11-28-2005, 03:26 PM
Ciscokid,
I have been away from my computer for a few days, but thought I could shed some light on the markers you are seeing out on the "rockpile" and "Cisco Beach". What you are seeing is part of a doctoral study that a student from Utah State University is doing. They are not all gillnets. In fact, gillnets have only been set one time at the above locations this fall. The markers are connected to eggs traps and "rock boxes" so that he can determine the useage of different rocky areas by different species of fish. We know the lake trout spawn on the rockpile (as do cisco, whitefish and sculpin). After putting in the four new piles of rock just north of the marina, we need to justify the expense of this project by showing if the new piles are used to the same extent as the existing rocky areas. Also, we are measuring primary productivity on the rocks themselves. I assure you that the person working on the rockpile pile project are being monitored by UDWR and that if they are netting, then they are making all efforts to release fish alive (as BLM pointed out in his response). Not all fish will live, but the majority do and that is the best that can be done right now. But, as I said, the gillnetting portion of the study will be minimized to avoid any mortality that is not necessary. The markers on the rockpile, Cisco Beach, and the new rockpiles will be in place until ice up and then likely re-deployed next spring. The study will last two years, so please try to avoid snagging lines, etc. of the sampling gear out there. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me directly. [url "mailto
cotttolentino@utah.gov"]scotttolentino@utah.gov[/url]
Cheers..
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I have been away from my computer for a few days, but thought I could shed some light on the markers you are seeing out on the "rockpile" and "Cisco Beach". What you are seeing is part of a doctoral study that a student from Utah State University is doing. They are not all gillnets. In fact, gillnets have only been set one time at the above locations this fall. The markers are connected to eggs traps and "rock boxes" so that he can determine the useage of different rocky areas by different species of fish. We know the lake trout spawn on the rockpile (as do cisco, whitefish and sculpin). After putting in the four new piles of rock just north of the marina, we need to justify the expense of this project by showing if the new piles are used to the same extent as the existing rocky areas. Also, we are measuring primary productivity on the rocks themselves. I assure you that the person working on the rockpile pile project are being monitored by UDWR and that if they are netting, then they are making all efforts to release fish alive (as BLM pointed out in his response). Not all fish will live, but the majority do and that is the best that can be done right now. But, as I said, the gillnetting portion of the study will be minimized to avoid any mortality that is not necessary. The markers on the rockpile, Cisco Beach, and the new rockpiles will be in place until ice up and then likely re-deployed next spring. The study will last two years, so please try to avoid snagging lines, etc. of the sampling gear out there. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me directly. [url "mailto
cotttolentino@utah.gov"]scotttolentino@utah.gov[/url] Cheers..
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