The Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program

MRGESCP is a partnership involving 16 current signatories organized to protect and improve the status of endangered species along the Middle Rio Grande (MRG) of New Mexico while simultaneously protecting existing and future regional water uses. Two species of particular concern are the Rio Grande silvery minnow and the southwestern willow flycatcher.

Congress has provided approximately $63 million to the Program in federal fiscal years 2001 through 2007.  Program activities include habitat restoration, fish passage, endangered species monitoring, silvery minnow propagation and rescue, water acquisition and management and water quality studies. Almost 11,000 acre-feet of supplemental water was released in 2007 for the Rio Grande silvery minnow. Program signatories and non-signatory participants contributed in-kind services that included land, access to land, personnel services, and voluntary fish salvage efforts.