Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Population Revived
OutdoorHub 08.25.11
Extensive habitat and conservation efforts to raise cutthroat trout numbers in the Colorado River have increased populations of these fish that are used mostly for sport in northeastern Utah.
The Department of Wildlife Resources has been able to take the trout off the endangered species list, citing abundance samples and catch rates as evidence to their growing population. Regional Aquatics Manager Trina Hendrick attributes the population growth to the impressive Rosgen program.
In 2006 the Departments of Natural Resources in the affected states (Colorado, Utah and Wyoming) developed the conservation plan that is finally seeing results today. DWR biologists in northeastern Utah have been undergoing multiple intensive habitat restoration trainings since, called the Rosgen program (as it was developed by Brandon Rosgen, PhD). The four part course touches on stream engineering to provide a better habitat for fish, habitat restoration and many other components.
Thanks to proper funding biologists have been able to do restoration work every year like collecting fish eggs into a hatchery to spawn and then release back into the wild. They are able to locate and treat diseases to protect the fish and other wildlife they affect. Biologists continue to track the fish to make sure they are surviving and repopulating the area they live in.
Their efforts have had a positive impact on all chains of river wildlife, but have seen the greatest impact on wildlife at the top of the food chain. “If it gets all the way up to impact the fishery, you know you’ve impacted the stream,” says Hendrick. “It shows good efforts are paying off.” She adds that people still need to play their part as well and not litter the shores. Even trash like a rolled up ball of paper can be a problem: Such rubbish was recently found in a washed up fish’s stomach, it had damaged the fish because of the long break down period of the paper.
With an eye towards continued conservation and environmental care, the prospects for the cutthroat trout will continue to improve.
Photo: US Fish & Wildlife Service: Digital Library System
