{"id":6412,"date":"2020-12-17T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-17T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.srpnet.com\/?p=6412"},"modified":"2022-08-30T11:34:24","modified_gmt":"2022-08-30T18:34:24","slug":"fish-herding-arizona-canals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.srpnet.com\/es\/fish-herding-arizona-canals\/","title":{"rendered":"Fish Herding: Where wildlife and water management coincide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fish herding is exactly what it sounds like. But what\u2019s the point? Who herds them and how? And, most importantly, why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Canals tend to grow quite a bit of vegetation when left on their own, due to their good water quality, assortment of nutrients and direct sunlight. Such a dynamic would be wonderful in a garden but proves challenging in a canal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overgrown vegetation risks underdelivered water<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Left uncontrolled, aquatic vegetation displaces water and offsets the core function of the canal systems. As water flow slows due to overgrown vegetation, less water can be delivered to water treatment plants, farmers and urban irrigation customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, more vegetation means potentially less water for Valley residents and customers. This is no small concern for life in the desert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, there are ways to curb vegetation overgrowth, but SRP is in the business of innovation. And where there\u2019s a challenge, there\u2019s an invite to think critically and creatively. If you think the sustainable answer sounds fishy, you might be onto something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why are white amur so special?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Turns out white amur fish<\/a> are not only friendly to the environment, but they\u2019re also a surprisingly cost-effective solution for keeping SRP waterways in prime condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White amur eat up to 75% of their body weight in aquatic plants each day.\u202fThis huge appetite makes them very well suited for keeping the aquatic plants under control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why does SRP perform dry-ups?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Canal dry-ups allow SRP to safely maintain the canals, which is essential to canal operation.\u202fOver time, concrete linings become cracked.\u202fLeft unaddressed, these breaks could allow water to seep out of the canal in large volumes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Draining and repairing the canal lining prevents water loss and affords SRP teams a chance to remove silt and other debris.\u202fLike aquatic plants, this silt reduces the amount of water the canal can transport, so it\u2019s vital that crews conduct routine cleans while also protecting fish populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why and how does SRP herd fish?\u202f<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

SRP crews herd fish into small areas where they can be caught easily, placed in large nets and carried out of canals via large hauling tanks. It\u2019s all part of routine dry-ups and annual canal upkeep.\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, the fish are driven to a holding area and ultimately re-released back into the waterways. If it sounds like too much work, it\u2019s not. White amur are among the most valuable resources in the SRP ecosystem when it comes to keeping canal vegetation at a manageable level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When did fish herding start?\u202f<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fish herding began at SRP in 1991 as a means of protecting white amur populations in our waterways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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