干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Most of the Sonoyta River is intermittent, however, it has a perennial zone inside the reserve where a Desert Pupfish (Cyprinodon macularius) population exists, an endangered and endemic specie. Miller and Fuiman (1987) considered the form from the Sonoyta River an intermediate link between C. m. macularius and C. m. eremus. The species is threatened because of water over exploitation for cattle, agricultural irrigation, population water supply, contamination and introduction of exotic. In May 1997 we made a site examination to prove the presence of Desert Pupfish. One month later the drastic decrease of water in the River was reported due to illegal opening of wells for cattle and because of extraction of water to repair Highway 2. The consequence of it was the mortality of Pupfishes and habitat modification. Wells were closed, but the river beds have not recovered completely. The challenge is to protect this species and its important habitat by proposing land rights, ensuring a water supply (quantity and quality), improving protection and management of the species, controlling exotic species, avoiding contamination, searching for funds for the appropriate management of the site, continuing surveys, improving educational programs, and developing economic alternatives with low requirements of water for the resident population.