Parks Canada has achieved a significant milestone in the restoration of a threatened fish species in Banff National Park. Following over ten years of dedicated efforts, Parks Canada has announced that westslope cutthroat trout are now naturally spawning and repopulating Hidden Lake near Lake Louise.
Shelley Humphries, an aquatics specialist overseeing Parks Canada’s Lake Louise, Yoho, and Kootenay field unit, expressed joy at the self-sustainability of the trout population. She highlighted the successful reintroduction efforts in the United States, which have led to the removal of the species from threatened lists, offering assurance in the project’s success.
Humphries explained that initial attempts to eliminate brook trout naturally in 2011 were unsuccessful. However, the use of rotenone, a natural fish poison, effectively removed brook trout from Hidden Lake in 2018 and 2019. Subsequent efforts involved stocking eggs in Hidden Lake for four consecutive years, resulting in successful spawning and the appearance of fully grown fish this year.
While monitoring efforts will continue, the focus now shifts to observing the trout utilizing streams and creeks beyond Hidden Lake. Humphries emphasized the overall positive status of the trout population and expressed hopes for their expansion into other waterways for future spawning.
Westslope cutthroat trout, once abundant from the northern to the southern ends of Banff National Park, faced a decline due to recreational fishing and the introduction of non-native species like brook trout in the 1900s. This led to a significant reduction in their traditional habitats, leaving them in only about 10% of their original range.
Humphries highlighted the agency’s commitment to correcting past mistakes and saving the imperiled species, stating that the restoration efforts are both feasible and crucial for the trout’s survival. Parks Canada is actively engaged in similar initiatives in various locations, including Helen Lake, Cascade Creek, Katherine Lake, and Corral Creek, with plans underway for the conservation of threatened bull trout.
The conservation efforts not only benefit the westslope cutthroat trout but also have positive ecological impacts on other wildlife such as birds of prey and bears by reducing the presence of brook trout, a non-native species.
Parks Canada’s primary objective is to protect endangered species like the westslope cutthroat trout through proactive conservation measures. Humphries emphasized the agency’s determination to safeguard these species and prevent their disappearance through concerted conservation efforts.
