Second Waterbody Treatment In High Uintas Starts Tomorrow

The second treatment this month to treat drainages in the High Uintas starts tomorrow as part of an effort to help restore native Colorado River cutthroat trout. The DWR shares that over the past decade, DWR biologists have treated different waterbodies on the north and south slopes of the Uintas with rotenone to help with native cutthroat trout conservation. The treatments use rotenone to remove non-native fish from the areas where native cutthroat trout will be restored. Early this month, the Fall Creek drainage on the south slope was treated. Now it is time for an area on the north slope, North Fork Sheep Creek. Fish salvage efforts have taken place prior to the treatment since the North Fork of Sheep Creek currently holds a genetically pure population of Colorado River Cutthroat Trout. All size classes of cutthroat trout that can be removed prior to the treatment will be held onsite, and the fish will be released back into the creek once the water has oxidized, in order to repopulate the stream. The treatment is expected to close the area from August 19th through September 2nd. The area within 20 feet of North Fork Sheep Creek will be closed during treatment. This closure is to allow ground crews to work safely in and around the treated waters.