News
FOREST SERVICE MAKES DECISION TO RESTORE NATIVE TROUT TO BOULDER CREEK
As a result of the Dixie National Forest decision to approve the East Fork Boulder Creek Native Trout Restoration project, the range of the native Colorado River cutthroat trout in the Escalante River system will be expanded.
The decision authorizes the issuance of a pesticide use permit to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to treat the Dixie National Forest portions of approximately 8.5 miles of the Boulder Creek system. The project will remove nonnative trout which will allow for reintroduction of Colorado River cutthroat trout. The range of the Colorado River cutthroat trout has declined dramatically due to habitat loss and the introduction of other sport fish species. Agency biologists and anglers have been working for many years to restore the Colorado River Cutthroat Trout to its historic range throughout the Colorado River basin.
“We are excited to be a part of this significant conservation action,” said Rob MacWhorter, Dixie National Forest Supervisor. “Boulder Creek provides ideal habitat for this native trout species to flourish. In just a few years, anglers will be able to experience the thrill of catching Colorado River cutthroat trout in its native environment.”
"This population of Colorado cutthroat trout is important to the overall restoration of these native trout within their historic range, and we support the Forest Service and the partnership in their efforts to restore them in the Boulder Creek system," said Doug Fruge, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Fishery Supervisor for Utah.
“This decision will allow significant progress in the conservation of native cutthroat trout in the Escalante River system in Southern Utah” said Roger Wilson, a representative of the Utah Colorado River cutthroat trout conservation team, a multidisciplinary group of Federal and State Agencies and conservation groups. “The state and range-wide teams have made much progress over the last 10-15 years, but additional action is needed to secure the species and prevent future listing under the Federal Endangered Species Act. At the present time, Colorado River cutthroat trout are present in only 22% of historically occupied habitat in the Escalante River Drainage.”
“The project accomplishes to important goals. First, it restores vital populations of native Colorado River cutthroat trout. Second, it allows Garkane Energy to satisfy the terms of its license agreement for power generation,” noted Timothy Hawkes from Trout Unlimited. Hawkes also noted that fulfilling the license agreement allows “surrounding rural communities to have a great source of renewable energy.”
The decision is the culmination of several years of study. The agency explored different alternatives to the proposed action of rotenone treatment. The final analysis did not identify any significant public health or safety considerations that area residents could expect to experience from the proposed treatments. The agency did analyze the option of doing a non-chemical treatment; however, the non-chemical treatment had a greatly reduced probability of successfully allowing for native trout reintroduction in the project area.
“While pesticides should be used only as a last resort and when there is no effective alternative, rotenone has been shown throughout the West to be capable of restoring native fish to creeks from which they have been excluded by non-native fish,” noted Mary O’Brien, Utah Forests Program Manager with Grand Canyon Trust. “Fortunately, Colorado River Cutthroat Trout can then remain in creeks long-term without repeated treatments.”
There are a number of design features that are included in the Forest Service decision to better inform area residents about the treatment schedules. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will make these notifications prior to treatment.