Ashley National Forest and the Division of Wildlife Resources wants the public to be aware that the final rotenone treatment on Reader Creek will be conducted next week. “For public safety, the area within 30 feet adjacent to Reader Creek will be closed to the public from August 27th to August 31st. Rotenone is a natural substance that comes from the roots of a tropical plant in the bean family,” explains the August 20th press release. “It’s poisonous 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. This is the third and final year for the Reader Creek treatments. Once the rotenone treatment is completed, biologists plan on restocking the stream with cutthroat trout from the west fork of the Duchesne River and from fish salvaged and stocked into Lynn Creek.” The treatment extends from Reader Lakes downstream to the confluence with the Whiterocks River and is being performed to restore habitat for native Colorado River cutthroat trout.
