No boating or fishing at North Michigan in 2021

As thoughts turn to summer fun in the Colorado mountains, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is reminding visitors to State Forest State Park that a contractor will begin rehabilitation on the dam at North Michigan Reservoir during the month of May. The dam at the popular fishing and camping reservoir is being upgraded to improve safety for downstream properties.

The work will require water levels to be reduced began March 29. Due to decreased water levels, all ice activities including ice fishing will be prohibited starting on March 29. In addition, no boating will be allowed on North Michigan Reservoir in 2021. Also, campers at the North Michigan campground should be prepared for disturbances due to noisy construction equipment. Campsites immediately adjacent to the dam are closed during the work. Generators, pumps, and heavy equipment will be active during the daytime hours. Some nighttime generator noise is also a possibility during times when pumps are required to remove water from the construction area around the clock.

The 60-foot high dam at North Michigan Reservoir was originally built in 1963. The reservoir stores approximately 1,300 acre feet of water. Worsening seepage conditions on the north abutment were identified in 2015. The discovery resulted in the prioritization of repair efforts at the dam to address developing safety concerns. The planned rehabilitation includes seepage mitigation in the north abutment, removal and replacement of the spillway, and improvements to the outlet works.

Beginning Monday, March 29, the reservoir water level will be lowered significantly for construction purposes. While levels will be maintained for fishery protection, aquatic biologists will monitor the lake and determine if fish salvage methods, such as higher bag limits, are warranted in the future.

To minimize impacts to the public, Colorado Parks and Wildlife hopes to complete the work later this year, however weather or unforeseen issues could lead to work extending into 2022.

“It’s more important to get it done properly than quickly,” said Joe Brand, Park Manager at State Forest State Park. “This important project will assure that North Michigan dam will continue to safely provide water and recreation for many years to come.”

The total cost of the North Michigan Creek dam project is $7 million. The work is part of a multiphase project funded by the Colorado Lottery and Great Outdoors Colorado. 

Colorado invests $20 million of general fund into state park capital improvements

 

Governor Jared Polis signs the bill at Cherry Creek State Park. 

Governor Jared Polis signs the bill at Cherry Creek State Park.    DENVER – Today, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is pleased to announce that Governor Polis signed bill SB21-112 that appropriates $20 million of the state general fund for capital improvements for increased access at certain state parks. The bill is a component of a bipartisan stimulus effort developed by the Governor and the General Assembly to jumpstart Colorado’s economy through investments in infrastructure projects. This conservation-focused legislation will help direct funds to outdoor projects in Colorado that protect irreplaceable public lands and expand outdoor recreation opportunities in the state. The bill was signed at Cherry Creek State Park, one of the parks that will receive funding to expand park facilities, which includes the construction of a new educational center facility and modernize restroom amenities at the swim beach. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Colorado state parks saw explosive growth in park attendance as Colorado residents and out-of-state visitors sought outdoor and socially distanced activities. State parks usage grew by 2.2 million visitor days from the 2014-15 state fiscal year and a further 30 percent during the spring of 2020. CPW will use the additional funding toward park enhancements and expansions necessary to meet the needs of park visitors and upgrade infrastructures to ensure Colorado state parks offer quality outdoor adventures for current and future generations. Examples of park projects will include building new trails, service buildings, campgrounds and shooting bays.  “Throughout the pandemic, we watched our Colorado community flock to our state parks in record numbers for solace and the mental and health benefits associated with spending time outdoors,” said Governor Jared Polis. “The increase in park visitation proves the importance of outdoor spaces to Coloradans, and our collective need to invest in preserving and improving our state park system so our human use does not overwhelm our state’s natural resources. This increased funding, which is part of Colorado’s bipartisan stimulus package, will provide additional access and recreational opportunities that connect people to the outdoors and protect the landscapes that make Colorado so spectacular.” Accelerating the development of Colorado’s newest state park, Fishers Peak State Park, and improving amenities at eleven other state parks will relieve pressure from such high usage and prepare for future demand. “I applaud the leadership of the Governor and state legislators for the additional critical funding for our treasured state parks,” said Dan Gibbs, Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “The importance of our state parks and visiting our vast Great Outdoors has never been more important than today. This targeted funding will enhance Coloradan's visitor experience to our state parks for generations to come.”  CPW will use the appropriation for capital construction projects at the following locations: Boyd Lake State Park Lake Pueblo State Park Fishers Peak State Park Cherry Creek State Park Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Ridgway State Park Steamboat Lake State Park North Sterling State Park Chatfield State Park Jackson Lake State Park Navajo State Park Cameo Shooting and Education Complex “We all have an obligation to our lands, waters and wildlife to recreate responsibly and monitor how our increased outdoor activities impact the places we play,” said CPW Director Dan Prenzlow. “More Coloradans are enjoying our great outdoors - and this additional funding will help our agency expand park facilities based on the evolving needs of our park visitors to ensure we can maintain a quality park system for years to come.”   Colorado Parks and Wildlife currently manages Colorado’s 42 state parks. State parks offer important places for outdoor recreation while also benefiting local economies, public health and residents’ quality of life. Public funding for state parks provides valuable contributions to conserving state lands for future generations. CPW remains committed to collaborating with statewide conservation stakeholders and recreation partners to help secure a quality park system and successful wildlife legacy for Colorado. To learn more about CPW’s conservation principles and priorities, visit cpw.state.co.us.

Two-year review of Watson Lake fish ladder indicates it has been a success

 

BELLVUE, Colo. - Colorado Parks and Wildlife monitoring efforts of the fish ladder installed on the Cache la Poudre River at the Watson Lake State Wildlife Area two years ago shows it has been a success across several fronts.

The fishway was designed to allow passage around a diversion structure in the river for multiple species of fish. This project is a realization of a partnership formed between private and public entities. 

“Overall, we are happy with the project and have documented fish moving upstream and downstream in the structure,” said CPW Aquatic Biologist Kyle Battige. “The fish ladder has improved conditions on the river and reconnected over two miles of river habitat by providing upstream movement opportunities for fish that had not existed at the Watson Lake Diversion Structure location since it was built in the 1960s.”

Watch trout swim in the fish ladder and hear more from aquatic biologist Kyle Battige

Two separate Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tagging efforts helped CPW in monitoring fish movement up and down the river after the ladder was installed. CPW tagged 71 fish on April 26, 2019 that were released in the downstream half of the fishway for initial evaluation. Researchers with Colorado State University also tagged fish downstream of the fishway as a part of a larger movement study on April 4, 2019.

Data from the PIT tags documented successful upstream and downstream movement with 41 of the 71 CPW tagged fish utilizing the ladder and 36 of those fish successfully ascending the entire structure. The other five fish were recorded on one of the other two operational antennas within the structure, but not at the top antenna. Our detection data indicates that 51 percent of fish tagged by CPW successfully ascended the entire structure.

Additionally, eight brown trout tagged by CSU and released 50 meters or further downstream have been documented using the fishway.

“Documenting 51 percent of the CPW-tagged fish along with CSU- tagged fish utilizing the structure over the course of several months is exciting,” Battige said. “The fish ladder is performing as designed and is allowing fish to move freely up and downstream through the reach as they want. Further evaluation is warranted to investigate movement success across a broader size range within each fish species, but to date we have documented adult fish successfully navigating the fishway” 

Of the three species of fish tagged - longnose sucker, brown trout and rainbow trout - at least one individual across all tagged species has successfully navigated the fishway.

Other areas monitored that indicate a successful project are measured water velocities in the fishway, discharge measurements in the fishway and water delivery to the hatchery. In addition, the cone screen constructed above the fish ladder where water gets delivered to the hatchery prevented fish entrainment by screening water delivered to the hatchery and that has not clogged during the fall leaf seasons, decreasing CPW staff time spent cleaning old inlet infrastructure. The cone screen is powered by a solar panel and has been an overall benefit to hatchery operations while not impacting water delivery.

In order to satisfy measurement of Northern Water’s potential future augmentation flows from Glade Reservoir, the fishway was designed to carry up to 30 cubic feet per second (cfs) before spilling over the dam. Based on CPW measurements since construction was completed in the spring of 2019, the fishway more than meets that criteria, with its overall capacity being closer to 50 cfs. 

Morning Fresh Dairy, one of the project partners, is also utilizing the structure to measure future water flows. 

There was a seamless collaboration between public and private entities who came together on the project to improve the river and its habitat. Along with CPW and Morning Fresh Dairy, noosa yoghurt, Northern Water and Poudre Heritage Alliance all were key partners in the project.

Learning lessons gleaned from this project that can be applied to help future ladder designs include careful consideration of tradeoffs between flow measurement and fish passage along with minor design tweaks to optimize water velocities in fish ladders.

NORTH MICHIGAN DAM WORK BEGINS - ALL BOATING AND ICE ACTIVITIES SUSPENDED FOR 2021

 

North Michigan Reservoir - Photo by Dustin Doskocil 2019

WALDEN, Colo. - As thoughts turn to summer fun in the Colorado mountains, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is reminding visitors to State Forest State Park that a contractor will begin rehabilitation on the dam at North Michigan Reservoir during the month of May. The dam at the popular fishing and camping reservoir is being upgraded to improve safety for downstream properties.

The work will require water levels to be reduced beginning March 29. Due to decreased water levels, all ice activities including ice fishing will be prohibited starting on March 29. In addition, no boating will be allowed on North Michigan Reservoir in 2021. Also, campers at the North Michigan campground should be prepared for disturbances due to noisy construction equipment. Campsites immediately adjacent to the dam are closed during the work. Generators, pumps, and heavy equipment will be active during the daytime hours. Some nighttime generator noise is also a possibility during times when pumps are required to remove water from the construction area around the clock.   

The 60-foot high dam at North Michigan Reservoir was originally built in 1963. The reservoir stores approximately 1,300 acre feet of water. Worsening seepage conditions on the north abutment were identified in 2015. The discovery resulted in the prioritization of repair efforts at the dam to address developing safety concerns. The planned rehabilitation includes seepage mitigation in the north abutment, removal and replacement of the spillway, and improvements to the outlet works. 

Beginning Monday, March 29, the reservoir water level will be lowered significantly for construction purposes. While levels will be maintained for fishery protection, aquatic biologists will monitor the lake and determine if fish salvage methods, such as higher bag limits, are warranted in the future. 

To minimize impacts to the public, Colorado Parks and Wildlife hopes to complete the work later this year, however weather or unforeseen issues could lead to work extending into 2022. 

“It’s more important to get it done properly than quickly,” said Joe Brand, Park Manager at State Forest State Park. “This important project will assure that North Michigan dam will continue to safely provide water and recreation for many years to come.”

The total cost of the North Michigan Creek dam project is $7 million. The work is part of a multiphase project funded by the Colorado Lottery and Great Outdoors Colorado. GOCO invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds to help preserve and enhance the state's parks, trails, wildlife, rivers, and open spaces. The GOCO board awards competitive grants to local governments and land trusts, and makes investments through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Created when voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1992, GOCO has committed more than $1.2 billion in lottery proceeds to more than 5,200 projects in all 64 counties.  

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission approves new pass for State Wildlife Areas (SWA)

Note: I checked with CPW at Boyd lake and you can still use a fishing or hunting license to access SWA places. State Wildlife Areas are different from State Parks, a Parks pass won't work for SWA area. 

March 23, 2021

DENVER – At its virtual meeting last week, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously to approve a new Colorado State Wildlife Area Pass as an option to access state wildlife areas. The new pass will go on sale May 1, 2021. 

“This is an important step in ensuring everyone who visits our state wildlife areas is contributing to their management and maintenance,” said CPW Director Dan Prenzlow.  

The annual Colorado SWA Pass will be available on May 1, 2021 by visiting any CPW office or online at cpwshop.com. The pass will be priced similarly to a resident annual fishing license and revenue from the new SWA pass will be used to manage and maintain SWAs. 

Colorado State Wildlife Area Pass
annual: $36.08*
1 day: $9
Youth (ages 16-17) annual: $10.07
Senior (ages 65 and older) annual: $10.07
Low-income annual: $10.07
(Fees include a $1.50 Wildlife Education Fund surcharge)
*Plus a fee of $10.40 for a Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp

The annual pass is valid from March 1 – March 31 of the following year, also aligning with the 13-month season for fishing licenses in Colorado.

History and funding of state wildlife areas in Colorado
CPW now manages more than 350 SWAs, all set aside to conserve wildlife habitat with dollars from hunting and angling licenses. Those funds are also matched with federal income from the excise taxes collected on the sale of hunting and fishing equipment.

While these properties have been identified as critical wildlife habitat, over the years they have also gained significant value for outdoor recreationists.
Because these properties have always been open to the public, not just to the hunters and anglers that purchased them and pay for their maintenance, many people now visit these properties and use them as they would any other public land.

As Colorado’s population - and desire for outdoor recreation - has continued to grow, a significant increase in traffic to these SWAs has disrupted wildlife, the habitat the areas were acquired to protect, and the hunters and anglers whose contributions were critical to acquiring these properties. 

That’s why in July of 2020, new regulations went into effect requiring all visitors 18 or older to possess a valid hunting or fishing license to access any SWA leased by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

CPW had historically been bound by stringent guidance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on how income earned from these properties could be accounted for, making the creation of another kind of pass to access these areas financially unfeasible. But in late 2020, CPW received approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a new accounting approach that made adding a pass as an option for access to these properties feasible.

In November 2020, an SWA Working Group was created with CPW staff and stakeholders from around the state to determine what a new pass might look like.

A new State Wildlife Area Pass
At its January 2021 meeting, the CPW Commission heard recommendations from the SWA Working Group on creating a new Colorado SWA Pass.

Recommendations:
The group recommended pricing the annual pass at a similar level to the annual fishing license, offering discounted passes to youth and seniors priced comparably to youth and senior fishing licenses, offering a 1-day pass option priced comparably to the 1-day parks pass, requiring a Habitat Stamp and a surcharge for the Wildlife Management Public Education Fund in addition to the pass, and offering a discounted low-income annual pass option. The age at which a hunting license, fishing license or SWA pass is required to access SWAs was reduced to all persons 16 years and older to better correspond to the youth pass and license options.

Now that the Colorado SWA Pass is available, the SWA Working Group will move into Phase II of its work, completing an audit of all Colorado’s SWAs to determine which properties may require additional restrictions on allowed activities, seasonal closures for wildlife, and reviews to determine if the property is still meeting its intended purpose as a wildlife area.  

More information and SWA FAQ about CPW’s state wildlife areas is available on CPW’s website.

RESENDING TO FIX e-mail address, LFC Ballot

Only 28 club members have responded to Jim Visger's request for an March 17 e-mail or mail-in vote on election of club officers - at least 47 are needed.

There's no reasonable reason to not vote either yea or nay. If you have NOT seen the e-mail, it may have gone into your computer's SPAM folder. Please check.

Below is a copy of the ballot question. If you've not yet responded, please indicate your vote with a yes or no after clicking on the following e-mail: visgermnj@aol.com

Original e-mail follows:

LOVELAND FISHING CLUB

OFFICIAL BALLOT Reply within 5 days of receipt

In accordance with ARTICLE 8 of the Bylaws at the first general meeting each year the club is asked to ratify your Board Officers, however, things are a bit different this year. Without the ability to meet in person and with only 15-25 members showing up at zoom general meetings the board is asking each member to cast their vote either by e-mail ballot or postal ballot, thereby allowing your board to continue in an official capacity.

Please note no one has volunteered to place their name in for Vice President.

All 2020 Board OFFICERS with the exception of the 2020 President Jim Baxter who becomes Parliamentarian have agreed to stand for election.

Yes ____ No___ President: Doug Money

Vice President: Vacancy

Yes____ No___ Treasurer: Barb Ding

Yes____ No___ Secretary: Christina Weiss

Email Ballots Reply Yes or identify your No to Jim Visger: visgermnj@aol.com 

Mailed Ballots

Jim Visger

3585 Leopard St

Loveland CO 80537-6634

All ballots receive will be logged for review if necessary

Time for a new fishing license

 Your old license expires March 31, so get out your wallet. Here's a link to a site where you can purchase your license online, https://www.cpwshop.com/licensing.page You can also renew at sporting goods stores, or the Boyd Lake State Park office (where you can also renew your boat registration). It's time to go fishing! 

Colorado lakes, reservoirs are free of invasive mussels; but more boats found with mussel infestations in 2020

 DENVER – More boats requiring decontamination because of infestations of destructive mussels entered Colorado in 2020 compared to previous years; but the statewide inspection program coordinated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife again succeeded in keeping invasive mussels out of the state’s lakes and reservoirs.

Invasive species damage Colorado's lands and waters, hurt the economy, ruin recreational opportunities and threaten public health.

Thanks to CPW’s comprehensive Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) prevention program, all waters in the state are now officially free of evidence of mussels. In 2017, veligers, the microscopic larval stage of quagga mussels, found at Green Mountain Reservoir showed that mussels might exist there. But three years of subsequent water testing were negative for mussel species.

“Colorado Parks and Wildlife continues to meet the challenge of protecting the state’s waters and infrastructure from aquatic nuisance species,” said Robert Walters, CPW’s ANS program manager. “But as boating season approaches we continue to ask for help from boat owners in maintaining our mussel-free status.”

Mussels are destructive to aquatic habitat, can seriously damage reservoir infrastructure and cause problems on boats.

As usual, Colorado’s ANS inspectors were plenty busy during 2020. Staff conducted a total of 647,325 inspections and decontaminated 24,771 boats suspected of carrying mussels, other aquatic invasive species or standing water. That was a huge increase of 34 percent in inspections from 2019 when 481,253 boats were inspected and 22,947 were decontaminated. Most concerning is the continued increase in the number of boats fouled with mussels. In 2019, 86 boats were found to be fouled with invasive mussels and in 2020 that number jumped to 100. Only 16 boats with mussels were found in 2017.

Contaminated boats come into Colorado from neighboring states, especially Utah and Arizona because of our proximity to Lake Powell which has been mussel-infested for years. Other neighboring states with mussel infestations include Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and South Dakota. Most Midwestern and East Coast states also have infested waters.
 
Some of the increase in inspections can be attributed to the large influx of outdoor recreation Colorado has experienced since the start of the pandemic. Colorado Parks and Wildlife understands that outdoor recreation is important to everyone's physical and mental health and the state made a commitment to keep state parks open during the pandemic.

Since CPW’s ANS inspection program started in 2008, 5.6 million boats have been inspected and 144,000 boats have been decontaminated. The agency is aided in the program by Colorado counties, municipalities, water districts, federal agencies and private companies that also conduct inspections. CPW also works proactively looking for aquatic nuisance species by sampling waters throughout the state. In 2020, crews sampled 175 standing waters and four flowing waters. The National Park Service provided CPW with 14 water samples.

CPW has also been instrumental in establishing the Water Inspection and Decontamination (WID) protocols which are now used by states throughout the West. Agency staff also are active with the Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Committee.

Walters said that CPW will always remain vigilant in the fight against mussels.

“Mussels aren’t going away. However, by continuing our preventative watercraft inspection program we can keep Colorado’s waters free of invasive mussels.”

Boat owners are reminded to “clean, drain and dry” boats after every use. Boaters should also inspect their trailers and look in hard-to-reach spots on boats and engines for evidence of mussels. Anyone who has used a boat in waters outside of Colorado should tell boat inspectors. Boat owners can also call any state park or wildlife office if they have questions or concerns.

For more information about aquatic nuisance species and CPW’s program, visit: https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/ISP-ANS.aspx or read the Boater’s Guide to ANS Inspections.

Carter's ice free now ... and full of water!

Wayne Baranczyk dropped his float tube into Carter Lake this week, finding open water and (to his surprise) that the water lords had refilled the lake to the brim! No word on whether he caught fish, which probably speaks volumes.

Looking north toward the marina, a nice lakeful of H2O.

 

Quit complaining, start fishing

 (Also posted in http://fishexplorer.com)

By Bill Prater

This is that fun time of year when northern Colorado/southern Wyoming ice fishermen keep asking one another, “Anyone checked the ice on Boyd? Is there still ice on top of Douglas? How about Hattie? Hey, can you still walk on (and off) Crystal?”

The answer is: “Well, you can hope all you want; but below 6 or 7,000 feet, the ice around here has gotten pretty darned dicey.” Some diehards will just trek higher into the mountains, or get out their fly rods and head for a creek. Or catch a late season clearance on some fancy new floatation bibs, and hope they won’t be needed. Me, I’m thinking it is time for still water anglers to put away their augers and tiny rods, and take advantage of late winter/early spring open water.

This time of year, you really can catch fish in open water -  in most parts of the country much more frequently than you can around the Front Range. You Tube and Face Book groups are filled with photos and tall tales from grinning anglers in places like southern Colorado, Florida and Arizona. But even in northern Colorado, we can coax a few fish to the net; it just takes grinding patience, tolerance for being cold, and a willingness to live with (or possibly lie about) the occasional skunk.

Here is one grim truth that took me years to accept after relocating from the Midwest more than three decades ago: Colorado weather is just not a fisherman’s friend. By mid-March or even February in places like Missouri and Oklahoma, warm nights and warmer days typically kick start a new season for crappie, white bass and other warm water fish. Here? Yeah, we get warm afternoons, like the ones that lured some of us back into our float tubes last week. But we also get bitterly cold nights and annoying, disruptive spring snowstorms, like the one of Biblical proportions headed our way this very weekend.

So how does the determined fisherman find success on open water, without waiting for April or May? My advice is, ignore for now all those boisterous Southern fishing shows about prespawn bass and bedding bluegill. Do like me: settle for a gullible bass or two after hours of casting a lipless crank bait or Ned Rig. Or better yet, up your chances by concentrating on trout, in most lakes holdovers stocked in 2020 or earlier. I kind of ignored cold water fish when I first moved West. But eventually even I found, to my delight, that trout stay active much later in the fall than warm water species, and tend to stay that way right through winter, accessible through the ice or in open water during the occasional winter thaw. 

I prefer the float tube this time of year, though you can do quite well from shore. And Boyd Lake State Park is set to open for boating at 8 a.m. Monday, March 15. (Parks and Wildlife dropped more than 3,000 trout at the boat ramp this week) Other large northern lakes remain mostly closed to boating until April. But if you can find an open spot to launch, you can launch on most smaller waters. Good luck, and try to stay warm out there. I know some of you will keep trying to find safe ice until hell freezes over. Let us know how you do.

Blog content © Bill Prater

March general meeting will be Tuesday, March 16 by Zoom

 Here's the dial information from Peggy Gwinnup, who is providing technical support for our Zoom meetings. Just click on the link below. 

Topic: LFC General Meeting

Time: March 16, 2021 02 p.m. Mountain Time

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84351853987?pwd=OWtjTkpqTUtENHRMYWtrVDk5ZjQ0Zz09

Meeting ID: 843 5185 3987

Passcode: 324940

One tap mobile

+16699009128,,84351853987# US (San Jose)

+12532158782,,84351853987# US (Tacoma)

Missouri: OSAGE COUNTY ANGLER CATCHES 112-POUND INVASIVE BLACK CARP

 

Osage County angler catches 112-pound invasive black carp | Missouri Department of Conservation (mo.gov)

MDC confirms Jesse Hughes of Bonnots Mill caught an invasive black carp in Osage County March 4. Hughes was catfishing when he reeled in the 112-pound fish from the Osage River upstream of the Bonnots Mill Access.

Jill Pritchard

Mar 09, 2021

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – An Osage County man got a surprise last week after catching a 112-pound invasive black carp from the Osage River. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has listed black carp on the Prohibited Species List – a list of species that may not be imported, exported, transported, sold, purchased, or possessed alive in Missouri without written approval of the director.

Jesse Hughes of Bonnots Mill was originally catfishing with friends March 4 when he hooked into the fish.

“We hooked into it and knew it was something big, but I originally thought it was a catfish,” Hughes recalled. “It was the first I’d heard of a black carp. I didn’t know anything about it, so this has been quite the learning experience.”

According to MDC, black carp are an invasive fish from Asia that eat mussels and snails. The fish damage populations of native mollusks, many of which are critically endangered. There is a strong possibility the species is becoming established, with breeding populations, on our continent.

Black carp have been found in the Mississippi River system, including the Osage River, where in 1994 about 30 reportedly escaped from a fish farm during a high-water event and entered that river.

Most of the black carp in the United States were introduced to control problematic snail populations in commercial fisheries, and these individuals are presumably sterile. Yet fertile individuals can be present, too. Given that black carp can live for 15 years, even the sterile individuals can present a serious long-term problem for native mollusk populations.

“If anglers happen to catch black carp, or any invasive fish, while fishing in Missouri waters, it’s imperative to contact their local conservation agent,” explained MDC Fisheries Programs Specialist Andrew Branson. “That way, our Fisheries staff can be notified and monitor the spread of these destructive species.”

The black carp caught by Hughes is currently being studied by the United States Geological Survey.

“It’s a little disappointing, as I don’t think I’ll ever catch a fish that big again,” joked Hughes. “But at least it’s one less invasive fish in Missouri waters.”

Black carp appear similar to the common grass carp, but the black carp is darker, though not truly black, and some report the adult black carp have a relatively narrower snout. It also has large pharyngeal teeth, or throat teeth, that resemble human molars. These teeth are used to crush the shells of mollusk and prey.

For more information on black carp, visit the MDC website at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZRa. To learn more about invasive species, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZeV.

Um: never mind: Anyone fish Poudre Ponds in Greeley?

Quick update:  I just learned Greeley has drained the damned thing. Not sure why, but assured it is high and dry. 

Just sitting here wondering about options for spring fishing. Poudre Ponds opened in 2011 using a Fishing is Fun grant, and it's stocked with trout, bass, crappie. Probably gets a ton of angling pressure, but where can you go these days that doesn't? It's located on the north end of Greeley off 35th street, a reasonable drive. Looks pretty intriguing on Google Earth..

Wyoming: Rabbit hemorrhagic disease recently found in Laramie and Albany counties

For those of us that fish in Wyoming and maybe even northern Colorado lets call the Wyoming or Colorado wildlife office to report any of these rabbits we might run across. 

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Regional-Offices/Laramie-Region/Laramie-Region-News/Rabbit-hemorrhagic-disease-recently-found-in-Laram 

LARAMIE - Recently, 11 cases of Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHDV2) have been identified in Albany and Laramie counties. These cases have been from a wild eastern cottontail (1), black-tailed jackrabbits (3), and desert cottontails (7). RHDV2 is a fatal disease of rabbits that affects both domestic and wild rabbits, including hares, jackrabbits, and cottontails. Signs of the disease are sudden death and occasionally blood stained noses as a result of internal bleeding. The disease is very contagious, being spread via direct contact, exposure to infected excretions or blood, spreading via carcass, food, water, or any contaminated material. The WGFD is currently conducting surveillance for this disease and asks if rabbit carcasses are found and RHDV2 suspected, please contact the Wildlife Health Laboratory at (307) 745-5865.

- WGFD -

Albany County

Laramie County

Zebra mussels found in several WY pet stores

 https://wgfd.wyo.gov/News/Zebra-mussels-found-in-several-WY-pet-stores

Do not flush moss balls or pour aquarium water down drains

CHEYENNE - An invasive mussel that poses a serious threat to Wyoming’s natural resources and water systems has been found in a number of pet stores across the state. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in a variety of moss balls, a product sold at many aquarium and pet supply stores. Game and Fish is urging anyone who has this product to carefully dispose of it and aquarium water immediately. Proper disposal is essential to help mitigate the potentially catastrophic effects mussels could have for the state.

“Zebra mussels are an extremely destructive aquatic invasive species,” said Game and Fish Chief of Fisheries Alan Osterland. “Once they become established in reservoirs, lakes or even city water systems, they wreak havoc. They remove nutrients from water, clog pipes and waterways, damage boats and out-compete native mussels. Further, in many cases, zebra mussels are impossible to remove and could have costly impacts for Wyoming.” 

A moss ball is a popular tank decoration made of a green filamentous algae used to oxygenate the water. It’s important that anyone who has purchased a moss ball closely follow the recommended steps for disposal. 

To dispose:
 

1. Remove any pets from the water and tank.
2. Remove the moss ball, other plants and any water from the aquarium and put them into a heat-safe pot. Do not dispose of any water down the drain or toilet.
3. Inspect the moss ball and tank for zebra mussels and if you find any contact your local Game and Fish regional office or local warden.
4. Boil the moss balls, plants and any water it’s been in contact with for at least five minutes
5. Dispose of the moss ball and other plants in trash. 
6. Pour out the boiled water on a semi-permeable surface. That could be a houseplant or outside — like grass or soil — that is not located near standing water or a storm drain.

Do not flush the moss ball or pour aquarium water down any drains, toilets or into nearby water sources like a local pond or creek. These actions could spread zebra mussels throughout the water system. 

“We are urging folks to take extra precautions and please follow these disposal instructions. It’s essential for our state’s fisheries, wildlife and communities that these steps are followed. It will be key to mitigating the potential impacts Wyoming now faces,” Osterland said. 

Anyone who finds zebra mussels in their tank must call the local Game and Fish regional office so a representative can collect the sample. Possessing any aquatic invasive species (AIS), such as zebra mussels, is illegal, and people are required to report the discovery within 48 hours.

Zebra mussels are striped, sized less than 2-inches. They attach to any hard surfaces such as metal, glass, plastic, stone, wood or rocks. They are extremely resistant to cold temperatures and many chemicals. Hot water is the most effective way to kill them and keep them from establishing. 

“Even if you can’t see mussels, it doesn’t mean they aren’t there,” Osterland said. “When zebra mussels are in their immature stage, called veligers, they are so small you can’t see them. But, they can grow in even tiny amounts of water. That is why it is so important for everyone to take precautions.”

Pets and other aquatic animals are not immediately impacted by zebra mussels. 

“Pet fish, turtles and the like should be safe; just clean your tanks and follow the disposal instructions for the plants and water,” said Osterland. “Never release your pet into the wild or pour your tank water into a natural water source. This can also spread invasive and other unwanted species.”

Wyoming is one of several states across the US to identify zebra mussels in pet and aquarium stores in connection to moss balls. The Department is working closely with other states and Federal agencies to address this nationwide issue. Game and Fish is urging any stores to immediately remove this product from shelves and contact their local Game and Fish office. 

Zebra mussels have never been identified in a Wyoming water source. Aquatic invasive species, like zebra mussels, quagga mussels, and others, are typically transported on watercraft. Annually, Game and Fish devotes $1.3 million to the AIS prevention program, which includes inspecting and decontaminating boats entering the state and it’s waters as the first-line for defense for the protecting Wyoming. More information on the prevention of AIS is available on the Game and Fish website. 

 

(Sara DiRienzo (307-777-4540))

- WGFD -