What does the largest hot air balloon festival in the state of Utah have in common with a native species conservation effort? Well over the weekend, 10,000 people attended the Night Glow events during Vernal’s Dinah “SOAR” Days during which a new massive mural of Utah’s Colorado River cutthroat trout was unveiled and celebrated. While mural artist Chris Peterson put on the finishing touches, the Chairman of the Utah Wildlife Federation Brett Prettyman made a presentation inside Vernal Theatre Live all about the Utah Cutthroat Slam that anglers can earn by fishing native species within native waters. Peterson and Prettyman are the brains behind these fish murals popping up around the state. Vernal was selected for the mural of the Colorado River cutthroat because these trout are native to the tributaries of the Green and Colorado Rivers. Of course, the Division of Wildlife Resources were there on Saturday night as partners in the project, providing activities and booths for the balloon festival visitors. Learn more about the conservation effort and how to earn a medallion for catching native trout in their native waters in Utah at www.UtahCutthroatSlam.org.
