The Deputy Assistant Regional Director for Ecological Services in the Southwest Region of the Fish and Wildlife Service and New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office staff conducted 3 government-to-government meetings in April.  Staff met with representatives of the Pueblos of San Ildefonso (4/18), Santa Ana (4/24), and San Felipe (4/25) to discuss the Service's draft recovery plan for the Rio Grande silvery minnow, a federally listed endangered species in New Mexico.

An overview of the issues surrounding the listing and recovery of the Rio Grande silvery minnow were discussed.  The Service staff answered questions about the development of the recovery plan, water issues regarding the minnow, upcoming revision of the incidental take statement for a biological opinion, and other questions.  The Pueblos were asked to provide written comments by May 5, 2006.  All the meetings were informative and productive.

 It is the policy of the Department of the Interior to recognize and fulfill its legal obligations to identify, protect, and conserve the trust resources of federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal members, and to consult with tribes on a government-to-government basis whenever plans or actions affect tribal trust resources, trust assets, or tribal health and safety (Department of Interior Departmental Manual, Part 512, Chapter 2, 12/01/1995).