Colorado wildlife agency juggling fish to strike balance

Gunnison, Colo. (AP) – State wildlife officials plan to move
some fish out of Blue Mesa Reservoir to protect Colorado’s primary
producer of kokanee salmon.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife says there are too many lake
trout in the reservoir west of Gunnison. The trout are preying on
the salmon and the rainbow trout and the numbers of both fish are
dropping.

The lake trout population is also declining as competition for
food increases.

State aquatic biologist John Alves says the situation at Blue
Mesa is a long-term threat to Colorado’s production of trophy-size
lake trout and kokanee salmon. The plan is to move small- to
medium-sized lake trout out of the reservoir starting in the late
fall.