Areas that will be restocked with Colorado River cutthroat trout (CRCT) have been treated with rotenone in previous years to remove all nonnative fish that can compete or hybridize with our CRCT or even predate upon them. These actions from nonnatives have been noted as a major factor in the decline of our native CRCT populations through time and therefore must be addressed in areas where we need CRCT populations to directly contribute to conservation (as dictated by state and rangewide management plans). And of course, the elimination of nonnative species must be followed by restocking of our native CRCT. This is done using our pure brood populations contained at Sheep Creek Lake (south slope fish) or Mammoth Creek Hatchery (north slope fish). The use of a helicopter to fly fish in ensures increased success as fish are handled far less and the number of trips is reduced as fish can be held on oxygen the entire time and therefore can be transported in higher density. Essentially this is a key component of our CRCT restoration activities, and the final component for a project to be considered successful. And the use of a helicopter provides for a higher likelihood of successfully stocking fish out on the landscape.

Restock streams in the upper Sheep Creek and upper Carter Creek drainages post-rotenone treatment. Restock streams in the Oweep and Fall Creek drainages post-rotenone treatment.

Restocking will occur in the summer of 2026, sometime in either July or August, when the possibility of inclement weather in the high Uintas is less. Restocking will occur in stream sections where treatment via rotenone is considered complete. Restocking streams post-rotenone at the earliest possible date assists us with maintaining angler approval of these types of projects. If we can minimize the time these areas are fishless (thereby ensuring that anglers can utilize these systems again quickly post-rotenone), the more acceptance we are likely to garner for future projects we still need to complete.

CONSERVATION STRATEGY FOR COLORADO RIVER CUTTHROAT TROUT. Strategy 3 Restore or enhance CRCT populations. Strategy 5 Stock selected sites with progeny developed from core or conservation populations of genetically pure CRCT. Restoration efforts also contribute to the Ashley National Forest Plan.

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NEPA has been completed for all rotenone and restocking work on the Uintas, including work occurring in the wilderness areas. Further compliance regarding use of helicopter is not required on the north slope because it exists outside the wilderness, and we will not be landing in the wilderness. Flying and stocking fish is permitted as a state fisheries management action that existed prior to wilderness designation.

Provide a helicopter for hauling and stocking fish into remote areas. We use this method for re-stocking streams post-rotenone as the fixed wing used for stocking lakes is not accurate enough to stock streams.

Electrofishing and/or eDNA surveys will be performed after Cutthroat Trout are restocked to confirm their reestablishment and reproduction/recruitment.

United States Forest Service and Trout Unlimited both continue to provide staff time and assistance and partnership expertise in devising solutions toward recovering CRCT in both of these drainages.

After successful reintroduction of CRCT, these areas will be managed as conservation populations contributing directly to Utah's cutthroat trout stream mileage.

Sustainable uses are limited to providing a resource at both places for anglers to fish. Native trout populations provide a unique element in an otherwise not unique fishery that can be used by the public.