One fish question on the Spring Conservation Hearing, #16, should interest SWTU. Nate Nye, the Sauk and Columbia Fish Biologist, recommends that regulations be changed on Dell and Beaver Creeks to completely protect brook trout and promote the harvest of brown and rainbow trout.

Dell Creek rings a bell. We partnered with the Leopold Chapter, State Council, Badger Fly Fishers and Groundswell Conservancy to purchase 40 acres on Dell Creek. The DNR will manage it for public access and fish and wildlife habitat. It connects two large DNR parcels with 1000s of feet of frontage on Dell and some tributaries.

Nate had completed a comprehensive assessment of this watershed that was instrumental helped to persuade TU to fund the purchase. His most astounding discovery was that brook trout had created a strong foothold in the watershed despite the streams being managed for brown trout for decades. He proposed a thorough set of management changes to bolster the wild brook trout.

This regulation is one of those management changes.

SWTU favors the protection of wild brook trout. Please consider supporting this regulation change in the April hearing.