09-21-2017, 04:05 PM
[quote pacscrumhalf]
I think the Lahontan cutthroat is a great idea in principle if the lake could be cleaned up, dredged, etc.
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how would their status as a threatened species play into that option? [/quote]
It's not the status of Lahontan that would matter. It would be the status of Bonneville cutthroat that matters. In today's world efforts are placed on restoring native fish to their native habitat in higher precedence than introducing non-native species. So, if a decision was made that cutthroat were to be reintroduced to Utah Lake, those cutthroat would be Bonneville.
There are historical records that discuss those cutthroat residing in Utah Lake. Even back in the 1800's, Utah Lake was relatively warm. During those summer months when lake temps increased those populations of cutthroat would migrate to mouths of stream inlets where cooler temps provided relief.
If there were a way to change irrigation and get more streams back to Utah Lake, including restoring the Provo River delta, then I think Oncorhynchus clarki utah could certainly make Utah Lake it's home again. Next to carp removal, irrigation issues would be a significant challenge.
[signature]
I think the Lahontan cutthroat is a great idea in principle if the lake could be cleaned up, dredged, etc.
...
how would their status as a threatened species play into that option? [/quote]
It's not the status of Lahontan that would matter. It would be the status of Bonneville cutthroat that matters. In today's world efforts are placed on restoring native fish to their native habitat in higher precedence than introducing non-native species. So, if a decision was made that cutthroat were to be reintroduced to Utah Lake, those cutthroat would be Bonneville.
There are historical records that discuss those cutthroat residing in Utah Lake. Even back in the 1800's, Utah Lake was relatively warm. During those summer months when lake temps increased those populations of cutthroat would migrate to mouths of stream inlets where cooler temps provided relief.
If there were a way to change irrigation and get more streams back to Utah Lake, including restoring the Provo River delta, then I think Oncorhynchus clarki utah could certainly make Utah Lake it's home again. Next to carp removal, irrigation issues would be a significant challenge.
[signature]