Samples of fish in the recently refilled Bottle Hollow Reservoir indicate that the lake is on its way to enjoying renewed acclaim as a popular fishing spot.
According to Buzz Cobell, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist, excellent growth rates recorded on trout stocked in the reservoir prove that Bottle Hollow has the potential to become a premier trophy trout fishery, especially if water quality problems can be resolved.The 33-year old reservoir was drained in 1986 after it was discovered that 100 percent of the adult trout population was infected with anchor worm, said Cobell.
In addition, Bottle Hollow has historically had problems with warm water temperatures and low oxygen levels in the bottom of the lake in late summer creating water quality problems. Higher-than-normal mercury levels found in fish also prompted the drainage of the reservoir.
At that time federal and Ute tribal officials began developing plans to improve the water temperature problem in Bottle Hollow in an effort to prevent future anchor worm problems and ensure the continued management of the lake as a cold-water trout fishery.
"The Bureau of Indian Affairs began refilling Bottle Hollow Reservoir in the spring of 1992. Beginning in the spring of 1992 and continuing through September 1993, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Ute Fish and Wildlife Department worked to coordinate the stocking of trout obtained from Jones Hole National Fish Hatchery," said Cobell.
Brown and rainbow trout, along with Snake River and Colorado River cutthroat trout were all planted in the lake at different times.
This year alone approximately 69,000 trout were planted.
Fish surveys conducted throughout the summer and fall continue to show promising growth rates.
"One rainbow trout weighed 7 pounds 13 ounces. Brown trout planted in 1992 grew to an average length of 17 inches and an average weight of 2 pounds. Five-inch brown trout planted the end of August grew 21/2 inches in just two months. Cutthroat trout planted in 1992 few to an average length of 18.5 inches and an average weight of 2 pounds 10 ounces."
The fish survey was also designed to collect additional samples for the ongoing mercury/fish study. Analysis of trout collected for mercury test samples in 1992 indicated levels had dropped below the unsafe levels. However, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials recommended another collection of fish be made this year to determine whether mercury or selenium have further been concentrated in older fish. Those test results are pending.
The Bureau of Reclamation, along with the BIA and the Ute Tribe and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are working cooperatively to plan the expenditure of $145,000 in drought relief funds in an attempt to improve water quality in Bottle Hollow Reservoir.
Bottle Hollow is currently being managed by the Ute Tribe as a catch-and-release fishery pending the results of the mercury/fish tissue study.
The reservoir was constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1970 as partial mitigation for fishery losses on Rock Creek due to construction of the Bonneville Unit of the Central Utah Project.
For a number of years, Bottle Hollow was a popular fishery and part of the Bottle Hollow Resorts located on the eastern outskirts of Roosevelt.
About the time the fishing stopped, the resort closed.
When the reservoir was first introduced, consensus was that it had the potential of being one of the best warm-water fisheries in the state.