Public-Private Partnerships for Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Habitat Restoration

To restore the endangered Silvery Minnow, the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Save Our Bosque Task Force worked closely with a local landownerto restore approximately 0.8 river miles of critical habitat along the Rio Grande River. The project involved mechanical bank lowering and the creation of side channels and embayments to enhance Silvery Minnow spawning habitats. Native plants were extracted with roots intact and replanted at the project sites. The project successfully increased floodplain connectivity to provide suitable fish habitat throughout the year while minimizing construction impacts and maintaining water availability for farms and cities.