Stream treatments to benefit cutthroat trout in High Uintas slated for September

Vernal — The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will once again be treating several streams in the High Uintas in an effort to help restore native Colorado River cutthroat trout.

In 2019, DWR biologists treated the Potter and East Fork Carter Creek areas on the north slope of the Uintas with rotenone for the first time. Rotenone is a natural substance that comes from the roots of a tropical plant in the bean family. It's a respiratory toxin to fish, but isn't dangerous to people, pets or other wildlife, especially in the extremely low quantities that biologists use to treat the streams. A series of two treatments is standard protocol for effective cutthroat trout restoration, so biologists will treat this area again in early September 2020.

Why are rotenone treatments done?

In addition to increasing the diversity of angling opportunities, these project treatments will help the native fish. Habitat loss, breeding with non-native trout and competition from non-native trout have caused dramatic declines in native cutthroat trout populations around the West, leading to concerns about the species' future.

"As the trustee and guardian of wildlife in Utah, we're conducting Colorado River cutthroat trout restoration activities across the fish's native range," DWR Regional Sportfish Biologist Bryan Engelbert said. "The activities will protect the species, while also providing people with great areas to fish for these native fish."

Upcoming rotenone treatments in the Uintas

Starting Sept. 1 and ending Sept. 16, the DWR will chemically treat the following locations with rotenone:

• The Lost Lake outlet from the Sheep Creek canal up to Lost Lake
• East Fork Carter Creek above the Sheep Creek canal
• The Red Lake outlet from Lower Teepee Lake upstream to Red Lake

"The treatment areas will be well signed and the area within 20 feet of the water is closed to the public for hiking and other uses the day before each treatment occurs," Tonya Kieffer-Selby, regional conservation outreach manager for the DWR, said. "The areas will reopen Sept. 21."

The treatments will remove any remaining brook trout in the streams. Without intervention, biologists predict the brook trout populations could completely replace cutthroat trout in these areas in less than 20 years.

After the treatments

Because this is the second and final year for these stream treatments, the area will be restocked with Colorado River cutthroat trout immediately following this last treatment (tentatively in late September or early October).

This is part of a larger effort to treat the upper portions of streams connected to the Sheep Creek canal and create a meta-population for cutthroat trout that will contribute to conservation of the species and keep them from being listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Angler opportunities

Throughout the fall, biologists will stock native Colorado River cutthroat trout, tiger trout and Arctic grayling in lakes and streams in the treatment area. And even though brook trout are being removed from the treatment areas, anglers can still find them in hundreds of streams and lakes throughout the Uinta Mountains. Biologists are also working to include these treated areas in the interactive Utah Fish Planner map on the DWR website, so the public can easily find waters to fish by species.

If you have questions about the treatment, call the DWR’s Northeastern Regional Office at 435-781-9453.