Fish and recreation projects highlighted in three Western states

• New plans for Buffalo Bill Reservoir support recreation.
• Up to $5 million available for fish research in California.
• Razorback sucker conservation efforts are underway in Lake Mohave.

September 30, 2024 — Three initiatives announced by the Bureau of Reclamation last week focused on fish and recreational resources in the Colorado River Basin.

Buffalo Bill Reservoir Management Plan.

The Bureau of Reclamation and Wyoming State Parks announced a new plan for managing Buffalo Bill Reservoir and State Park. This plan aims to improve the recreational use of land and water resources.

The Resource Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (RMP/EA) will guide decisions on recreational activities in the park.

Buffalo Bill State Park offers a variety of activities, including fishing, camping, and picnicking. The park features three boat ramps, nine day-use areas, and over one hundred campsites. Visitors can also rent Shreve Lodge for events.

Funding for Fish Research in California.

Reclamation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced funding opportunities to research certain fish species in California. Up to $5 million will be available for projects that study Chinook salmon, rainbow trout, green sturgeon, white sturgeon, and Delta smelt.

These projects will help gather important biological information to support fish recovery efforts. Eligible research includes fish growth, survival rates, and spawning populations. Interested parties can find more details and application requirements online.

Razorback Sucker Conservation in Lake Mohave.

Finally, Reclamation began its annual effort to harvest razorback suckers from lakeside rearing ponds at Lake Mohave. This initiative coincides with the planned lowering of water levels in the lake to prepare for winter storms.

The drawdown of water levels will help conservationists collect newly hatched razorback sucker larvae. This endangered species is native to the Colorado River. The larvae will be transferred to hatcheries and later released back into Lake Mohave after being tagged for tracking.

This conservation project involves multiple agencies balancing water needs and protecting native fish species. The Bureau of Reclamation’s website provides more information on these efforts.

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Image:

Buffalo Bill Reservoir in Park County, Wyoming, United States, by Larry D. Moore, August 2024.  Licensed under the the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.

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