In southeast Utah, an on going project to protect a pure strain of colorado cutthroat has begun to pay off.

Starting in 2000, DNA testing proved that pure cutthroats exist in the White River near Soldier Summit. Since then all trout were removed from Duck Fork Reservoir, creating a place where colorado cutthroats can be transplanted without possibility of crossbreeding with other species. DWR Biologists have transfered fish from the white river to duck fort reservoir on several ocasions improving their chances for survival.

This year the project has been responsible for harvesting of 64,000 eggs, which in turn hatched and grew into over 20,000 finger sized colorado river cutthroats.10,000 of the fish were stocked back into Duck Fork Reservoir, 10,000 were put back into the white river, and the rest were released in Millsite Reservoir.

This is great for both anglers and the cutthroat species, so look forward to fishing Duck Fork Reservoir, White River, and Millsite. If all goes well those fingerling will grow into some good sized fish within the next few years. Good Job Utah DWR!!!