Saratoga Lake project declared a success

WGFD deems roteneon project a success, will restock lake in spring 2023

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has declared success in completing a rotenone project to remove illegally-stocked yellow perch from Saratoga Lake.

According to a press release from the game and fish department, approximately 14,000 pounds of rotenone were applied to Saratoga Lake in mid-September. In October, fisheries biologists held two different sampling events at the lake to see if any fish remained. After 10 days without catching a single fish, biologists deemed the project complete.

“It went well. We did not catch any fish, which is awesome,” said Laramie Region Fisheries Supervisor Bobby Compton. “It means the project was a success.”

Along with killing illegally introduced yellow perch, the pesticide eliminated thousands of white suckers and removed the invasive brook stickleback. Because rotenone is non-selective, it also killed off the trout in the lake, which accounted for 20 percent of the dead fish. Yellow perch made up another 10 percent.

According to Compton, the game and fish department is looking at plans to address the white suckers and brook stickleback which enter the lake from the North Platte River. In 2018, the Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce introduced the Sucker Skirmish as a side event during the Saratoga Lake Ice Fishing Derby to attempt to decrease the number of suckers in the lake. While the initial year saw success, interest in the event appeared to have waned by 2022.

“We’re looking at a screening solution to keep them from returning to the lake,” Compton said. “We hope to have a fish screen in place sometime this winter before the lake is refilled.”

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department plans to restock the lake with trout in spring of 2023. The plan includes 6,500 nine-inch rainbow trout, 1,500 seven-inch brown trout and 2,500 fingerling tiger trout. There are also plans to add larger brood stock trout in fall of 2023 prior to the Saratoga Lake Ice Fishing Derby.

 

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