Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: New Mexico
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Gila chub (Gila robusta), a fish of greatest conservation need, has not been collected from the San Francisco River in New Mexico since 1948. The goal of federal and state management agencies is to replicate Gila Chub populations to ensure representation, resiliency, and redundancy by expanding GIla chub throughout its historical range. Our research will characterize whether the river has suitable habitat for eventual reintroduction of the species. We will work closely with our federal (USBOR, USFWS, USFS) and state (NMCFWRU and AZFW) partners to conduct a thorough habitat and hydrological assessment of the San Francisco River. Our research will be used to inform federal and state managers of the feasibility of a successful translocation of the fish species.