In Banff National Park, Parks Canada is celebrating the successful return of a threatened fish species to its native environment. The westslope cutthroat trout, after more than ten years of conservation efforts, are now breeding naturally and re-establishing themselves in Hidden Lake near Lake Louise.
Shelley Humphries, an aquatic specialist with Parks Canada, expressed delight at the self-sustaining population growth of the fish. She highlighted the accomplishment as a significant milestone in the conservation efforts, indicating that similar initiatives in the United States have resulted in successful species recovery.
The restoration project began in 2011 with attempts to naturally eliminate brook trout, which proved unsuccessful. Subsequently, the use of rotenone, a natural fish poison, effectively removed brook trout in 2018 and 2019. Following this, the introduction of trout eggs into Hidden Lake over four consecutive years has led to successful spawning and the presence of mature fish this year.
Humphries emphasized the ongoing monitoring efforts and expressed hope that the westslope cutthroat trout will expand their habitat to streams and creeks beyond Hidden Lake. She noted the positive population status and the goal of witnessing spawning activities in various stream locations to ensure the fish’s long-term survival.
The westslope cutthroat trout, once widespread in Banff National Park and southern Alberta, faced habitat degradation due to recreational fishing and the introduction of non-native species like brook trout. This led to a significant decline in their population, restricting them to only 10% of their original waterways.
Humphries acknowledged past mistakes and expressed confidence in rectifying the situation, emphasizing the recoverability of the fish species. Parks Canada is actively engaged in similar conservation projects in various locations such as Helen Lake, Cascade Creek, Katherine Lake, and Corral Creek, with plans to extend similar efforts to protect threatened bull trout.
The conservation efforts not only benefit the westslope cutthroat trout but also contribute to the ecological well-being of other species like birds of prey and bears by reducing the presence of brook trout. Parks Canada’s primary objective is to safeguard endangered species and prevent their extinction through dedicated conservation actions.