Success of treating bodies of water with Rotenone

[MrLipripper]

Many lakes, large and small, have been treated to eradicate trash or vagrant species of fish. It always seems that the fish come back after treatment, e.g. chubs at Strawberry. Is the desired result to completely eliminate the fish or just lessen their numbers?
Just curious.
[signature]

[Kent]

I'll take a stab. It depends on the water. On some waters (Strawberry for example) they know that the likelihood of killing all unwanted species is extremely remote but the plan is to reduce them to the point that they can manage the water better or at least buy a few years before they take over the body of water again. On some other bodies, especially smaller bodies of water, the plan is a 100% kill.
[signature]

[ColdWaterCoord]

The DWR would always like to see complete eradication of an undesired species during a rotenone treatment, however, it is not always possible, as Kent pointed out. When achieving total removal is a requirement, such as when we are removing non-native trout as part of a cutthroat trout restoration project, we will treat the body of water at least twice.

Paul Birdsey
Coldwater Sportfish Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
[signature]

[fishnate]

Nature always seems to find a way around our best management efforts.
[signature]

[Fishrmn]

Or people with a bucket do.
[signature]

[PBH]

[quote fishnate]Nature always seems to find a way around our best management efforts.[/quote]

[quote Fishrmn]Or people with a bucket do.[/quote]


True dat ^^^




There are 4 basic management tools used in fisheries management:

1. Rules and regulations
2. public releations and education
3. fish stocking and fish removal (ie: rotenone)
4. habitat improvement.



As kent and Paul already mentioned, it all depends on what the desired results are. The body of water, management plan, and other factors all come into play on whether or not total kills happen.

Examples:
Strawberry -- too large of a lake to actually treat twice. Thus, total kill was never expected. Management of the chubs was the key.

Panguitch Lake -- total kill was the objective, and as of today there have been no confirmed chub findings. Pretty successful

Clear Creek renovation project: multiple treatments on multiple tributaries multiple times with some mechanical remove of non-natives on top. Total elimination of target species is desired.



Rotenone is a VERY effective tool for managing our fisheries.
[signature]