Fish in your backyard? Factors affecting trout presence in Wasatch Front creeks

Authors: Tyler Anderson, Madison Vanderpool, Christopher W. Hoagstrom

Year: 2012 (xliv)

Abstract

Many small creeks flow into communities between Bountiful and Brigham City along the Wasatch Front in Northern Utah, originating in canyons that have very similar topography, but which have been isolated from one another due to community growth. Some of these creeks contain trout. The isolation of many very similar creeks allows for a very unique investigation of the factors that influence trout populations. An understanding of what factors contribute to a creek’s ability to support successful trout populations will enable future management of creek habitats for recreational fishing and for re-introduction of Bonneville Cutthroat Trout. We investigated the presence or absence of trout in these creeks to determine what factors are associated with trout presence. Backpack electrofishing was conducted near the mouth of each creek’s parent canyon, above most manmade structures. In general, creeks with trout were deeper, larger, and less steep. However, these features alone did not guarantee the presence of trout. Some creeks, such as Mill Creek in Bountiful and Willard Creek near Willard, contained no trout despite being relatively deep, wide, and having shallow slope and long drainage circumference. Large floods in recent decades may have affected once existing trout populations in these creeks.