Barrier to Protect Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout on the Rio Alamitos
Alamitos Creek flows northeast from the Pecos Wilderness in the Carson National Forest where some of the flow is diverted by the La Sierra Acequia. The upper 7.1 miles of the stream contains a fairly large population of pure RGCT.
Truchas TU is working with the local Acequias groups, the Carson National Forest, and the NM Office of the State Engineer to place a fish barrier on this stream. The fish barrier would ensure the population of RGCT are protected from non-native trout found downstream even during periods of high water levels. During the summer of 2008 we were awarded a $52,000 grant (see the article in the August 2008 newsletter) from the Western Native Trout Initiative (WNTI) for this project for which we are very grateful!
Updates to this project are being posted to the News page.
There is a natural barrier downstream of this splitter gate between the Encinal and Canoncito acequias. This waterfall (see bottom picture) is estimated to be about 15 feet high about 1 1/2 miles below the Alamitos splitter.