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So what's the impact of the Clean Water Act on how state game and fish agencies manage wildlife? After 35 years, what does it look like on-the-ground?
We are pleased to provide an interview with New Mexico Game & Fish Director, Dr. Bruce Thompson, to provide this perspective.
What is the value of clean water for wildlife?
Clean water has three primary values for wildlife. First, it provides the best quality habitat for species like fish, many invertebrates, and aquatic plants that depend directly on water for the environment in which they live. Second, clean water sustains the healthiest and intact aquatic and riparian habitats that many additional species depend on for life. Third, the presence of clean, quality waters stimulates wildlife-associated recreational experiences that humans find important to their daily living and quality of life.
New Mexico's pronghorn antelope are dependent on clean water.
Are there New Mexico species that are particularly vulnerable to poor water quality?
Essentially all species that depend directly on living in water are vulnerable to diminished water quality. The Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy for New Mexico identifies more than 150 Species of Greatest Conservation Need that depend directly on water for their existence. For example, pronghorn, doves, and all of our waterfowl are species in NM that need adequate, well-distributed, and high quality water for best survival. Further, the Comprehensive Strategy for New Mexico identifies many other species of distinct conservation interest that depend on clean, quality waters. A wide array of these species are those that hunters, anglers, and other wildlife enthusiasts depend on for their favored outdoor experiences.
Are there specific places in New Mexico that you can say are better as wildlife habitat now as a result of the Clean Water Act?
All aquatic systems in New Mexico that have been subject to water quality assessments, environmental review, enhanced public awareness, and water/habitat improvement projects under the Act are better wildlife habitat now that under any other alternatives. The benefits are far-reaching and would be diminished by trying to name just a few.
In a dry state like New Mexico, what are the challenges to providing water resources for wildlife?
The challenges are greatest in helping people to understand how short-term allocation of precious water resources can cause diminishment and depletion of the long-term conditions of water resources, including aquatic systems, that they value daily but may not recognize fully on a daily basis.
Sandhill Cranes at New Mexico's Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
What role do you think sportsmen can play in helping maintain or improve water resources?
Sportsmen can be especially effective in routinely calling public attention to their concerns about the condition of water resources that they depend on. Further, they can be active in ensuring that legislative and regulation-setting processes are adequately informed about the role that clean and accessible water plays in their activities, and how that relates to managing and conserving public trust wildlife.
Is there a nexus between clean water for people and wildlife?
The nexus is that people and wildlife both depend on clean water for life and quality of life activities. Those activities represent a nearly $1 billion direct economy in New Mexico annually. When people, wildlife, and economic activity all interrelate to that degree, it is a significant nexus.
Dr. Thompson is Director of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish headquartered in Santa Fe, a position he has held since April 2003. His education in wildlife ecology and sciences include a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, M.S. from Oregon State University, and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. He has previously held natural resource management, administrative, and research positions as Assistant Leader and Leader of the New Mexico Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, wildlife program director with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, research biologist with Washington Department of Game, and Natural Resources Officer with the U.S. Marine Corps. He has special interests in conservation communication processes and in developing and using large scale ecological data sets for conservation planning in the southwest.