The Kamas Fish Hatchery along the Mirror Lake Highway has been closed since October. Thanks to $750,000 from the 2011 Utah Legislature, it should be ready to reopen in 2013.

According to Ted Hallows, hatchery supervisor, a sinkhole was found in Beaver Creek that was leaking into two of the three springs that feed the hatchery.

Since “whirling disease” a parasite that kills young fish has been found in Beaver Creek, the Department of Wildlife Resources could not risk it getting into the hatchery.

“A simple outbreak can wipe out a whole drainage,” he said.

Last fall all the fish were released into local reservoirs and the hatchery has remained closed until this funding was made available, Hallows said.

“We’ve never picked up any disease here, we’re just being proactive in preventing any disease,” he said.

The money, combined with surplus in an existing maintenance account, will buy a water filtration system to use UV rays to kill pathogens in the water.

Since “whirling disease” has infected many Utah waterways, several hatcheries in the state are getting the new system. The sinkhole in Beaver Creek simply expedited the project in Kamas, Hallows explained.

The Kamas hatchery supplies 10 percent of the fish stocked in Utah’s lakes and reservoirs. Because of its cold-water habitat, it was the preferred source for fish dropped into high-elevation lakes. That means there are about 10 percent fewer fish around one million in Utah’s waterways this year.

Because the filtration system is complete at the Midway hatchery, it is producing more fish than usual now and the reduction in population next year will hopefully not be noticeable, he said.

The reason for the delay is the work must begin in spring. Since the money was allocated for the fiscal year beginning in July, and the bidding process will take several months, work will not begin until 2012. That means full production won’t begin until 2013, Hallows explained.

What is Whirling Disease?

Whirling Disease is a condition affecting trout and salmon caused by a microscopic parasite known as Myxobolus cerebralis. The parasite attacks the cartilage tissue of a fish’s head and spine. If sufficiently infected, young fish may develop symptoms such as whirling behavior, a black tail or even death. If they survive, fish may develop head deformities or twisted spines.

Source: Utah Division of Wildlife.

Visit www.wildlife.utah.gov to learn more and find out what you can do to prevent its spread.


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