In an innovative effort to tackle the persistent problem of vegetation clogging up waterways, Salt River Project (SRP) in Arizona has released nearly 12,000 white amur fish into its canals. These aquatic recruits are enlisted from a fish farm in Arkansas and have a hefty task ahead: to naturally clean up weeds and algae in the 131-mile canal system that serves millions of Phoenix area residents. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, Brian Moorhead, SRP environmental scientist, explained that these "scaly employees" can eat up to two-thirds of their body weight every day.
Before the introduction of white amur, a non-native species initially brought in 1989, SRP's maintenance of the canal system was labor-intensive and costly. They previously had to resort to dragging heavy chains across the canal beds, applying herbicides, and manually removing the unwanted greenery. But now, the 44,000-strong fish population serves as a biological control method, saving the company hundreds of thousands in annual operating costs. "The fish will spread out and school with the older fish and just kind of bolster the population throughout the canal and take care of the vegetation," Moorhead said in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix.
Not only are these fish beneficial for their appetite for aquatic weeds, but they are also well-adapted to the extremes of Arizona's climate. These hardy creatures can handle significant temperature variations, including the warmer summer temperatures prevalent in the region. "They are very hearty fish," Moorhead told FOX 10 Phoenix. "They put up with alot of temperature variation and even warmer summer temperatures as well."
It's illegal to remove the white amur from SRP's canals, as they are protected under the Arizona Game and Fish license program. These fish serve a specific purpose, and their presence in the canals is crucial to maintaining a chemical-free and mechanically unencumbered ecosystem. "They are here working for us doing their job 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so we don’t have to put too much manpower into removing vegetation," Moorhead explained, indicating the continual nature of the fish's work as reported by 12 News.
