02-20-2013, 06:24 PM
Hello all,
I thought I would let you know what is planned for Scofield.
1. They are Bear Lake cutthroat trout in the reservoir and have been stocked there since the spring of 2009. Because BL cutthroat switch to a fish diet earlier than other cutthroat, they are being used in addition to the tiger trout to hopefully control the chub numbers.
2. There is a study underway by Utah State University right now to help us determine the future management direction at the reservoir. The results of this study are not due until April or May of this year. What the DWR hopes is that the study will show that the tigers and cutthroat will eventually control the chubs and bring the reservoir back into balance. A chemical treatment of the reservoir will only be considered if the research shows that there is no chance that the biological control will work.
Chemical treatment of the lake is a last resort. The estimated cost will approach a million dollars of sportsmen's dollars that could be better spent elsewhere.
The bottom line is that no decision has been made one way or another, nor will be made until the USU study is done, we receive input from the public on what direction they would like us to take, and a thorough review of all the historical data from Scofield so we can develop a cost/benefit analysis of all the alternatives.
I hope this clears things up.
Paul Birdsey
Coldwater Sportfish Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
[signature]
I thought I would let you know what is planned for Scofield.
1. They are Bear Lake cutthroat trout in the reservoir and have been stocked there since the spring of 2009. Because BL cutthroat switch to a fish diet earlier than other cutthroat, they are being used in addition to the tiger trout to hopefully control the chub numbers.
2. There is a study underway by Utah State University right now to help us determine the future management direction at the reservoir. The results of this study are not due until April or May of this year. What the DWR hopes is that the study will show that the tigers and cutthroat will eventually control the chubs and bring the reservoir back into balance. A chemical treatment of the reservoir will only be considered if the research shows that there is no chance that the biological control will work.
Chemical treatment of the lake is a last resort. The estimated cost will approach a million dollars of sportsmen's dollars that could be better spent elsewhere.
The bottom line is that no decision has been made one way or another, nor will be made until the USU study is done, we receive input from the public on what direction they would like us to take, and a thorough review of all the historical data from Scofield so we can develop a cost/benefit analysis of all the alternatives.
I hope this clears things up.
Paul Birdsey
Coldwater Sportfish Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
[signature]