​

30% of U.S. threatened and endangered fish species occur in the arid Southwest

 

Desert aquatic habitats support 179 native fish species, 54 of these are listed under the Endangered Species Act

 

​

 Habitat loss  is the primary threat to aquatic ecosystems in this region

​

 Conservation of aquatic resources is a fundamental and pervasive issue  facing people and fish that share limited waters of the Southwest