Redfleet Reservoir Management Plan

Walleye in Red Fleet Reservoir are in good condition, likely because the population remains in low overall numbers (photo credit: N. Boren).

Progress on the Red Fleet Reservoir Fishery

Lots of things are happening with Red Fleet Reservoir right now. Due to the negative impacts of illegal fish plants, particularly of walleye and smallmouth bass, it has become apparent that the current fishery is unsustainable and, according to angler survey results, unsatisfactory to anglers. A rotenone treatment is proposed for the reservoir in October, 2015, which will require that a new fishery be established from the ground up.

To come up with the best options for the Red Fleet fishery going forward, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has convened a workgroup made up of 10 anglers with diverse fishing backgrounds and a variety of species preferences. This group is working to create a management plan for the Red Fleet fishery, including fish species and management styles, and is making good progress. Together with DWR biologists, the workgroup intends to present a final plan for public comment in March or April, 2015. The goal is that, by giving the angling public a voice up front in the decision-making process, after the proposed rotenone treatment the public will have no desire to illegally stock damaging species into Red Fleet. In fact, Red Fleet may end up with the most unique species assemblage in the Basin, even to the point of considering discontinuing the stocking of rainbow trout after one stocking and creating a different shore fishery there.

Moving forward with a fishery that the DWR and anglers want, not one that we’re “stuck with,” will require a rotenone treatment. Although this approach is not popular with the general angling public, it is necessary to prevent smallmouth bass and fertile walleye from escaping from the reservoir. Fertile walleye may be replaced with sterile walleye after the treatment, but that is still to be determined by the workgroup. Largemouth bass are definitely a possibility in Red Fleet, just not smallmouth bass. It’s too close to the Green River endangered fishes, and escapement has been verified as fish captured in the river have been positively linked back to fish from Red Fleet Reservoir. No matter what anyone thinks of endangered species or the Endangered Species Act, avoiding these types of conflicts will serve anglers well and provide the best chance to sustain long-term, quality fishing in Red Fleet.

The DWR has received numerous comments from anglers over the course of these proceedings; the first public meeting was back in January 2013. However, the general public hasn’t weighed in yet about the application of rotenone into Red Fleet, a drinking water source. To clarify, rotenone will not be applied until after all drinking water withdrawals have occurred for the 2015 season. Since rotenone degrades quickly with sunlight, warm temperatures, and vegetation, no rotenone will be present in the reservoir by the time drinking water withdrawals occur the following spring. It is perfectly reasonable that the public would have questions and/or concerns, but those just haven’t been expressed to this point.

If you have any comments or questions about the fishery, rotenone treatments, post-treatment species preferences, you can email the Division at trinahedrick@utah.gov (please put Redfleet Reservoir in the subject line) or come by the Vernal office (318 North Vernal Avenue) and submit written comments. The DWR asks the public to remember that, to be in compliance with the Endangered Species Act and in order to provide a great fishery that the public WANTS in Red Fleet, they are working with the Bureau of Reclamation to complete an Environmental Assessment. If the project is approved through the EA process, the rotenone treatment at Red Fleet will occur in October 2015. Species assemblage will be decided upon by the end of February so fish can be acquired for stocking post-treatment as soon as possible. Species comments and preferences would be very much appreciated, but please limit your preferences to the following: sterile walleye, wipers, tiger musky, largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, mountain whitefish, rainbow trout, brown trout, tiger trout, cutthroat trout, Colorado pikeminnow, bonytail, roundtail chub, and/or flannelmouth sucker. Although it was discussed, a kokanee/lake trout assemblage was deemed not feasible due to poor summer water quality in the reservoir.

The DWR expresses its appreciation to the workgroup members for their hard work and dedication to complete a workable fishery management plan. With their plan and help from anglers and the general public, the DWR looks forward to building a sustainable, productive fishery in Red Fleet that will meet the needs of anglers for years to come.