California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) recently released an announcement regarding the status of Hot Creek and actions that the Department will be taking.
Hot Creek, a Wild Trout Water and one of the most popular fishing spots in California’s eastern Sierra, is home to a historically thriving rainbow and brown trout fishery that boasts trophy-sized fish, yet it is currently in serious decline. Kevin Peterson of Hot Creek Ranch initially expressed concern after observing drops in fish size and quantity throughout the last three to four years, prompting DFW to perform a population survey with assistance from CalTrout and local fishing guides in August 2016. Their findings revealed that there were fewer than 1,000 fish per mile of stream. Compared to a 2008 survey that found a record 12,000 fish per mile, DFW determined that swift action is needed to restore the wild fish populations. Hot Creek stream will be supplied with 12,000 fish (8,000 rainbows plus 4,000 browns) yearly until the population reaches a sustainable level.
California’s enduring drought is the proposed culprit behind Hot Creek’s disturbing decline. Low stream flow leads to a build-up of sediment which blocks the cool, deep holes that big fish use for shelter and obscures the gravel streambeds where fish lay their eggs.
According to California Fish and Game Code, Wild Trout Waters (Hot Creek earned this designation in 2007) must support wild trout populations to provide satisfactory catch, considering both size and quantity of fish. The stocked fish, provided by Hot Creek Hatchery, will be sub-catchable size, allowing them to grow naturally alongside their wild counterparts. CalTrout remains an engaged partner in this project, helping to collect data to monitor stream conditions. We support the Department’s actions, believe they are within the bounds of managing Wild Trout designated streams and applaud them for being a proactive partner in the eastern Sierra.
The Sheet, an eastern Sierra local newspaper, covered this story in this week’s paper (found on page 5).
To learn more about CalTrout’s work on Hot Creek, click here.
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Peter Moyle is the Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology and Associate Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences, at UC Davis. He is author or co-author of more than 240 publications, including the definitive Inland Fishes of California (2002). He is co-author of the 2017 book, Floodplains: Processes and Management for Ecosystem Services. His research interests include conservation of aquatic species, habitats, and ecosystems, including salmon; ecology of fishes of the San Francisco Estuary; ecology of California stream fishes; impact of introduced aquatic organisms; and use of floodplains by fish.
Robert Lusardi is the California Trout/UC Davis Wild and Coldwater Fish Researcher focused on establishing the basis for long-term science specific to California Trout’s wild and coldwater fish initiatives. His work bridges the widening gap between academic science and applied conservation policy, ensuring that rapidly developing science informs conservation projects throughout California. Dr. Lusardi resides at the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences and works closely with Dr. Peter Moyle on numerous projects to help inform California Trout conservation policy. His recent research interests include Coho salmon on the Shasta River, the ecology of volcanic spring-fed rivers, inland trout conservation and management, and policy implications of trap and haul programs for anadromous fishes in California.
Patrick Samuel is the Conservation Program Coordinator for California Trout, a position he has held for almost two years, where he coordinates special research projects for California Trout, including the State of the Salmonids report. Prior to joining CalTrout, he worked with the Fisheries Leadership & Sustainability Forum, a non-profit that supports the eight federal regional fishery management councils around the country. Patrick got his start in fisheries as an undergraduate intern with NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Division in Sacramento, and in his first field job as a crew member of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Wild and Heritage Trout Program.
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