[ODFW-News] Grant will fund Crane Prairie Reservoir trout study

[ODFW News]

For Immediate Release Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006
 
Grant will fund Crane Prairie Reservoir trout study
 
BEND - When the 2006 fishing season opens at Crane Prairie Reservoir on
April 21, in central Oregon's Cascade Mountains, marks the beginning of
a two-year survey to determine the survival rates and fishery benefits
of the two different stocks of rainbow trout inhabiting the lake. 
 
Historically a premier rainbow trout fishery, Crane Prairie Reservoir
has declined during the last decade, primarily due to unauthorized
introductions of exotic fish species. 
 
The study, funded with a $45,845 grant from the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife's Fish Restoration and Enhancement Program, will help
researchers understand the development of locally adapted hatchery stock
from Crane Prairie redband trout as a means of preserving the genetic
integrity of native fish. 
 
"We're working to determine if trout from locally-derived broodstock of
Crane Prairie origin could ultimately replace the artificially cultured
hatchery stocks we have been using for decades," said assistant district
fish biologist Ted Wise.
 
Overall, this project is consistent with the Native Fish Conservation
Policy to manage non-native fish and hatchery-based fisheries to
optimize user benefits while balancing the conservation of naturally
produced native fishes.
 
Hatchery rainbow trout have been stocked in Crane Prairie Reservoir
since 1955. Past stocking has utilized 150,000 to 200,000 fingerlings
with an average length from three to four inches. Biologists have
transitioned to larger fish to avoid competition and predation from
exotic species to improve fingerling survival and the fishery.
 
"Angler reported very good fishing in Crane Prairie Reservoir during the
2005 season," Wise said. "ODFW strongly encourages anglers to take
advantage of the fishery in the upcoming fishing season."
 
In 1996, ODFW began a program to develop a new stock of hatchery fish
derived from native redband trout from the Deschutes River. Eggs are
incubated at Klamath Fish Hatchery and then raised to large fingerlings
at the Fall River Hatchery near Sunriver and at the Wizard Falls
Hatchery in Camp Sherman. Because these hatchery fish have a genetic
background from native fish, they have less of an impact when mixed with
native redband trout in the reservoir. Trout from this program have been
stocked in the reservoir, and several other area lakes, since 1999.
 
In order to collect necessary information, a seasonal technician will be
hired to interview anglers at the reservoir during the 2006 and 2007
fishing seasons to determine how many rainbow trout they have caught and
if they are the cultured, locally-derived or naturally produced native
fish. Fish from each hatchery stock have been uniquely marked with fin
clips for identification.
 
 "We will be looking at the number of rainbow trout caught by anglers,
their size and whether they are the old hatchery stock or the newer
stock" said Wise. "While the trout are the focal point of the creel
survey, information gathered will include the entire fishery of Crane
Prairie Reservoir."
 
In addition to the R&E Program grant, ODFW, Central Oregon Flyfishers,
Sunriver Anglers and Crane Prairie Resort owner and operator, Pat
Schatz, also are contributing to the project.
 
Created by the Oregon Legislature in 1989, the Fish Restoration and
Enhancement Program is funded by a surcharge on sport and commercial
fishing licenses and commercial poundage fees. The program's
seven-member citizen board reviews fish restoration and enhancement
project proposals and makes funding recommendations to the Oregon Fish
and Wildlife Commission. 
 
For more information on the Crane Prairie Reservoir Broodstock
Evaluation Program or about fishing the area, contact Steve Marx,
District Fish Biologist for ODFW or Ted Wise at 541-388-6363. For more
information on the Fish Restoration and Enhancement Program, or to view
information regarding current R&E Program applications, visit
www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/RE  or contact program coordinator Laura Tesler
at (503) 947-6259.
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