by Richard Uhlhorn
As promised the US Geological Survey finally presented its feasibility study on the re-introduction of bull trout into the Lake Chelan watershed at the Lake Chelan Watershed Planning Unit meeting held on Wednesday, June 18.
Joe Benjamin, USGS representative, told the group that the feasibility study came out of a group participation. He described the process and said the group met once a month for one year but has not made a final decision on the re-introduction.
The group began the process with a demographic model for each of the 12 streams being considered. Environmental conditions were taken into consideration with wildfire and flooding being looked at having an impact.
The group considered adding 30 adults for each of five years adding fish to one stream at a time. “We were focused on adding 30 adults to the system,” said Benjamin. “Some streams don’t perform well.” They looked at Flick Creek, the upper Stehekin and Agnes Creek.
Benjamin stated that the group considers the lower Stehekin River and Bridge Creek better environmentally. “These fish are capable of moving around from Bridge Creek to Stehekin.”
Other considerations include egg survival and fish residing in Lake Chelan. “What could happen. They could make it to the lake, get big and come back and spawn.” The group is also considering a predator discount in Lake Chelan. Predator discount acknowledges that predators consume fish that might otherwise be harvested by humans for profit. This predation represents a “social cost” or lost economic opportunity for the fishery.
Joe Heinlen, a long time fishing guide on Lake Chelan, remarked that there is a healthy king salmon fishery on the lake and that these fish spawn in the Stehekin River. The introduction of bull trout could be devastating to king salmon populations.
Benjamin replied that the group hadn’t taken a look at the recreational opportunities. “We didn’t see an impact but will take a closer look at that.”
Mike Kaputa, Chelan County Natural Resources Director, stated that he would like to see a little context to this issue. “Bull trout are threatened, but reside in other local water systems, but are locally extinct.”
Kaputa mentioned Phil Archibald, who was a fishery biologist with the Entiat Ranger District who was curious about why bull trout disappeared in Lake Chelan. Bull trout was a native species in the Lake Chelan watershed before it disappeared in the late 40s or early 50s. Since that time, the fish has been considered extinct. In addition, the fish populations in the last 75 years has changed in Lake Chelan.
Today, the lake sports an extremely healthy recreational fishery. Lake trout, chinook salmon, kokanee, cutthroat and bass are the primary fish in the system. Chinook and kokanee spawn in the Stehekin River.
According to local fishing guides, the re-introduction of bull trout to the tributaries of Lake Chelan would be the death of the healthy recreational fishery currently in place. “Bull trout are the wolf of fresh water,” stated Joe Heinlen, a fishing guide. “They will eat everything!”
“There is a simmering interest in this,” said Kaputa.
Benjamin said, “There is no current proposal to re-introduce bull trout. My question… Is there a question?”
The next step according to Benjamin are public meetings. “We are starting that process officially today. We will see how we want to proceed in the future.”
Bull trout:
Bull trout was a native species in the Lake Chelan watershed before it disappeared in the late 40s or early 50s. Since that time, the fish has been considered extinct. In addition, the fish populations in the last 75 years has changed in Lake Chelan.
Today, the lake sports an extremely healthy recreational fishery. Lake trout, chinook salmon, kokanee, cutthroat and bass are the primary fish in the system. Chinook and kokanee spawn in the Stehekin River.
According to local fishing guides, the re-introduction of bull trout to the tributaries of Lake Chelan would be the death of the healthy recreational fishery currently in place. “Bull trout are the wolf of fresh water,” stated Joe Heinlen, “They will eat everything!”
“Bull trout and West Slope Cutthroat (native species) co-existed in Lake Chelan until the Bull trout disappeared,” said Heinlen. Heinlen added that since that time, Chinook salmon, Lake trout, Rainbow trout, Kokanee salmon, Small and Large Mouth Bass and other species have been planted in the lake.
“These fish constitute an important sport fishery,” said Heinlen. “An introduction of Bull trout could be devastating to sport fishing in the Valley,” he added. “Taking a chance of destroying a world class fishery is crazy.”
“They (bull trout) will eat a lot of kokanee,” said Heinlen. “They also don’t stay in one spot and that’s got me concerned.” Heinlen did say it would take up to 10 years to get them established.
All Things Lake Chelan 