For years, the Division of Wildlife Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, other government and private agencies, along with interest angling groups have studied the possibility of placing native Bonneville cutthroat trout back into the Diamond Fork drainage. This restorative step with this sensitive species may keep it off the endangered species list and at the same time provide anglers with yet another quality high-mountain fishing opportunity.

On August 16, 2006 a 21-mile section of the Diamond Fork River (beginning roughly 5 miles above the Palmyra Campground) was treated with rotenone to remove mainly brown trout from the water. This move was designed to give the cutthroats a fresh, competition free environment in which to reestablish its population. The natural poison was introduced via "drip barrels" placed strategically along the path of the river. Other personnel used back pack sprayers to administer the chemical to hard-to-reach areas. This process will be repeated on September 20, to insure a 100 percent fish removal.

Since the lower 10 miles of river were not treated, a neutralizing agent was and will be introduced to the water in the Three Forks area to insure the safety of the lower Diamond Fork fishery. In addition, the Forest Service has constructed fish barriers at the same location to keep the brown trout population and the soon-to-be Bonneville cutthroat population separate.

After the second treatment, 10,000 three-inch Bonneville cutthroat trout will be stocked in the 21-mile section of river. The fish were raised from eggs harvested from Mountain Dell, and Little Dell reservoirs last year. Then, after remaining closed to fishing for the 2007 section is allow time for the fish to grow, the section should open to angling sometime in 2008.

"Several streams are tied to the main stem of the Diamond Fork River," explains Don Wiley, the DWR regional aquatics manager and coordinator of the project. "These streams aren't separated from the river by any barriers, so placing fish in the river will allow us to restore Bonneville cutthroat trout to several drainages at the same time."

"Also," continues Wiley, "the cutthroat trout in the main stem of Diamond Fork can access those tributaries during the spawn, or any time of the year, which will help maintain a gene flow throughout the cutthroat trout population in the area."

The lower 10 miles of Diamond Fork is a fantastic brown trout fishery and will remain so. Officials believe that the project will not affect the fishing from the Three Forks area fish barrier all the way to the mouth of the river.

Don Allphin writes a weekly fishing column for the Daily Herald. He can be reached at doallphin@fiber.net.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page C5.