Non-native Gibbon River fish being eliminated

Yellowstone National Park staff are working to eliminate non-native fish from the upper Gibbon River drainage. Once those fish are removed, personnel will reintroduce native fish species to streams in the area.

Beginning Monday, biologists plan to remove non-native rainbow and brook trout in the upper Gibbon River drainage using the fish toxin rotenone. It is a naturally occurring chemical derived from the roots of tropical plants.

Below the treatment area, biologists will add potassium permanganate to the water to remove the effects of rotenone and prevent impacts to downstream waters. Under the plan, the treatments will be repeated in 2019 and, if needed, in 2020.

Once done, reintroduction of native west slope cutthroat trout and fluvial arctic grayling will be reintroduced to the waterway. The park has already restored them to the East Fork of Specimen Creek, Goose Lake and Grayling Creek.

The drainage is in the central portion of Yellowstone National Park and includes streams that flow out of Grebe, Wolf and Ice Lakes.

The Wolf Lake Tail and Virginia Cascades Drive will be closed to the public during this project.