Kokanee stock in East Canyon

[WaveWolf]

[#484848]I was talking to WH2 a few days back about the Kokanee that they used to stock in East Canyon.[/#484848]
[#484848] Was this program a flop or why did they stop?[/#484848]
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[riverdog]

My understanding was it was a success for many years. However the increased development and resulting pollution including a substandard sewage treatment plant resulted in East Canyon Creek becoming unsuitable habitat for kokanee spawning. You can thank the sprawl of Park City out to Jeremy Ranch with little regard for water quality. I used to know some of the developers of land near where East Canyon flows through. They made as much as they could by getting away with whatever they could and are long gone now. Paying lawyers to change the rules apparently was cheaper than protecting the environment. I think there was an event that put the Kokes out of their misery but it was going to happen any ways. I can't recall the details but I think it was related to the sewage system. Others probable remember better. I'm assuming without the spawning habitat they just quit stocking it. East Canyon Creek is marginal for trout although they've made some improvement in water quality in recent years.
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[Gorgefanatic]

I think they should put some in jordanelle. The lake is deep enough and they could spawn in the provo realy well.
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[Theekillerbee]

In addition to what riverdog said, another factor, which is part of the upstream sprawl, is the decrease in water flows. Less cooler water going in equals higher water temps overall, which Kokanee do not like. With the extra nitrogen being released for reasons already mentioned the kokes cannot go deep as there isn't sufficient oxygen in the water down low. It's really too bad it didn't work out for the kokes up there. There are still a few in there, but it is a rare occurence to catch one.
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