For the third consecutive year, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will be coordinating with the Ashley National Forest to conduct follow-up treatments to two drainages in the High Uintas to help restore native Colorado River cutthroat trout. This year, biologists will be conducting the treatments in the following areas in the High Uintas: Oweep Creek drainage (south slope) from July 28th-31st with the area reopening to the public on August 2nd; and South Fork Sheep Creek (north slope) on August 28th with the area reopening to the public on September 2nd. Since these are follow-up treatments, the DWR will not issue any emergency fishing changes for any of the lakes or drainages, as there should be very few fish in the systems at this time. “The temporary closure of the treatment area only affects treated waters and prohibits the public from entering the water and obtaining drinking water from sources in the treatment area. All hiking trails and other access will remain open to public use,” shares DWR Northeastern Region Outreach Manager Tonya Kieffer-Selby. “The treatment areas will be well signed and will reopen after the treatment process is over and rotenone levels are no longer detectable in the streams.” Biologists plan to restock the Oweep Creek drainage in the fall of 2024 after the treatments have been completed. The South Fork of Sheep Creek will not be restocked until the treatments are complete, most likely in 2025.
