Mimbres River Habitat Restoration for the Chihuahua Chub and Chiricahua Leopard Frog

In 2012, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) collaborated to enhance populations of chub and leopard frogs in Moreno Spring. Their goal was to restore beneficial wetlands in the region by creating more open-water habitats and removing vegetation that reduces habitat suitability for these species. By 2015, project partners had dug 14 open-water pools of varying sizes (24-50 ft wide) and depths (3-5 ft deep) using trackhoe and uprooted and removed all juniper trees. The project benefited from the partnership as organizations pooled resources, including land, permit familiarity, and funding.