Crayfish Removal
Recently, a nonnative crayfish species was illegally introduced into the reservoir. Researchers from Utah State University used mark-recapture techniques to calculate a population estimate of 7,381 individuals in the spring of 2003. After this initial estimate, 3982 crayfish were removed throughout the course of the summer. At the end of the summer, another recapture effort resulted in a population estimate of 11,660 individuals (Crowl and Rigsby, 2004 status report). In the spring of 2004 the population was estimated at 8181 individuals. Throughout the spring and early summer of 2004, 252 female crayfish (mostly gravid) were removed from the system. The response in the population included a shift in size distribution with fewer small individuals and a shift in sex ratio (male:female sex ratio of 1:1 in 2003; 4:1 in 2004).
355 W. University Parkway
Orem, Utah 84058
For more information, contact Kris Buelow at Kris@cuwcd.com