In 2002, New Mexico began one of America’s largest native-fish restoration projects...

A significant conservation initiative has successfully reinstated native trout species across more than 120 miles of streams by eliminating non-native predators and restoring habitats in two states. The reintroduction of the Rio Grande cutthroat trout has led to the establishment of a self-sustaining population, averting the need for federal endangered species status. This successful strategy serves as a blueprint for other western states aiming to restore native fish populations.