06-08-2015, 06:33 PM
Crayfish occur naturally in the Provo Drainage. Two problems are plaguing Jordanelle and Deer Creek.
First: The crayfish population is so preyed on by the SMB and browns, they have a very hard time being viable. Similar problem at Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge, difference is there are other forage species in Powell and the Gorge to supplement the crayfish.
Second: There is a segment of the fishing public that keeps everything they catch, regardless of size, regardless of limits. Cliff's favorite mantra of a slot limit will not work unless DWR is able to better police the catch and enforce the rules. I believe that we had a slot limit at both Jordanelle and Deer Creek and it had little impact as the fishing public was not following the rules.
DWR has a very difficult time in introducing new forage into the water of Utah. Jordanelle and Deer Creek are upstream of Utah Lake and anything that goes into those waters, will eventually end up in Utah Lake. So say, they introduce emerald shinners to Jordanelle, they take hold and produce like crazy. They move downstream to Deer Creek, where they also take off. Both Jordanelle and Deer Creek have a boom in the SMB population due to the increased forage. The shinners continue their downstream migration and end up in Utah Lake, where they boom. Great you say, only now in Utah Lake they prey on the eggs and fry of the endangered June Sucker and blow that recovery plan all to hell.
Right now the only viable option for DWR to introduce a forage species in any water in Utah is to reintroduce the Utah Chub. It is native to all our waters and is still in small numbers in most of our waters. Instead of killing them off, we need to trap them in Schofield and Strawberry and move them to where a forage species is needed, Jordanelle, Deer Creek, even Utah Lake.
We don't have a lot work with, but we need to work with what we have to enhance our waters. With out an added food source, both Deer Creek and Jordan elle will continue to be marginal for size. Ask any body builder, what builds muscle, PROTEIN !!
First: The crayfish population is so preyed on by the SMB and browns, they have a very hard time being viable. Similar problem at Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge, difference is there are other forage species in Powell and the Gorge to supplement the crayfish.
Second: There is a segment of the fishing public that keeps everything they catch, regardless of size, regardless of limits. Cliff's favorite mantra of a slot limit will not work unless DWR is able to better police the catch and enforce the rules. I believe that we had a slot limit at both Jordanelle and Deer Creek and it had little impact as the fishing public was not following the rules.
DWR has a very difficult time in introducing new forage into the water of Utah. Jordanelle and Deer Creek are upstream of Utah Lake and anything that goes into those waters, will eventually end up in Utah Lake. So say, they introduce emerald shinners to Jordanelle, they take hold and produce like crazy. They move downstream to Deer Creek, where they also take off. Both Jordanelle and Deer Creek have a boom in the SMB population due to the increased forage. The shinners continue their downstream migration and end up in Utah Lake, where they boom. Great you say, only now in Utah Lake they prey on the eggs and fry of the endangered June Sucker and blow that recovery plan all to hell.
Right now the only viable option for DWR to introduce a forage species in any water in Utah is to reintroduce the Utah Chub. It is native to all our waters and is still in small numbers in most of our waters. Instead of killing them off, we need to trap them in Schofield and Strawberry and move them to where a forage species is needed, Jordanelle, Deer Creek, even Utah Lake.
We don't have a lot work with, but we need to work with what we have to enhance our waters. With out an added food source, both Deer Creek and Jordan elle will continue to be marginal for size. Ask any body builder, what builds muscle, PROTEIN !!
