Trout Unlimited has untaken a project to install a fish barrier on Amamitos Creek in the Pueblo river draianage in order to protect a population of pure Rio Grande cutthroat trout. To this point, these fish have been protected by an old irrigation headgate, which is by no means secure. This population is estimated to be between 3,000 and 4,000 fish.

To accomplish this project, TU was the recipient of a $50,00 Western Native Fish Initiative (WNTI) grant to do the actual construction fo the barrier.

In addition to the grant, the Truchas Chapter has been raising money to complete the
necessary National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) work. As with mant grants, the
WNTI monies cannot be used for NEPA work.

The Alamitos creek project represents an important expansion of TU’s work on native Rio Grande cutthroat in New Mexico. Our first project on the Rio Costilla is an extensive project, but more work needs to be done. With the recent decision by the US Fish & Wildlife Service to list the fish under the Endangered Species Act, we believe it is important to get as much work done as quickly as possible. We would also like to see the state and federal agencies begin work on the upper Pecos river.

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