Native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Finally Set To Return To Golden Lake After More Than 100 Year Abs

IDAHO FALLS - What was unwittingly begun by settlers seeking additional food back before the turn of the century, will finally be reversed as part of a larger plan by Idaho to show that it can take care of its own wildlife without Federal intervention. Not since 1898, have native Yellowstone cutthroat been able to call Golden Lake their sole domain, but on Wednesday, June 13 the native fish will once again be the big fish in a small pond. An extensive three year survey recently conducted by the Targhee National Forest, Henry's Fork Foundation and Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG) has documented that native populations of the Yellowstone cutthroat trout exist in less than 10% of their historic range in the Henry's Fork watershed. Restoring populations of this native species to historic habitat will reduce the likelihood of a listing under the Endangered Species Act, and thereby maintain state control of state resources. This protects existing uses of the Henry's Fork including fishing, agriculture and other important components of our local economy. The importance of these benefits are evident in the broad support this project has received from both conservation organizations (Federation of Flyfishers, the Henry's Fork Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition), and agricultural organizations (Fremont-Madison Irrigation District, the North Fork Reservoir Company and the Henry's Fork Watershed Council). According to Ashton Hatchery Supervisor Mel Sadecki, "We will be releasing about seven thousand, seven inch-long pure Yellowstone cutthroat trout." The fish are a little over a year old and are the offspring of genetically pure fish collected at Henrys Lake. "The genetics of these fish were tested to insure that they were pure." Genetic purity is critical to the project because of the role that Golden Lake is set to play in the Yellowstone cutthroat restoration project. According to Regional Fishery Manage Mark Gamblin, "Planting of the pure-strain Yellowstone Cutthroat trout will insure that Golden Lake will be able to serve as a refugia for future restoration efforts elsewhere." After closely monitoring the lake and creek this spring, IDFG is confident that Yellowstone cutthroat can survive and prosper in this system. Over the last four years, representatives of local, State and Federal resource management agencies, along with private conservation organizations have worked together to address the current situation facing the Yellowstone cutthroat trout. The immediate goal of this multi-group committee is to restore Yellowstone Cutthroat trout to a small segment of their native habitat Work was begun three years ago to remove introduced non-native fish species that had taken over the lake and the adjoining Thurman Creek complex. Weather and concerns for nesting trumpeter swans delayed the initial chemical treatment in 1998. A treatment conducted in 1999, using solely the chemical Antimycin proved to be good, but not thorough enough. A treatment conducted in the fall of 2000, using a combination of the chemicals Antimycin and Rotenone proved to be nearly complete in eradicating introduced rainbow and brook trout. Even before a single Yellowstone cutthroat trout was released back into Golden Lake, the merits of the restoration plan have begun to payoff. The work at Golden Lake was among the ongoing efforts that were cited as reasons for denying a recent attempt to petition to list the Yellowstone cutthroat trout as an endangered species. If listed by the Federal Government as an endangered species, negative impacts would be felt far beyond just the angling community. Listing of Yellowstone cutthroat could severely limit other recreational pursuits and land use activities. This project is just part of a multi-faceted plan to insure that Idaho maintains control of its own natural resources. According to Allen May of the Nature Conservancy, "Additionally, it must be understood that the reintroduction of this species is in no way intended to replace the excellent sport fishery that the Henry's Fork is famous for." No angling opportunity has been affected by the project because Thurman Creek and Golden Lake have been closed to fishing since the Harriman Family gave the Railroad Ranch to the State of Idaho for use as a state park. The agreement that transferred the land specified many resource and land use guidelines for the property, ranging from fishing access to livestock grazing. According to Gamblin, "As the population of pure Yellowstone Cutthroat with the lake increase, we can use the fish as seed stock other waters in the region that they once also called home." The Golden Lake/Thurman Creek reintroduction is a demonstration project and will be the first of its kind in the Upper Henry's Fork. Additional long-term monitoring and maintenance will be required after this release in order to gauge the effectiveness of this project and to determine if this process can be improved and replicated. OPEN HOUSE Harriman State Park / Boy's House building 11 AM - 2 PM FISH RELEASE Golden Lake 2 PM Members of the Cutthroat Trout Subcommittee of the Henrys Fork Watershed Council will be on hand to meet with the public and answer questions about ongoing efforts to restore native Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations in Idaho.