Devil's River Minnow - Conservation

Conservation

When the Devils River Minnows were first classified as threatened in 1999, a group of organizations including the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the City of Del Rio, Texas, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are involved in a Conservation Agreement to assist the minnows’ recovery to the point that it is no longer a threatened species. A Devils River Minnow Conservation Team was formed as a result of the agreement to enact its provisions. Fortunately, important portions of the species’ habitat is owned by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Nature Conservancy of Texas, but a substantial amount lies on privately owned land,10. To assist these landowners, the Agreement sought to provide technical assistance to landowners on riparian protection and management, which has been utilized by the City of Del Rio and the San Felipe Country Club for golf course management; the course instituted a 10 to 15 foot zone of no-mowing to improve the San Felipe Creek's water quality.

The main objective of the Conservation Agreement is maintenance of spring flows, as this is the central factor in long-term population growth. Also, a review of live bait harvest and selling practices in the Devils River area was conducted to assess restriction of introduction of other exotic species. As a result, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department amended its regulations to allow only endemic species as bait. Further research was encouraged to increase knowledge and possible courses of action for conservation of the Devil’s River Minnow10.

In 2005, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service devised and implemented a long-term recovery plan for the Dionda diaboli with the goal of delisting the species. This plan addresses the habitat and exotic species issues and also institutes a life history survey of the Devil’s River Minnow including an in situ study of smallmouth bass and Devils River minnow predator/prey interaction. Furthermore, a captive, genetically representative population is being maintained for study at TPWD Heart of the Hills Research Station and to reintroduce into wild habitats. The nearby city of Del Rio agreed to reduce water consumption by 10-20% and is limiting population density in the areas surrounding San Felipe Creek. Pollutant reduction from point and non-point sources is being assessed by water-quality controls. Though the plan is detailed and clearly laid out, as of April 2011, only seven out of thirty-five steps are listed as ongoing despite nearly six years since implementation.

As per the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated 26.5-stream-kilometers critical habitat for the Devils River minnow in 2008. This range lies in the Val Verde and Kinney Counties, Texas and encompasses Devils River, San Felipe, Pinto, Sycamore, and Las Moras Creeks. The Dionda diaboli continue to be monitored for the effects of the various conservation actions.