Park looks to remove non-native fish from Kelly Warm Spring

National Park Service biologists hope to use rotenone treatments to remove non-native fish from Kelly Warm Spring, about one mile northeast of Kelly, Wyoming.

The spring has been a target for illegal dumping of aquarium fish since the 1940’s. Those non-native species are a threat to native fish because they prey on their eggs and juveniles, deplete food sources, and spread disease.

They are capable of surviving a range of water temperatures and persist in both the spring and its outflow areas of Savage Ditch and Ditch Creek.

Grand Teton National Park biologists said rotenone would likely remove all of the unwanted non-native fish in one treatment. Reapplication might be needed for one or two additional years. They believe it is feasible to eradicate the exotic species with minimal harm to native plants and animals.

In contrast, they said capture efforts using nets and traps, or electrofishing would fail to fully remove unwanted species and would require repeated treatments for an indefinite period of time.

Grand Teton National Park is accepting public comments on an environmental analysis until September 3.