top of page

Restoration Project

Alamito Creek Restoration

Fish within the Chihuahuan Desert exhibit remarkable adaptation to a harsh environment and climate, yet these species rely on a delicate balance of limited natural resources and are thus extremely vulnerable to drought and human induced stressors.  As Texas suffers through a period of exceptional drought, the persistence of aquatic habitats is severely threatened.  Threats to habitats in this region are exacerbated by decreasing water availability from surface and groundwater withdrawals, encroachment of non-native plant species, and land use practices.

 

The Rio Grande, which runs through the heart of the northern Chihuahuan Desert in the Big Bend region, is the centerpiece of an emerging bi-national system of lands dedicated to conservation. Three million acres of protected lands lie on both sides of the U.S./ Mexico border within the greater Big Bend ecosystem.  In May 2009, United States Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Mexican Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Juan Elvira Quesada announced their commitment to strengthen cross-border conservation efforts in the Big Bend region.  This presents a unique opportunity to unify Department of Interior  agencies and other Federal, State, and local partners  to lead strategic conservation planning, design, and implementation at broad, bi-national scales.  

 

Rio Grande tributary watersheds, such as Terlingua and Alamito creeks, are important spawning and refuge areas for imperiled fishes, including the federally listed Rio Grande silvery minnow. The silvery minnow was once one of the most abundant and widespread native fishes in the Rio Grande and Pecos Rivers.  More recently, until reintroductions began in Big Bend, the fish had been confined to about seven percent of its historic range. Decline of the silvery minnow has been attributed to flow modifications, stream channelization, decreasing water quality, and interactions with non-native species.  Projects that improve instream habitat, water quantity, and water quality in the Terlingua and Alamito Creek watersheds will contribute to persistence of Rio Grande silvery minnow and other imperiled fish species in the Big Bend region. 

 

Because large portions of Rio Grande tributary watersheds, such as Terlingua and Alamito creeks, are privately owned, building partnerships between private landowners and conservation organizations is a critical component to restoring and conserving aquatic habitat in the region.  Two of many aquatic habitat projects in the Big Bend region are in the Terlingua and Alamito Creek watersheds.  

 

The Alamito Creek restoration project is one of DFHP’s 2012 priorities.  Alamito Creek Preserve (The Preserve) contains a 3.5 mile section of scenic Alamito Creek that historically flowed much of the year. Perennial pools in this reach support populations of endemic fishes, amphibians and aquatic invertebrates, and a healthy riparian habitat. The Preserve and its segment of Alamito Creek are recognized by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) as meeting the criteria as an Ecologically Unique River and Stream Segment.  The Preserve would like to restore natural, perennial creek flow by removing large areas of invasive mesquite which is the dominant upland vegetation in the watershed and is partially responsible for lowering the water table in an already arid habitat.  Native grasses will be replanted to slow the rate of mesquite reinvasion and provide increased water quality via runoff catchment and erosion control. Feral hogs are abundant in The Preserve; their wallowing and rooting impacts water quality in perennial pools critical to the endemic aquatic species of Alamito Creek.  The Trans Pecos Water and Land Trust will begin a feral hog removal program that will partner with a hunter safety program sponsored by TPWD. 

 

In addition, another important aquatic habitat restoration project is occurring in the Terlingua Creek watershed.  A large portion of a 276,000 acre ranch was deferred from grazing to restore native grasslands and riparian areas.  Removal of mesquite and re-establishment of native grasses in riparian areas has increased spring recharge, improved instream and riparian habitat, and benefited endemic fish species.

 

 

Partners

  • Desert Fish Habitat Partnership

  • US Fish and Wildlife Service 

  • Texas Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office

  • Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program

  • National Park Service

  •  US Geological Survey

  • US Bureau of Reclamation

  • US Army Corps of Engineers

  • US Department of Agriculture

  • Natural Resources Conservation Service

  • Agricultural Research Service

  • International Boundary and Water Commission

  • Comisión Internacional de Límites y Aguas

  • Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales

  • Comisión Nacional de Areas Naturales Protegidas

  • Departmento de Restauración Ecologia

  • Instituto Nacional Ecologia

  • Comisión Nacional del Agua 

  • Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 

  • Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

  • Texas Water Development Board

  • Texas Agrilife 

  • Texas Department of Agriculture 

  • Proyecto El Carmen, Maderas del Carmen

  • Adams Ranch

  • O2 Ranch

  • Alamito Creek Preserve

  • Davis Mountains Preserve

  • Big Bend Conservation Cooperative

  • Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute

  • El Carmen Land and Conservation Company, LLC

  • Lykes Foundation

  • Chihuahuan Desert Resource Conservation & Development

  • The Nature Conservancy

  • Rio Grande Institute 

  • World Wildlife Fund

  • Environmental Defense 

  • Texas Farm Bureau

  • Trans Pecos Water and Land Trust

  • Sul Ross State University

  • University of Texas –Pan Am

  • Texas A & M University

  • Texas Tech University

  • University of New Mexico

  • Utah State University

bottom of page