Utah
Thousands of fish died during Utah reservoir maintenance project
Estimated learn time: 1-2 minutes
RICHFIELD — As much as 10,000 fish died close to a central Utah reservoir final week throughout a upkeep venture, in line with state officers.
Jeremy Willemse of Sanpete County got here throughout the scene as he was looking. He noticed 1000’s of useless fish downstream from Johnson Reservoir close to Fish Lake.
“I have been to San Francisco on the Wharf,” he mentioned, “and I’ve by no means seen this many useless fish, not even on the market.”
“That is mismanagement in my guide for certain,” Willemse added.
Richard Hepworth, aquatics supervisor for the Utah Division of Wildlife Sources mentioned they anticipated fish to die however tried to attenuate the impression.
They wanted to decrease the water stage to evaluate the reservoir’s lowest outlet construction which features as a drain. It had not been seen since its set up within the Nineteen Sixties.
“No person actually had an incredible thought what it even regarded like or the way it was constructed or what components might should be bought,” he mentioned.
They may rent a development firm to work on repairs subsequent yr.
Hepworth mentioned lots of the fish that died had been tough fish and Utah suckers, that are much less fascinating. DWR has additionally eliminated them beforehand through the use of chemical substances and different means as a result of they are often “problematic from a sport fish standpoint.”
“Most of these fish, there wasn’t a great cause to save lots of them,” he mentioned. “There wasn’t a use for them.”
Even so, Hepworth mentioned a crew of 10 individuals labored almost 10 days to internet as many tiger muskies as they might. They relocated about 100 to Navajo Lake.
“It isn’t a enjoyable factor to ever see,” Hepworth mentioned, “so I do not fault the man in any respect for being upset and pissed off.”
“There’s not lots we may’ve carried out, actually,” he added.