By Mary Burger
A couple weeks ago, while hiking one of my very favorite loops, (The Bear Creek to Captain Jack) I came across a sign that both elated, and bothered me. The sign said “Green Back Cut Throat Waters: No Fishing.” I was elated because this is a listed species, and I had not known they existed in Bear Creek. Any new discovery of a population of this species means they are further from extinction than originally thought. I was concerned because I love this hike and did not want to loose it too. (For those new to our area, a favorite trail, at Severy Creek has been closed since 1999 when GBT were found in its waters.
So, I called Gary Dowler of the Colorado Department of Wildlife, (CDOW), and asked how the GBT got there. Were they found true wild fish, or where they planted? He replied “That is a good question. How do these fish get above the barriers?” In other words, the GBT in Bear Creek are remnants of the original wild fish found in Colorado. CDOW has a program where they are breeding GBT in an effort to stabilize the population, and with the eventual hope they will be able to re-release them into their native Colorado waters. This population was not from that breeding stock, but some of their spawn will be added to that stock to increase its genetic diversity. So say a HOORAY the GBT is one step further from extinction.
I then asked the question, “Does this mean the trail will be closed?” I got the answer I was hoping for. “No” The Bear Creek Trail does not threaten the trout in Bear Creek the way the Severy Creek trail does. This population of fish is in good shape, and is not further threatened by the existence and use of the trail. Alleluia.
For those of you who are waiting for the Severy Creek trail to be opened, I do not have a date for you. USFS confirms the work to repair the trail will be done by them. They are not requesting volunteers. They have not put a date on that work yet. But they do speak of the opening of that trail as a when not an if. We will keep you posted.
