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DFG RESCUES FISH AGAIN AT CAPLES LAKE
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More than 20,000 fish were saved by Department of Fish and Game (DFG) workers at Caples Lake on September 22. This was the second successful fish rescue operation carried out at Caples Lake by DFG in less than a month after the El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) announced the lake would be drained to complete dam repairs.

The rescue took place in the area between a newly installed temporary "bladder" dam and the Caples Lake main dam. The muddy, low-water conditions prohibited the use of boats and required DFG personnel to exercise extreme caution as they worked the area between the two dams.DFG workers carried backpack electrofishing units and nets, and waded the shallow area capturing fish.

"We waited until EID had the bladder dam in place and the water level was lowered to about two feet in depth," said Joe Johnson DFG Senior Environmental Scientist., "This allowed us to use backpack electrofishing equipment which can be extremely effective. We were especially pleased with the capture of a large number of young lake trout."

Ten volunteers carted the fish in buckets and trash cans across the lakebed and up the side of the main dam to waiting hatchery trucks. The fish were then transported to nearby Silver and Red lakes.

Brown, rainbow and lake (Mackinaw) trout were relocated to Silver Lake, while the 300 captured brook trout were taken to Red Lake. In addition to the trout, numerous Sacramento suckers were captured and moved. The fish ranged from one to 24 inches in length.

DFG used a select group of volunteers to assist in carrying the heavy buckets through muddy areas up to the trucks and to help sort fish. For safety reasons, the number of volunteers for the second rescue was kept to a minimum.

DFG biologists continue to monitor the situation at the lake and on Caples Creek below the dam.

During the first rescue more than 6,500 adult trout from six inches to three feet long were saved.

Media Contact

Harry Morse, DFG Office of Communications (916) 322-8911

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