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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Moore

DATE TYPED 1/24/04

HB 43

SHORT TITLE Cooperative Mosquito Abatement Program

SB

ANALYST Aguilar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$180.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Game and Fish (DGF)

Response Not Received From

Department of Environment (ED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 43 appropriates $180 thousand from the general fund to the Department of Game and

Fish for expenditure in fiscal year 2006 for the purpose of enhancing the research, collection,

propagation and distribution of indigenous mosquito eating-fish in an abatement and control pro-

gram.

An unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall revert to

the general fund.

House Bill 43 -- Page 2

Significant Issues

The Department of Game and Fish notes with the recent proliferation of West Nile Virus in New

Mexico, mosquito abatement and control are especially important. This bill will provide funding

for a traditionally unfunded program.

One historical means of mosquito control has been the introduction of small-bodied fishes that

feed on aquatic mosquito larvae. This has been done almost exclusively using western mosquito

fish, native to the South Canadian and Pecos River drainages. The Department of Game and

Fish reports the spread of western mosquito fish to habitats outside of their native range has re-

sulted in competition and/or hybridization with a variety of native fishes which is an undesirable

consequence. Opportunities may exist however to utilize other species of indigenous fishes for

mosquito abatement within their native ranges, and to reduce or eliminate the threats to native

fishes. One possible alternative is the Gila topminnow, a fish native to the Gila River drainage

that has been shown to feed voraciously on mosquito larvae.

DGF notes that it is crucial to ensure inappropriate fish species are not introduced into waters

harboring protected or game fish. Current statute prohibits the stocking of fish in public waters

without prior written permission of DGF.

DGF notes that no facilities currently exist to propagate mosquito eating fish if species currently

bred in state are unable to meet the intent of the statute. Lacking this capability the department

may have to purchase these fish from private breeders.

The appropriation contained in HB-43 will allow the department to:

1. Conduct an assessment of the efficacy of utilizing specific indigenous fishes, appropriate

to each area of the state, to enhance mosquito abatement and control.

2. Identify potential sources of these indigenous fishes.

3. Contribute to existing propagation efforts.

4. Conduct an assessment of the feasibility and cost of developing or enhancing facilities for

propagation of indigenous fishes, and

5. Develop appropriate permitting or authorizations for individual landowners and managers

to maintain indigenous, mosquito-eating fish on their properties.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

DGF has a performance measure regarding the number of species listed as threatened or endan-

gered under the New Mexico Wildlife Conservation Act that are monitored, studied, and in-

volved in the recovery plan process. Appropriations contained in this bill could be utilized to

develop watershed-specific native fishes to be used in mosquito abatement and perhaps address

threats to certain state-listed fish.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $180 thousand contained in this bill is a nonrecurring expense to the gen-

eral fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006

shall revert to the general fund.

House Bill 43 -- Page 3

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Some human resource support will be needed to administer the program. Existing staff can ab-

sorb the time needed.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

DGF notes that the Office of Epidemiology within the Department of Health may be a more

natural partner for a vector control program rather than the Department of Environment.

PA/lg