Animas River trout in decline. Fewer young browns particularly worrisome

White plans to start monitoring brown trout specifically and tracking their population fluctuation. He completes fish surveys along this stretch of the Animas every two years.

No clear reason has been identified as to why the fish populations may be declining, but there are many circumstances that might be playing a role.

“There’s a whole suite of negative environmental factors,” said Buck Skillen, president of Five Rivers Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

White plans to research the effect of dissolved heavy metals brought down the river by heavy runoff.

Zinc and cadmium from the mines near Silverton have had an adverse effect on the fish and the environment upstream of Bakers Bridge, said Peter Butler, coordinator of the Animas River Stakeholders Group.

An insect-population study done this fall may reveal more information about river health next year.

The Ecosphere Environmental Services study focused on the food supply for fish, and it will be compared to a similar study completed 10 years ago. The results will be released in the spring, Skillen said.

Anecdotally anglers have noticed a decline in caddisflies, pale morning duns, midges and blue-winged olives, he said.

Some of these insect populations may be affected by sediment flowing into the river because it fills in areas where they live, White said.

Source: The Durango Herald, December 7, 2014
http://durangoherald.com/article/20141207/NEWS01/141209652/Animas-River…-