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Show MAY 11,2006 Page 10 THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER REMOVAL UTAH CHUBS FROM PANGUITCH LAKE COMPLETED The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has completed a successful treatment of Panguitch Lake, which resulted in the removal of all fish in the reservoir. This action has been in the planning and preparation stage for several years and will pave the way for making Panguitch Lake one of the premier fishing waters in the state of Utah. Panguitch Lake is located in Garfield County. Every year, thousands of anglers flock to its shores to try their luck at catching a limit of trout from the chilly depths of this high mountain lake. Nearly 60 percent of the anglers that utilize Panguitch Lake are from out of state, mostly from Nevada. As a result several "fishing lodge" type businesses have grown up around the lake that thrive on catering to these nonresident anglers. At some time, someone introduced Utah Chubs to the lake. These nuisance fish were probably used as bait and then just released into the lake when they were no longer needed. Utah chubs are native to the Great Basin area but not Panguitch Lake. They are very competitive fish and displaced "trout in the lake over time. At the time of the treatment, the trout population had declined to the point that less than three percent of the total fish in the lake were trout. Mike Ottenbacher, regional aquatics manager for the Division of Wildlife Resources, said, "When a lake gets to this point, fishing success drops to almost zero and there is really nothing to do but remove all the fish from the lake and start over from scratch." The treatment was carried out using rotenone, a naturally occurring fish toxin that is imported from South America. (Rotenone is a natural plant product that completely bio-degrades in the environment and is not toxic to humans, other mammals, or birds at the concentrations used. It is approved for aquatic use by the EPA.) The treatment began with final preparations being made at the lake on Monday, May 1. The first of the powdered rotenone was sprayed into the water early Tuesday morning, and by the end of the day six spray boats had deposited 70,000 pounds of the powder into Panguitch Lake. Stressed fish began to surface almost immediately when the powder hit the water and soon it was evident that the chub problem at Panguitch may have been even worse than anticipated. As you walked along the windward, east shore of the lake you could see thousands of dead chubs. The trout numbered less that 20. Division of Wildlife Resources biologist and project leader Chuck Chamberlain said, "It is clear that this project was needed and it will be great to see Panguitch get back to full productivity when we get trout back in the lake this spring." Panguitch Lake will remain fishless until the water detoxifies and will once again support fish. "We are going to make every effort to get fish back in as soon as possible. We will monitor the water quality and hope to get fish back in by the first part of June." Chamberlain said. He went on to say, "Right now it is a wait and see game. The lake will naturally detoxify in a few weeks. If the weather warms, it will happen quicker and we can get back to fishing even faster" Normally, the lake would be left without fish for an entire season to assure that there were no chubs remaining. However, due to the extraordinary interest in Panguitch and for the economic interest of the lodge owners, Panguitch will be immediately restocked with 50,000 catchable size rainbow trout. "Thesefishwill ensure that the fishing will be great all summer long at Panguitch. We would invite everyone to come and give it a try on Free Fishing Day which is June 10." said Chamberlain. The rainbows will be fun to catch and those that survive could reach one pound to 1.5 pounds by the early fall. It is also planned to put 200,000 fingerling rainbows and cutthroat into the lake at a later date. These fish will grow and become catchable size next year and assure the future of Panguitch Lake. ADVERTISE IN The entire project cost about $250,000 and used the services of more than 90 people. It was considered 100 percent Classifieds Start at Just 55/week successful and finished one day ahead Call 6~6-262I to place ads! of schedule. — Lynn Chamberlain ANTIMONY NEWS ...by Betty Wiley Corlas Montague is very excited he their own new cars. Hailie Shepherd, drew out in the Desert Big Horn Sheep Cassie Gleave, Keisha and Marcus Hunt this year. This is a once in a life- Gleave, Heather Allen, and ChyAnn time hunt. Ricketts. Both Wendy and Alisha Montague Jessica Savage was chosed as a placed in the Local Annual Business cheerleader. Wendy Montague, Olyvue Chapter. Wendy Montague placed 1st Lindgren, Kayla Torres were named to in Business Partnership and Alisha the drill team at Piute High School. Montague placed 2nd place with a writDachelle Martin, who used to live ten report to State and the Local Annual here, has been coming to Antimony on Business Report wins her a trip to Nash- the weekends with some of our students, ville, TN. so she can visit with everyone. She is William Porter left for Florida on May attendig Snow College in Ephraim. 5th. He will be working for the church At the FBLA Piute Awards night, owned Deseret Ranch for the summer. winners were Koby Willis, Kristi Ned Burr's brother, Jerry Burr, .Gleave, and they will be going to Nashpassed away due to cancer and his fu- ville for the competition there. neral was held on Monday. Our symHeather Allen was inducted to the pathy goes to Ned on such a loss. National Honor Society Friday night. To Hal and Athalia Jensen took a trip to be inducted, juniors must maintain a cerFlaming Gorge where they did some fish- tain GPA and do community service. ing with friends and family. They were Jane Wiley had surgery in Cedar City camping with Bill Wiley and friends. and is not back to work at Garfield MeDon and Mary Del Lindgren were morial. here over the weekend. We are always McKay Allen finished his year at so happy to see them back here. BYU and went to California with some Heather Allen was elected as Piute friends before coming home for the sumStudent Body President for the upcoming year, and Koy Willis was elected as mer. Jerry Savage, of Cedar City, is home Student Body Secretary. Antimony from the hospital wnd will be as good as seems to really like the job, as they have new soon, with his new hip. had five out of the last six Student Body We traveled to Mt. Pleasant for our presidents. granddaughters (Michelle Huntsman and Mandy Jenkis, daughter of Kirt Frits Terrers) wedding. Robinson, has given birth to twin boys, 4 Beau and Tom Ricketts have re-. lbs. each. Mason Wayne and Isaac Kirt. turned from their Hockey tournament Congratulations! These young ladies in Antimony let where their team won the gold medal in me know that all of them are supporting the spring tournament. <j fve/ UI \AAAv o 2006 Kickoff Workshop - 7<00-8:00 1000 S-155 E. (yellow cabin exterior home) at the end of the first left off of Dee Dee Hollow road If you are interested or want to learn more about participating in either the queen or princess pageant this year, don't miss out! We'll be covering the basics of what you need to know and what to start preparing for to compete in the Miss Garfield County Queen and Princess pageant this August! Refreshments will be served! If you have any questions at all, or are unable to attend, please email at beckibronson@yahoo.com. or call Melissa at 676-2182! |