Published: December 02, 2008 03:11 pm      

Hatchery gets grant

San Marcos — It lacks the glitz and draw of the new Embassy Suites and San Marcos Conference Center just across IH-35, but over at the low-slung cluster of buildings that make up the San Marcos National Fish Hatchery, important research is underway.

In November, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced grants to the San Marcos facility and nine others that are looking into the effects of climate change on plants or animals as well as ways to decrease carbon footprints.

The San Marcos hatchery will receive $5,000 to study the effects of increased temperature on the growth and reproduction of the Devils River Minnow.

“The Service has already determined the critical maximum temperature related to the survival of the threatened Devils River minnow. The next step is to evaluate the effects of increased water temperature (such as might occur due to climate change) on growth and reproduction in this species,” the USFS said in a press release. “Any detrimental effects on growth and reproduction will help the Service design management strategies to maintain healthy spring flows, especially during the summer months.”

Other Texas projects receiving funding:

• Conversion to Solar Powered Electrical System – $5,000 – Submitted by the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Complex hopes to ultimately convert its entire electric system to solar power. As a first step in achieving this goal, the Complex will install a passive solar water heater system. This system is expected to meet at least half of the Complex’s hot water needs, and will significantly reduce its carbon footprint.  

• Carbon Sequestration by Woody Plants in South Texas – $5,000 – Submitted by the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

Global warming has caused increasing levels of carbon in the atmosphere.  Trees can help alleviate global warming by binding carbon in above- and below-ground plant biomass. The Lower Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge will conduct a study to investigate the carbon sequestration capacities of several native woody plant species from south Texas and northern Mexico. The results will be used to promote carbon sequestration markets, and support primary brushlands restoration projects benefiting migratory birds, endangered species, and other native wildlife.

• Identify Potential Energy and Water Savings on Uvalde National Fish Hatchery – $5,000 – Submitted by the Uvalde National Fish Hatchery.

Aquaculture (fish breeding) depends upon both water and energy – two pricey resources. Uvalde National Fish Hatchery will conduct a short-term study on their water supply wells, as well as two individual ponds, to measure energy use and water efficiency. The results will be used to develop strategies for decreasing energy use and improving water efficiency in fish hatcheries.

In all, the USFS says it will provide $48,500 in “seed money” to fund the 10 projects, all of which were employee-initiated.

“We must be leaders in the climate change arena,” said Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, USFS Southwest Regional director.

“By taking incremental steps such as these, we will begin to make progress towards our goal of adjusting to climactic changes.”

For more on USFS hatcheries, visit fws.gov/fisheries.