Jun. 15, 2007 -- In May, 2007 in Albuquerque, NM, the Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Act Collaborative Program celebrated the release of the millionth captive-bred Rio Grande silvery minnow into its native river through the program’s reproduction and augmentation efforts.

The Collaborative Program is a partnership of federal, state, city and pueblo governments as well as local farmers and environmental groups created to protect and improve the status of listed endangered species such as the silvery minnow and southwestern willow flycatcher while protecting water interests in the area.

The first releases of Rio Grande silvery minnow to augment the wild population began in June of 2002 with the release of more than 48,500 minnows raised from eggs. A total of 418,851 young silvery minnow were released in 2006. This year, an estimated 120,000 individual minnows will be released in the Middle Rio Grande from Angostura to San Acacia.

Congressman Tom Udall said the program has brought much needed attention to the river. “The main thing that we’ve learned is that we have to restore this magnificent river.”

- From the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation