Silvery Minnow Preservation
Graduate prepares photo essay of RGBI project and progress
By Sara Alarcon
In efforts to preserve the silvery minnow of the Rio Grande, Michelle Marusek, a recent graduate of Fine Arts, has been tailing Dr. David Cowley, professor in the Department of Fishery and Wildlife Sciences at NMSU, and his students. Cowley’s RGBI project, “Agricultural Irrigation Systems and Conservation of Native Fishes,” is focused on recovering the silvery minnow in the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District around the Albuquerque area.
Marusek is preparing a photo essay of Cowley’s project and progress. Many photos were taken while Cowley and his students worked to develop refugial fish habitats. The photo essay is a work in progress with hopes of publication in 2007.
A portion of this photo essay is currently on display at the NMSU College of Agriculture and Home Economics dean’s office. For additional silvery minnow project photos please visit Marusek’s Web site at http://nmsu.edu/~marusek.
The photos accompanying this article are a few examples selected from the photo essay.
