petitions that presented substantial scientific information indicating that listing the Rio Grande Chub and the Rio Grande Sucker may be warranted. In September 2018, the States of NM, CO, and TX, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, Pueblo of Santa Ana, several CO counties, US Forest Service, BLM, NPS, and FWS working with others, completed a Conservation Agreement seeking to reduce threats and conserve these fishes. The purpose of the Conservation Agreement and Strategy is to expedite implementation of conservation measures for the Rio Grande Chub and Sucker aimed at reducing threats to these species and to provide a framework for the long-term conservation of these species. We will be conducting Species Status Assessments for these species in 2024, to be followed by a listing determination. Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki virginalis) On September 26, 2019, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado vacated and remanded in part the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) 2014 determination that listing the Rio Grande Cutthroat trout under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was not warranted. The court remanded the 2014 determination back to the Service for an explanation of the criteria used to calculate healthy trout populations. We will be conducting a Species Status Assessment for the trout in 2025, to be followed by a listing determination.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program In 2020, the Service’s Partners Program provided technical and financial assistance to private landowners, non-profit organizations, local communities, and Native American Tribes in the Rio Grande watershed. Management continued on the on-going projects from past years with eight new projects implemented in 2019. The new projects will improve approximately 500 acres of upland habitat, 25 acres of riparian habitat, and 200 acres of wetland habitats for the benefit of Federal trust species. Some of the species that will benefit are flycatchers, cuckoos, silvery minnows, frogs, the monarch butterfly and pollinators, migratory birds, native riparian vegetation, and private wildlife habitats. The staff of the Partners Program continues to build upon established collaborations with Rio Mora, Valle do Oro, Sevilleta, and the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuges. The Partners Program is working also with the Service’s Fisheries Program and our sister agencies that protect and preserve the wildlife and habitats in the Rio Grande Basin. We continue to build relationships and collaborate with our non-federal organizations to include Save Our Bosque Taskforce, the NM Department of Game and Fish and the NM Prescribed Fire Council.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges along the MRG

The National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) System is a unique system of lands dedicated to preserving a rich quality of life for Americans by protecting their wildlife heritage. In the Rio Grande Basin, from the headwaters of the Rio Grande to Elephant Butte Reservoir, National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) protect some of the most varied wildlife and unique landscapes found in the southwest. Below are the descriptions of refuge activities in 2020 that may be of interest for the management of water in the Rio Grande Basin. Activities occurring on Bosque del Apache NWR, Sevilleta NWR, and Valle de Oro NWR, are summarized below.

17

Bosque del Apache NWR Bosque del Apache NWR is located 18 miles south of Socorro, New Mexico, and includes both upland and floodplain acreage that is managed primarily to provide winter habitat for migratory waterfowl. In 2020, refuge staff conducted the following activities:

Refuge staff monitored, seeded and selectively treated 808 acres within the San Pasqual Wildfire restoration site along the west and east sides of the Rio Grande. This work finalized restoration actions within the San Pasqual Wildfire footprint, in which Burn Area Rehabilitation (BAR) funds were received in 2017, 2018 and 2019. BAR funds allowed the refuge to remove invasive species and establish a more native plant community on 808 acres of the San Pasqual Wildfire footprint. Implementation of a monitoring protocol and follow-up treatments (if needed) will occur in future years until less than 10% of the acreage exhibits a non-native plant community, at which time, the site will be restored. As of 2020, approximately 90% of the 808 acre San Pasqual Wildfire footprint is considered restored.

Bosque del Apache NWR, Valle de Oro NWR, and several private cooperating entities received recommendation for a North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant, which has allowed these land managers to conduct salt cedar removal efforts and restore/enhance other areas throughout the Middle Rio Grande Valley. Refuge removal efforts have begun on 360 acres of salt grass meadow habitat areas within units 15A and 15B. Contractors are using excavators with thumb attachments to selectively pluck and pile salt cedar along with its root crown, to be burned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service New Mexico Fire District at a later date. As a result of the NAWCA grant, water conveyance improvement efforts that will support approximately 1,350 acres of emergent wetland habitats has also been initiated on the northern portion of the refuge. This work includes concrete ditch reclamation and re-design to enhance water conveyance capabilities.

An additional 15 acres of invasive species received prescriptions within areas to be established for future jumping mouse habitat. This included perennial pepperweed, saltcedar and coyote willow herbicide treatments. Prescriptions were completed by American Conservation Experience, New Mexico Invasive Species Strike Team crews and refuge staff. The refuge anticipates similar treatment goals for the 2021 field season.

We continued planning the north boundary infrastructure enhancement project in 2020. The project will enhance the refuge's ability to effectively allocate water throughout the refuge. Enhancements would benefit the jumping mouse and flycatcher through water savings and increased ability to efficiently allocate water to sensitive habitat areas. Discussions continue between the refuge, BOR, MRGCD, and other Service staff for project implementation.

As required by the Bosque del Apache NWR water rights license, we monitored and reported to the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer on monthly water consumption, including irrigated lands and domestic uses. We estimated that it consumed 5,784 acre feet of its applied irrigation water, which is well below its consumptive use right of 8,671.9 acre feet per annum. This was also 1,507 acre feet below what was planned to be used for 2020. The refuge asserts its ability to use up to its full consumptive water right in future years, especially during years when the State is not in a Compact deficit or under the threat of a Compact deficit.

18

In 2020, the refuge experienced and unprecedented drought scenario that yielded an insufficient amount of water to maintain waterfowl habitat on the refuges managed units. Even when considering the exceptional drought conditions, refuge staff produced 2.9 million pounds of moist soil seed as waterfowl food. This met the refuge goal of 2.5 million pounds of seed production (waterfowl feed) outlined within the Plan for the Management of Waterfowl and Sandhill Cranes on Federal and State Lands in the Middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico (waterfowl plan), however, with limited water available, refuge staff was unable to flood/feed the entire 2.9 million pounds of moist soil seed throughout the fall and winter months. Instead, refuge staff prioritized the highest yielding units and only flooded those units during the fall and winter months as waterfowl and water birds arrived. We are working closely with MRGCD and BOR in order to prepare for a predicted extreme drought scenario in 2021.

After 15 years of unpredictable corn production, managers at the refuge made the decision to eliminate the cooperative farming program in February of 2017. Production on the 1,000+ acre farm is now conducted and managed solely by refuge staff on approximately 300 acres. The remaining acreage is currently fallow or being used for moist soil plant production. Reducing actual crop acres and modernizing our farming practices have increased our water use efficiency, as well as allowed flexibility for crop rotation throughout the entire agricultural footprint.

In 2020, we produced approximately 900,000 pounds of conventional grain crops with approximately 50 acres still remaining in alfalfa for soil nitrogen fixation purposes. Because of limited water in response to the extreme drought conditions, the refuge did not meet the waterfowl plan goal of 1.2 million pounds of grain crops for crane, goose and duck winter feeding purposes.

Bosque del Apache NWR staff provided wetland development planning assistance to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. We also assisted other restoration efforts in the western United States, by providing plant materials and technical guidance. The resulting improved habitat conditions are designed to benefit wildlife on private lands, as well as on federal and state managed lands.

We also continued to be involved with BOR and its partners in the prioritization, development and implementation of habitat projects and potential improvements to the San Acacia Reach of the Rio Grande; such as the implementation of the Rio Grande Realignment Project on the refuge. The refuge has implemented a 5-year Interagency Agreement with BOR in order to conduct follow-up treatments on acres cleared of invasive plant species within the Rio Grande Realignment project footprint.

Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge Sevilleta NWR received a Cooperative Recovery Initiative grant to restore habitat for Rio Grande Silvery Minnow, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo along the Rio Grande as it flows through the refuge. The project began in Spring 2015 and will be completed by May 2020, other than more tree planting through 2021. We are restoring the river-floodplain connection and associated habitat within the refuge boundaries by physically lowering elevated floodplain terraces and creating backwater areas to

19

promote seasonal flooding during moderate river discharge events between 1,500-2,500 cfs. The project created 24 acres of inundated floodplain habitat that will benefit the rearing/breeding requirements of Rio Grande Silvery Minnow, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. On Sevilleta NWR, 24 acres of floodplain habitat in Management Unit A and Unit B have been reconnected to surface water inundation during moderate flow events (Figures 14-16). The immediate results of this restoration effort have improved off-channel habitat during moderate flow levels (1,500-2,500 cfs) for egg retention, spawning, rearing, recruitment and other life stages of the silvery minnow. We planted 11,800 native trees to date, and plans to plant an additional 4500 trees over the next 2 years (primarily Gooding’s willow and coyote willow, Cottonwood and New Mexico olive). Over time (predicted 4-5 years), as vegetation matures, habitat will become suitable for the flycatcher and cuckoo.

In 2019, we received funds to restore the levees in Unit D, located just north of the San Acacia Dam on the west bank of the Rio Grande. In partnership with Reclamation, approximately 80 acres of saltcedar have been cleared and will be restored to native salt grass, four-wing saltbush, and screwbean mesquite.

Figure 14. Ibis in backwater area of Unit A. The Rio Grande flows in the background. Photo credit: USFWS.

20

Figure 15. Backwater area at south end of Unit B, just north of where Rio Salado empties into the Rio Grande. Photo credit: Reclamation

Figure 16. Unit D partially cleared of saltcedar. The Unit is located to the north of Indian Hill on the west bank of the Rio Grande, just upstream from San Acacia Dam.

21

Valle de Oro NWR Valle de Oro NWR is located 5 miles south of Albuquerque, New Mexico. After years of planning, we finalized the Environmental Assessment of the Restoration, Activities, and Site Plan for Valle de Oro NWR in August 2017 and began the 20-year process to restore and create native habitat and visitor infrastructure. In 2020, work onsite was severely restricted because of the Covid-19 global pandemic. Refuge staff along with a myriad of partners conducted the following activities: To further support the Refuge and its development and management as a place for wildlife and people, Refuge staff are writing a Habitat and Visitor Services Development Plan. This Plan will host the step-down plans for habitat development and management, visitor services planning, and management guiding principles for the Refuge. This Plan is a step-down plan of the 2017 Environmental Assessment and will provide goals, objectives, and strategies for each habitat type, visitor engagement and amenities, and the interconnectivity of these features. It will serve as a guide for full Refuge development and management. Two Biological Technicians were hired through Partners: Rocky Mountain Youth Corps and Ancestral Lands. These technicians assisted the Refuge Biologist with invasive species treatments, research, planning and writing of a Habitat Development and Management Plan and an Integrated Pest Management Plan. During the summer of 2020, the Refuge Biologist, both Biological Technicians, and a crew of five young adults from the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps conducted treatment on numerous invasive plant species including: cheatgrass, kochia, Russian thistle, Siberian elm, and puncturevine on over 50 acres of the Refuge. Construction of two wetland units in partnership with Bureau of Reclamation was halted because of the Covid- 19 pandemic. We hope to resume construction on the 26-acre wetland and a 50-acre wet meadow in the spring of 2021. Valle de Oro NWR partners completed a portion of bosque restoration on the west-side of the Refuge. Pole cuttings of cottonwoods and willows put in the ground in March by Rio Grande Return and the Albuquerque Wildlife Federation. Native plants were harvested from Bosque del Apache NWR, the Nature Resources Conservation Service’s Plant Materials Center, and other local areas. Additionally, Rio Grande Return planted inland saltgrass plugs in the Refuge’s first wetland, a 14-acre playa. The playa was watered over the course of the summer using a portion of the Refuge’s water rights. In October, Rio Grande Return planted over 300 container-grown shrub species on the Refuge west of the northwestern wetland’s levee. They also watered these plants during this time and will continue to do so from January to June 2021. Refuge partner, Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority, completed the construction of the outfall structure of the stormwater drainage swale t the southwest corner of

22

the Refuge. This outfall will eventually connect to the stormwater drainage swale that will flow through the Refuge and connect surrounding communities to better stormwater drainage. Refuge staff worked with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct water monitoring on both the Refuge and the adjacent bosque. USGS collected data from groundwater wells, surface water monitoring stations, a weather station, and a stream gauge. We also monitor water quality from two collection locations on the north and south ends of the Refuge. We continue to use adaptive management to inform habitat restoration, public use activities, and other components of Refuge development and construction, while keeping the public involved, where appropriate, through multiple community meetings each year and through social media. Public meetings were held in person in early 2020 but following changes to in-person gatherings due to COVID-19 in March, community engagement continued virtually and online. Education and outreach activities moved virtually in 2020. Refuge staff and the Friends of Valle de Oro NWR created online videos, events, and content to continue to engage our audience. In November of 2019, construction began on the Refuge’s Visitor Center and Maintenance Complex. Construction continued during 2020, and the building are nearly complete. The exhibits were thoughtfully designed to include information about how the Rio Grande has changed overtime and what people can do help the environment. We look forward to a virtual grand opening in the summer of 2021 or an in-person grand opening when Covid-19 precautions allow for such a gathering.

23

Literature Cited Archdeacon, T.P. 2021a. Rio Grande silvery minnow augmentation in the middle Rio Grande,

New Mexico, Annual Report 2020. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 65 pp.

Archdeacon, T.P., and L. Thomas. 2021b. Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Fish Rescue 2020 Annual

Report (draft). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Dudley, R.K., S.P. Platania, and G.C. White. 2019. Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Population

Monitoring During October 2019. A research project funded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation under Contract 140R4019P0048 and prepared by American SW Ichthyological Researchers in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). 2015. Middle Rio Grande Project, New Mexico; San

Juan-Chama Project, New Mexico. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Non-Federal water management and maintenance activities on the Middle Rio Grande, Joint Biological Assessment, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). 2016. Final Biological and Conference Opinion for

Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Non-Federal Water Management and Maintenance Activities on the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Consultation Number02ENNM00-2013-F-0033, Albuquerque, New Mexico.