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22330-2008-057 - Habitat Restoration in Polvadera Creek for Rio Grande cutthroat trout per WNTI priorities

State(s):
  • New Mexico
Managing Agency/Organization:
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Type of Organization: Federal Government
Project Status: Proposed
Project type: WNTI Project
Project action(s):
  • In-stream and riparian habitat
Trout species benefitted:
  • Rio Grande Cutthroat
Population:
  • Polvadera Creek

Proposed Accomplishment Summary
Riparian protection and restoration, needed due to grazing impacts will be implemented on Polvadera Creek. This stream currently harbors a small population of Rio Grande cutthroat trout that is impacted by sedimentation due to degraded riparian conditions. This project will restored stream habitat thru cattle exclusion and revegetation of stream banks.

The importance to the Resource
Secure populations of Rio Grande cutthroat trout require suitable habitat conditions to maintain species distribution and avoid need to list under ESA.

The problem
Unrestricted livestock grazing within Polvadera Creek watershed has resulted in degraded riparian vegetation, bank destabilization and cutting, and heavy sedimentation of the stream.

The method
Livestock will be excluded from the stream by fencing. Plantings of riparian vegetation will be implemented within the fencing exclosure. Baseline fish community assessment will characterize intial population levels for use in long-term evaluation of project success.

Objectives:
  • The primary objective of this project is to restore riparian and stream conditions so that habitat quality for Rio Grande cutthroat trout is increased.
Partners:
  • New Mexico Department of Game and Fish - Matching $0 - In Kind $1,000
  • Trout Unlimited - Matching $0 - In Kind $0
  • U.S. Forest Service - Matching $0 - In Kind $5,000
Measures:
  • Number of other Fishery Management Plan tasks implemented for populations of management concern. - 1.0
  • Number of habitat assessments completed - 1.0
  • Number of instream miles restored - 1.5
  • Number of riparian miles restored - 1.5
Funding Source(s):
  • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Project cost: $60,900.00
Start Date: 01/01/2009 Completion Date: 01/01/2010
AttachmentSize
22330-2008-057 Rio Grande cutthroat trout habitat restoration in Polvadera Creek.pdf27.9 KB

Project contact

Jim Brooks
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
3800 Commons Avenue NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109
Phone: 505-917-1117
Email: Jim_Brooks@fws.gov
Submitted on: Nov 21, 2008
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