The Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, took a leadership role with the Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Act Collaborative Program to develop and convene a two-day workshop (August 16 and 17) to address water issues in the Rio Grande in New Mexico.  Over 100 participants worked together on developing future water management strategies for the Middle Rio Grande Valley.  The Regional Director and representatives for the Divisons of Fishery Resources and National Wildlife Refuge System also attended the workshop. 

The Collaborative Program is a partnership involving 22 signatories organized to protect and improve the status of endangered species along the Middle Rio Grande while simultaneously protecting existing and future regional water uses. Two species of greatest concern to the Program are the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow and the southwestern willow flycatcher.

It has become increasingly difficult to find the water necessary to meet the requirements of the Fish and Wildlife Service, 2003 Programmatic Biological Opinion on water operations within a 200 mile reach of the Rio Grande in New Mexico.  The workshop solicited ideas from a diverse group to develop an acceptable solution.  The meeting allowed federal and local government officials, pueblo representatives, environmental groups and farmers to sit together and strategize on a long-term water plan.