essays and musings on fly fishing for native trout
Asides
Bonneville Cutthroat Spawning Runs Being Restored
Great news from some of my home waters where they are working hard at restoring important Bonneville cutthroat spawning runs. The historic range of these cutthroat have been greatly impacted by humans, especially degrading spawning creeks and the introduction of nonnative trout species. They are doing some fantastic work (our local TU chapter was recently filled in on some of the work being done). This article has some excellent information about what’s going on.
Discussion
4 comments for “Bonneville Cutthroat Spawning Runs Being Restored”
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© 2009 Cutthroat Stalker. 
To me, this is great news. I actually knew it was in the works for a few years. Back when Bryce Neilsen was the head biologist, I had conversations with him about this very thing. Those streams used to be teaming with native cutts back in the 50’s. I wasn’t against them trapping and milking eggs and milt, but have always felt a percentage of the spawners should be placed above the diversion dams to do their yhing naturally. My other suggestion was to take a percentage of the hatchery raised cutts and place them in the streams too. I love those trout. Stream resident Bear Lake Cutts take on the colors of their environment and are as colorful as the Snake and Colorado cutts. I’m excited!
Robert, We had a biologist visit our TU meeting in the spring and showed slides of work they have been doing around Bear Lake the last couple of years. It is definitely some exciting news. I’m hoping there will be a few spots for public access because most of the work is being done in cooperation with private property owners.
I think you’re right. I know they have been working with the people who use the water for irrigation, thus the screening of the diversions. Those creeks are real brushy and hard to fish even if it was public. I know you like to bushwack a bit so some access would be nice. I think it’s just a good thing for the BLC and in the long run will help the hatchlings in the creeks return to the lake and keep the spawning runs going.
I think they are planning the same thing on the Idaho side of things. That side has a little more Forest Service property with access.
Good point Robert–regardless of the fishing, this is great news for the fish. I believe they have already started some of the work on the Idaho side at Fish Haven and maybe Bloomington (wish my memory was better).