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The following station objectives were established to help <br />plan and carry out the hatchery program: 1) maintain a viable <br />protected gene pool of imperiled desert fishes, 2) develop <br />techniques for culturing these native fishes, 3) study their <br />biological requirements, 4) provide live and preserved fish to <br />authorized agencies and institutions, 5) provide an exchange of <br />expertise and data on culture and management, 6) publish findings, <br />and 7) implement a public information program concerning the <br />plight of, and recovery efforts for, rare fish species of the <br />Southwest (Jensen, in press). This program was implemented <br />to assist in the recovery of imperiled fish species as directed <br />in recovery plans, cooperative agreements and intraagency <br />directives. This paper discusses our culture efforts for some <br />of the larger Colorado River fishes that are threatened with <br />extinction. <br />FACILITY DESCRIPTION <br />Dexter NFH is located near the Pecos River in southeastern <br />New Mexico, 200 miles southeast of Albuquerque. Situated in the <br />ChihuahuanDesert, the elevation is near 3,500 feet, average annual <br />rainfall about 12 inches, and the growing season 180-200 days. <br />WaL is Supplied by three Si11 1Ow wells (45 to 150 feet In depth) <br />capable of pumping 1750 gpm. Well water temperature is a constant <br />640F and is highly alkaline (pH 7.2 to 7.5). Total hardness <br />averages 2,100 mg/l and total dissolved solids about 3,500 mg/l. <br />Fish culture facilities at Dexter consist of a holding house <br />(with sixteen 360 gallon tanks, a hatching battery and laboratory), <br />35 earthen ponds and an artificial stream. Thirteen additional <br />production ponds are presently under construction. All spawning <br />activities that involve handstrippping of broodstock and egg <br />incubation are carried out in the holding house. The production