Border Wall Construction Threatens Rare Sonora Chub in Southern Arizona

A recently constructed section of the border wall in southern Arizona poses a significant threat not only to illegal immigration but also to endangered wildlife, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. This wall and an accompanying paved road are obstructing the natural streamflow necessary for the survival of one of the only two populations of the Sonora chub in the United States, a rare fish species characterized by its distinctive red-colored belly during breeding.

Krista Kemppinen, Ph.D., a senior scientist at the organization, expressed concerns that the new infrastructure could drive the Sonora chub closer to extinction. The fish relies on access to limited desert water on both sides of the border for its survival and for genetic exchange with populations in Mexico. Construction projects like this hinder the fish's ability to migrate upstream after droughts, which is critical to bolstering its populations.

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to resume office and enhance border security measures, the Center for Biological Diversity is urging immediate action to designate California Gulch as critical habitat for the Sonora chub. Kemppinen highlighted the necessity to prevent additional threats, such as livestock intrusion into critical pools. She also stressed the importance of incorporating thoughtfully designed culverts in the border infrastructure to restore some degree of natural flow and allow for fish migrations, emphasizing the urgency for federal government action to protect the species.