This reminds me of what's going on with the Rio Grande silvery minnow
(Hybognathus amarus) in New Mexico. Farmers are at the receiving end of a
huge federally funded network of diversion dams and irrigation ditches, yet
cry bloody murder when the feds want to use some of the water to keep the
middle Rio Grande from running dry and killing the minnow. Yes, the water is
rightfully theirs, but why can't they share? Why must they be entitled to
every single last drop of it? Why is it necessary to attempt to squeeze in a
third end-of-summer crop in the middle of a drought? The situation got so
ugly at one point that a few really angry farmers threatened with violence
the federal biologists who were rescuing minnows that were stranded in
drying pools! A 3-year agreement between feds and the State was signed a few
weeks ago, but it doesn't guarantee that the Rio Grande won't run dry. It
merely guarantees that it won't run dry as quickly! Luckily, federal
biologists will continue monitoring the river from airplanes looking for
stranded minnows, and send in minnow rescue teams when needed. And the
Albuquerque Aquarium is raising the minnow for reintroduction in the few
sections of the river that aren't completely diverted to irrigate hay and
alfalfa in the middle of the desert.
Chris Scharpf
Baltimore
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
/ nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org