The Stream, March 28: Protected U.S. Fish Species Showing Signs of Recovery

Of the fish species closely monitored by NOAA for dangerous depletion, two thirds have recovered or are rebuilding. The results are encouraging, National Geographic reported, but management plans implemented over the past 10 to 15 years have still left one third of the monitored species at low levels.

State-Level Water Management
Some in southern New Mexico are calling for hostile legislative maneuvers to secure a larger share of Pecos River water from their northern neighbors. Land owners in Carlsbad are calling for a priority call, The New York Times reported, which means whomever uses water first—in this case small farmers—get the most water in scarce times often at the expense of big industry.

The Texas House of Representatives voted across party lines Wednesday to fund $US 2 billion in state water projects. The bill, which now moves to the Senate, StateImpact Texas reported, offers loans for projects such as reservoirs, pipelines and conservation initiatives.

A new study outlines water-saving steps cities around the Southwest U.S. introduced in the wake of last year’s Colorado River Basin Study. Jennifer Pitt of the Environmental Defense Fund writes in National Geographic that Salt Lake City, Utah, Santa Fe, New Mexico, and San Antonio, Texas are models for the rest of the region.

Read Circle of Blue’s coverage of the Basin Study here.