New Mexico Technical Assistance Activities
As part of our mission, each of the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit scientists and affiliated staff routinely provide technical assistance that includes data analysis, in-service training, GIS mapping, technical reviews of agency reports and management plans, captive breeding of imperiled fishes, to consultations of issues of state and regional importance to our cooperators. When Cooperator needs are beyond our area of expertise, we work to engage faculty and staff at NMSU.
New Mexico Unit scientists and affiliated staff serve as advisors to the Committee for Recovery of Rio Grande Silvery Minnow, Work Group for Conservation and Recovery of White Sands Pupfish, Workgroup for Recovery and Restoration of Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout, and the New Mexico Rocky Mountain Foundation Project Advisory Committee just to name a few. The Unit spearheaded the information development and writing of New Mexico’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. The data used to develop the working document is currently housed at the Unit where it undergoes periodic revision to update the State’s most important strategic plan for conservation and planning of species at risk in New Mexico.
| Description and Agency | Provider(s) | Date |
|---|---|---|
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Tracing the source of illegal pike introductions in Wyoming Reservoirs Wyoming Game and Fish Department |
Carleton | 2014-07-01 |
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The Las Conchas Fire of 2011 is the largest fire in New Mexico history. In less than a week, one-third of the Valles Caldera National Preserve was burned. I am evaluating the recovery of the aqutic ecosystem through seasonal surveys of the streams. Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico |
Zeigler | 2011-08-15 |
|
Technical Advisory Team member for the BLM's Chihuahuan Desert Rapid Ecoregion Assessment. Bureau of Land Management |
Cain | 2013-06-10 |
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State Delisting of the Peregrine Falcon in New Mexico USFWS |
Carleton | 2012-10-01 |
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Southwest Tribal Hatchery and USGS are working together to restore Rio Grande cutthroat trout to Mescalero Apache Reservation lands Southwest Tribal Hatchery |
Anderson, Zeigler, Galindo, Caldwell | 2009-04-24 |
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Reviewed delisting proposal for removal of desert bighorn sheep from the New Mexico State Threatened and Endangered Species List. New Mexico Department of Game and Fish |
Cain | 2010-08-07 |
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Reviewed Environmental Impact Statement for Harvesting Oryx on San Andres National Wildlife Refuge. Reviewed and provided biological expertise in the drafting of SANWRs EIS for harvesting oryx, an exotic antelope that interferes with the Refuge?s primary mission of fostering the state-endangered desert bighorn sheep. |
Bender | 2007-03-01 |
|
Review of rotenone and its toxicity effects on target and non-target organisms New Mexico Department of Game and Fish |
Caldwell | 2011-05-15 |
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Restoration of Agua Chiquita Creek, Lincoln National Forest, represents a multi-agency effort Mesilla Valley Fly Fishers |
Caldwell, Zeigler, Kalb | 2011-06-15 |
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Reintroduction of Fire as a tool to improve lesser prairie-chicken habitat in eastern New Mexico on BLM managed lands Bureau of Land Management |
Carleton | 2015-01-23 |
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Redevelopment of aerial survey methodology for mule deer and pronghorn populations in New Mexico. New Mexico Department of Game and Fish |
Cain | 2014-04-01 |
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Reconstructing the life history movement patterns of an invasive fish species, northern pike, in the Little Snake River drainage, Wyoming Wyoming Game and Fish Department |
Carleton | 2014-07-01 |
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Provided technical assistance to the NMDGF with River Otter Restoration |
Caldwell | 2006-10-15 |
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Provided review of fish contaminant data to assess potential effects in fish-eating mammals within the upper Middle Rio Grande basin. |
Caldwell | 2007-10-01 |
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Provided native fishes to the Museum of Natural History in Las Cruces. Provided assistance with the design and set-up of the exhibit as well as periodic evaluation of diet and water quality. |
Caldwell | 2004-03-01 |
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Provide technical assistance to the living fish exhibit at the Las Cruces Museum of Natural History (~30 hours) |
Caldwell | 2007-10-01 |
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Production of Pacific white shrimp using glandless (gossypol-free) cottonseed meal to assess the efficacy of feeding glandless cottonseed meal in the production of shrimp as a value-added product for the cotton growers in southern New Mexico. Texas A&M University |
Caldwell | 2011-05-15 |
|
Natal origin of Largemouth Bass in Elephant Butte Reservoir. Colleen assists NMDGF in the capture of LMB. She removes and prepares otoliths for retrospective chemistry using strontium to determine origin. New Mexico Department of Game and Fish |
Caldwell | 2019-09-15 |
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Living fishes exhibit at the at the Las Cruces Museum of Natural History is supported through Dr. Caldwell's efforts and loan of fish. Las Cruces Museum of Natural History |
Caldwell | 2008-10-01 |
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La Macha is a local wetland owned by the City of Las Cruces, but under the control of private citizens. I advised and assisted with water quality collection and analysis of the wetland before and after river water was diverted through the wetland. My students assisted with fish species identification. Las Cruces City |
Caldwell, Armstrong | 2019-08-25 |
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Habitat Assessment for Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep--At the request of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe, I conducted a preliminary habitat assessment for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in an area impacted by wildfires. The tribe wanted to determine if the area was suitable for an introduction of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Jicarilla Apache Tribe |
Cain | 2016-07-04 |
|
Evaluation of population estimation methods (aerial sightability models), New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. This resulted in the identification of weaknesses in survey strategies and estimators used by NMDGF, and the initiation of research to develop locally applicable population estimators for New Mexico?s varied habitats. |
Bender | 2002-11-01 |
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Evaluating the current habitat conditions of a large urban arroyo in the context of a proposed flood control project for the Army Corp of Engineers. U.S. Army Corp of Engineers |
Boykin, Harings | 2014-07-01 |
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Evaluated trapping techniques to reduce potential for injury to Mexican wolves. New Mexico Department of Game and Fish |
Cain | 2010-10-26 |
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Evaluated of long-term population trends of the state-endangered desert bighorn sheep, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San Andres National Wildlife Refuge. This technical assistance was requested by USFWS to determine which factors (density dependence, precipitation, predation) were most important in determining long-term population dynamics of desert bighorn sheep on SANWR. |
Bender | 2003-01-15 |
|
Elk population estimation and predation impacts of wolves, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Assisted NMDGF staff with developing accurate and corroborated estimates of elk population size and productivity in the Gila Mountains, and modeling the potential effects of predation by the endangered Mexican wolf on trends in elk populations. |
Bender | 2007-05-15 |
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Elk condition assessment, Valles Calderra National Preserve, NM. Captured and assessed for body condition and pregnancy ~30 adult cow elk for VCNP. |
Bender | 2006-04-15 |
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Elk capture, Santa Clara Pueblo, NM. Recaptured bull elk initially captured for Santa Clara Pueblo in November 2004 to retrieve movement data from GPS collars. Also captured and radio-collared adult cow elk for Pueblo biologists to aid their ongoing research on elk movements. |
Bender | 2007-06-25 |
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Differentiating tributaries of the Pend O’Reille river watershed to determine important areas of recruitment for west slope cutthroat trout Idaho Game and Fish Department |
Carleton, Quist | 2013-03-01 |
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Differentiating tributaries of the Kootenai River Watershed and linking adult red band rainbow trout to their natal origins to support conservation and management. Montana Game Fish and Parks |
Carleton, Quist | 2013-03-01 |
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Development of deer productivity survey protocols, New Hampshire Department of Fish and Wildlife. Worked with NH?s Deer Biologist in developing a protocol to collect productivity data on NH?s white-tailed deer herd. |
Bender | 2006-10-01 |
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Development of a wildlife certification program for Mexican Biologists USFWS |
Carleton | 2015-01-15 |
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Development of a burn plan on the Weaver Ranch in eastern New Mexico to benefit lesser prairie-chickens Graslans Charitable Trust |
Carleton | 2015-03-20 |
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Developed protocol for analysis of body condition of mountain lions collected during predator removal programs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San Andres National Wildlife Refuge. |
Bender | 2002-05-15 |
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Developed habitat management plans for San Andres National Wildlife Refuge with goal of enhancing habitat for the state-endangered desert bighorn sheep and desert mule deer, a Species of Concern in NM. |
Bender | 2004-07-15 |
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Developed Bayesian elk habitat model and provided instructions on model application, Pacific Power and Light. |
Bender | 2000-12-01 |
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Determining the source of non-native pike in Wyoming Reservoirs Wyoming Game and Fish Department |
Carleton | 2014-10-01 |
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Coordinated Rio Grande Silvery Minnow propagation and augmentation workshop, New Mexico State University. |
Caldwell | 2002-01-01 |
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Conducted elk, mule deer, and oryx composition surveys for White Sands Missile Range. |
Bender | 2007-09-20 |
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Conducted composition surveys for New Mexico Department of Game and Fish in GMUs 34 and 36. Also provided training for NMDGF biologists on composition surveying. |
Bender | 2007-09-22 |
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Characterizing strontium stable isotopes of otoliths to reconstruct natal origin and movement patterns of walleye throughout New Mexico reservoirs. New Mexico Department of Game and Fish |
Carleton | 2014-10-26 |
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Chair, Peer-review Panel for White Sands Pupfish status and listing coordinated by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish New Mexico Department of Game and Fish |
Caldwell | 2018-02-01 |
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Captured, radio-collared, and assessed for condition and pregnancy elk on Ft. Riley, KS for U.S. Department of Defense and Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit biologists. |
Bender | 2003-10-15 |
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Captured and radio-collared ~30 coyotes for management staff of VCNP. This technical assistance supported research to determine movements of coyotes among VCNP, Los Alamos National Lab, and Bandelier National Monunment, as well as potential impacts on elk calves. |
Bender | 2006-02-15 |
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Captured and radio-collared elk for Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico. Captured and radio-collared bull elk for Pueblo biologists with the Santa Clara Pueblo, NM. |
Bender | 2004-11-15 |
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BLM steering committee for the development of a study to assess the potential impacts of winter gas drilling on mule deer in northwestern New Mexico.
Bureau of Land Management-Farmington, New Mexico |
Cain | 2011-05-20 |
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Assisted in development of harvest strategies and harvest data collection programs for the Fee Hunting operation on Corona Rangeland and Livestock Research Center, New Mexico State University. Also developed and conduct all population monitoring programs and harvest permit levels for mule deer and pronghorn on CRLRC. |
Bender | 2004-05-15 |
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Assisted District Biologists of Wyoming Department of Game and Fish in developing demographic survey protocols for elk and interpreting survey data. |
Bender | 2007-03-15 |
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Analysis of prey items in mountain lion scats, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San Andres National Wildlife Refuge. This technical assistance involved identification of puma prey items from scats collected by USFWS biologists from San Andres National Wildlife Refuge, during a period when both desert bighorn sheep and desert mule deer both achieved historic low population densities on SANWR. |
Bender | 2004-01-31 |
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Aided New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Biologists in development of mitigation recommendations for areas burned by extensive wildfires. |
Bender | 2002-08-15 |
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Advised state biologist on design for population estimation studies of elk. |
Bender | 2002-06-01 |
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Advised state Environment Department staff on mercury deposition assessment and interpretation. |
Caldwell | 2002-03-01 |
| Role - Description | Provider | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member, Space and Facilities Committee, Department of Fishery and Wildlife Sciences | Caldwell | 2004-07-01 | 2005-06-30 |
| Interdepartmental Committee to develop PhD program in Applied Ecology - Participating in the interdepartmental development of a PhD in Applied Ecology. | Caldwell | 2015-07-01 | Present |
| Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, member - As a committee member of New Mexico State University IACUC, I review 30-40 applications from NMSU faculty and staff to perform work with vertebrates. | Caldwell | 2014-01-01 | Present |
| Graduate Program Committee Chair, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, New Mexico State University | Cain | 2011-08-01 | Present |
| FWCE Department Head Search Committee - Representing the Coop Unit on the Department Head search committee for Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology (Host Department for Unit) | Caldwell | 2018-08-01 | 2019-03-31 |
| Departmental Vehicles Committee - Assist Department Head with identifying vehicle needs and processing vehicle requests. | Caldwell | 2014-08-01 | 2019-12-31 |
| Departmental Facility and Space Committee - Convened committee monthly to address space needs within the Department. Completed renovation of Departmental Conference room which included computing and teleconferencing technology. | Caldwell | 2012-08-01 | Present |
| Departmental Committee to review applicants for the Assistant Professor in Fisheries - Assisted with describing qualifications, writing advertisement, questions for candidates, interviewing candidates and selecting final candidate. Developed a short video of the fisheries research laboratories, offices, and storage spaces. | Caldwell | 2020-06-01 | 2020-07-31 |
| Department Promotion and Tenure Committee - I served on the P&T committee to revise the protocol to address limitations of evaluating promotion for Unit Scientists. The document was accepted by the College. | Caldwell | 2014-07-01 | 2015-06-30 |
| Committee - Scholarship and student recruitment committee, Chair | Carleton | 2014-06-01 | Present |
| Chair, Space and Facilities Commmittee, Department of Fishery and Wildlife Sciences | Caldwell | 2006-07-01 | 2007-06-30 |
| Chair, Space and Facilities Committee, Dept. Fish and Wildlife Sciences, New Mexico State University | Caldwell | 2007-07-01 | 2008-06-30 |
| Chair, Space and Facilities Committee, Department of Fishery and Wildlife Sciences | Caldwell | 2005-07-01 | 2006-06-30 |
| Chair, Quantitative Ecologist Hiring Committee | Cain | 2015-08-01 | 2016-05-31 |
| Chair, Departmental Facilities and Space Committee - Convened committee monthly to address space needs within the Department. Completed renovation of Departmental Conference room which included computing and teleconferencing technology. | Caldwell | 2010-08-01 | 2011-08-31 |
| Ad Hoc Committee for Department Head Search - Worked with faculty in the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology to write position description of reaserch and teaching expertise needed for the Department Head position. Distributed to faculty for reivew and comment. Disseminated to College Administration for review. | Caldwell | 2012-05-01 | 2012-06-30 |
| Role and Organization | Individual | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Sands Pupfish Working Group | Caldwell | 2011-01-01 | 2018-01-31 |
| Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Lesser Prairie-Chicken Technical Science Committee | Carleton | 2014-07-01 | Present |
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Shore and Upland Game Bird Support Task Force | Carleton | 2012-01-01 | Present |
| Rio Grande cutthroat trout Working Group | Caldwell | 2010-01-01 | Present |
| Reviewed Promotion Packet - Montana State University | Caldwell | 2011-11-01 | 2011-12-31 |
| Primary Reviewer for Promotion to Full Professor | Caldwell | 2019-08-01 | 2019-09-30 |
| Primary Reviewer RGE Panel | Caldwell | 2017-09-01 | 2017-11-30 |
| Playa Lakes Joint Venter Working Group | Carleton | 2012-03-01 | Present |
| Peer Review Panel, Chair, White Sands Pupfish Listing Investigation via Wildlife Conservation Act | Caldwell | 2018-02-01 | 2018-08-31 |
| Mesilla Valley Fly Fishers | Caldwell | 2010-01-01 | Present |
| Member, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Projects Advisory Committee | Bender | 2002-03-01 | 2007-09-30 |
| Member, Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Propagation and Genetics Workgroup | Caldwell | 2001-01-01 | 2016-12-31 |
| Member, Research Grade Evaluation Panel, U.S. Geological Survey | Caldwell | 2011-10-01 | 2011-11-30 |
| Member, Research Grade Evaluation Panel, U.S. Geological Survey | Caldwell | 2005-10-01 | 2005-10-31 |
| Member, Pecos Ecosystem Ecoteam | Caldwell | 2003-08-01 | 2004-08-31 |
| Gila / Rio Grande Trout Unlimited | Caldwell | 2010-10-01 | Present |
| Faculty Advisor, Student Chapter of the American Fisheries Society | Caldwell | 2007-07-01 | Present |
| Faculty Advisor New Mexico State University Bass Fishing Club | Caldwell | 2011-08-01 | Present |
| FSP Reviewer: TX CFWRU (Influence of temperature on swimming performance of wild Blue Sucker) | Caldwell | 2019-09-01 | 2019-09-30 |
| Board Member: NMSU Institutional Animal Use and Care Committee | Caldwell | 2014-08-01 | Present |
| Outreach Activity | Provider(s) | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Talk on the birds of New Mexico | Carleton | 2014-03-15 |
| Research was highlighted via public broadcasting network: "Raising Fish in the Desert" Aggie Almanac Program #91 (aired 11/13/2008, 11/15/2008, and 11/16/2008) on KRWG-TV Weekly Magazine Show). http://www.krwgtv.org/almanac/AA_91.html | Caldwell | 2008-11-13 |
| Provided a one hour presentation to the inhabitants of the Good Samaritan (retired and assisted living) of Las Cruces. The presentation was titled: "Fish population diversity in New Mexico: Management, conflict, and compromise". | Caldwell | 2004-09-01 |
| Presented research findings of the effects of whirling disease on Rio Grande cutthroat trout to the Mesilla Valley Fly Fishers Association. | Caldwell | 2005-05-09 |
| Presented research describing the effects of whirling disease in Rio Grande cutthroat trout to the New Mexico Wildlife Federation | Caldwell | 2005-05-22 |
| News release from New Mexico State University highlighting my research on whirling disease in Rio Grande cutthroat trout was picked up by Associated Press and published in two New Mexico newspapers (Las Cruces Sun News and Albuquerque Journal) | Caldwell | 2005-01-17 |
| Eye on Research at NMSU and newspapers around New Mexico on lesser prairie-chicken research | Carleton | 2014-11-01 |
| Cameo appearence in a film that describes the Valles Caldera National Preserve. I describe the effects of a wildfire on the aquatic system within the preserve. | Caldwell | 2012-09-30 |
| CUTLINE: Colleen Caldwell, an adjunct associate professor in NMSU's Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology and the New Mexico unit leader for the U.S. Geological Survey's Biological Resources Division, uses a conductivity meter to check water salinity levels in a shrimp cultivation tank. She directs a research project that will assess shrimp cultivation in a closed-water system using a glandless cottonseed meal feed. (NMSU photo by Jay A. Rodman) | Caldwell | 2011-08-08 |