On Monday September 16^th, Ski Corp employees assisted Colorado Parks & Wildlife with the final installation of a three-year Cutthroat Trout stocking plan of Burgess Creek along the edge of the Steamboat Ski Resort. This cooperative project between Steamboat Resort, the U.S. Forest Service, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, and Trout Unlimited aimed at strengthening the Cutthroat Trout population which are considered a “sensitive” species.

 These efforts follow the replacement of two culverts restricting the fish from moving downstream with fish-passable structures. These updates have lessened the restrictiveness of the creek, allowing for expanded movement and habitat for the fish.

On this final stocking date, 3,000 genetically pure cutthroat trout fingerlings were stocked into a one mile stretch of Burgess Creek. Ski area personnel, private landowners, and CPW split into groups to stock ~200 fish into different stretches of Burgess Creek.

The three-year stocking plan was aimed at getting three age classes of fish into the creek. Following this final stocking, CPW officials say that next year they will walk the creek to determine the quantity of fish spawn. The species cannot be granted the status of native to a riparian ecosystem unless they naturally reproduce. Periodic stocking may occur if fish spawn is lower than desired.

Native cutthroat trout habitat has been reduced to 14% of its historical range. These fish must compete with other non-native trout. Additionally, cutthroat spawn typically occurs a few weeks later than other trout species meaning they are at a higher risk of being eaten by larger fish and missing out on valuable nutrients.