Native Fish Restoration Project

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

RANDOLPH, Utah.  March 4, 2015.  Justin Dolling, Paul Thompson, and Phil Tuttle from the Division of Wildlife Resources appeared before the County Commission to inform them of the progress being made on a project they have been working on for several years.  The Bonneville cutthroat trout was one of the species of fish that had had Otter Creek as its original home.  They have been extinct from that creek for quite some time.  The Wildlife Resource individuals have been working to make it possible to once again place this fish back into Otter Creek.

They have been working on this project since 2010 to restore the stream to take care of these fish.  A barrier has been built on the Rex Property.  Culverts have been placed at all of the road crossings, and an irrigation diversion has been built. 

A special meeting was held in 2013 with the three landowners that would be impacted by this project.  They gave the ranchers a brief overview of the project, and the plans for the future. As a result, the landowners have been very supportive and pleased with this project.   

It has been determined that the Bonneville Cutthroat trout are not an endangered species, thus they are not warranted for protection.  The state has been careful to increase the numbers of these fish over the last few years.  Projects to improve the species and increase their chances for survival have been underway for quite some time. 

In addition to adding the Bonneville Cutthroat into the stream, the northern leatherside chub is also going to be put into the stream.  They grow to about 3 to 4 inches in length.  This will made an additional food source for the trout.  The Northern Leatherside Chub has increased in numbers the last few years so that they are less and less likely to be listed.  Both species should do well in Otter Creek.  This food source for the trout will allow them to grow larger than they would otherwise. 

The Wildlife Resource individuals want to move forward.  The landowners are satisfied, and approve of the two fish species that will be planted in the creek.  They will perform the first treatment on the creek this coming fall.  They will do another treatment in 2016.   They will also do a treatment of Ken Weston’s pond.  The chubs will be moved from the Upper Bear and the trout will come from Big Creek. 

Eggs from the fish will be collected and cared for until the small fish are about two inches long.  They will then be added to the stream after the last treatment is completed.