Reclamation underway at Miramonte Reservoir

CraigCraig — The illegal stocking of smallmouth bass at Miramonte Reservoir will force Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials to treat and drain the lake this fall. — The illegal stocking of smallmouth bass at Miramonte Reservoir will force Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials to treat and drain the lake this fall.

Craig — The illegal stocking of smallmouth bass at Miramonte Reservoir will force Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials to treat and drain the lake this fall.

As of April 1 all bag and possession limits for smallmouth bass and trout have been lifted, according to a CPW news release.

CPW will partially drain Miramonte this fall and treat it with an organic pesticide to kill all the remaining fish. Restocking will occur shortly after the treatment is completed.

“This emergency public salvage will allow licensed anglers a unique opportunity to catch and keep fish prior to the treatment,” said Eric Gardunio, an aquatic biologist in Montrose, in the release. “The trout fishing following ice-off around April 1 should be productive and anglers should take home good numbers of the pink fleshed Miramonte trout.”

During the salvage anglers must carry a 2013 Colorado fishing license, the release states. Only hook and line methods of take will be permitted. The use of explosives, toxicants, firearms, seines, nets, snagging or electricity is prohibited.

Temporary signs are in place at access points to notify anglers of the regulation change.

Miramonte Reservoir is located in San Miguel County about 10 miles south of Norwood. The reservoir is one of the most productive stillwater trout fisheries in the state and home to rainbow and brown trout that grow to “quality” size, the release states.

“Miramonte is a very productive fishery where trout can grow to 10 inches or more in a single year,” Gardunio said in the release. “We expect the catchable and sub-catchable trout we stock following treatment to be up to quality size within a year of restocking.”

Miramonte also is a popular destination for crayfish enthusiasts and accounts for about 20,000 angler days per year.

The illegal stocking of smallmouth bass has not only threatened trout and crayfish populations in the reservoir, but also native fish located downstream in the San Miguel and Dolores rivers, the release states.

As the river begins to be drained in May angler and boat access will become increasing limited due to the falling water levels. Anglers interested in visiting Miramonte Reservoir are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.

“Treating the reservoir is something we wish we didn’t have to do, but we know we must,” said Renzo DelPiccolo, area wildlife manager in Montrose, in the release. “People who illegally move fish into lakes, ponds and rivers are not only committing a criminal act, they are endangering native species, stealing a resource and recreational opportunity from thousands of anglers and negatively impacting the local community.”

Smallmouth bass, which are a warmwater predator, were illegally stocked in Miramonte Reservoir sometime before 2011 and their reproduction has been documented, the release states. A recent survey showed that in one year smallmouth bass populations increased from five percent to 44 percent of the fishery.

“The bass is now the top predator in the lake,” said John Alves, senior aquatic biologist for CPW’s southwest region, in the release. “They compete with trout for food and space, and consume trout and crayfish.

“If left alone the bass could eventually devastate Miramonte as a trout fishery. Furthermore, the habitat, prey base and water temperature will not support a quality bass fishery in the long term.”

CPW officials plan to use Rotenone to treat the fishery later this fall. The exact date of treatment will be released later this summer, the release states.

During the treatment the reservoir will be closed for public safety. Rotenone also will be used to treat surrounding feeder streams to kill all of the fish. Rotenone breaks down quickly in the environment and poses no threat to vegetation or non-aquatic species, the release states.

A quick recovery of both trout and crayfish populations is expected once the treatment has been completed.

“This reservoir is managed as a put and grow trout fishery and that management strategy will not change,” Alves said in the release. “Under this management strategy we can provide an excellent angling opportunity at a low cost to anglers.”

In addition to trout the San Miguel and Dolores rivers are home to three native fish species Colorado biologists are working to protect, including the roundtail chub, the bluehead sucker and the flannelmouth sucker.

Those three species are found only in the desert rivers of the western United States, according to the release. Changes in the river system such as dams, pollution, water withdrawals, competition and predation from non-native species have caused a decline in the numbers and range of native fish species.

“Native species are needed to help maintain the natural health and balance of any ecosystem,” Alves said in the release. “If a species is lost it affects the health of other plants and animals, and changes a natural ecosystem forever.”

Anyone who has information about illegal fish stocking at Miramonte Reservoir, or any other water source in Colorado, should contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Montrose office at 970-252-6000.

Anglers may also call CPW’s Operation Game Thief hotline at 877-265-6648. Tips can be made anonymously and cash rewards may be available.

To view Miramonte Reservoir’s full fisheries management report, or for more information about fisheries management in Colorado, visit Colorado Parks and Wildlife online.

Joe Moylan can be reached at 875-1794 or jmoylan@craigdailypress.com
Joe Moylan can be reached at 875-1794 or jmoylan@craigdailypress.com
Joe Moylan can be reached at 875-1794 or jmoylan@craigdailypress.com