The Issue: In the space of six years, Burbot - a top of the chain aquatic predator - have been illegally stocked throughout the Green River system. So what, you may ask? Isn't that just one more fish for us to catch? In a word, no.

Background: This slimy, eel-like critter has the potential to devastate the trout fishery in the Green. That would be the trout fishery that people come from all over the world to enjoy. The trout fishery that forms the basis of Sweetwater County's tourism economy. The trout fishery that has, time after time, supported Colorado River cutthroats when they were proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act.

-Burbot were found in the Green River approximately 10 miles upstream of Flaming Gorge Reservoir in 2003.
-Burbot were confirmed in Flaming Gorge Reservoir in 2005 and the population has rapidly expanded in recent years. They are now widely distributed, extremely abundant, and naturally reproducing in the reservoir.
-In 2005, Burbot were captured in the Big Sandy River approximately 12 miles upstream of Big Sandy Reservoir. Follow-up surveys in 2006 found numerous Burbot in the upper Big Sandy River, as far as 50 miles upstream of Big Sandy Reservoir.
-Burbot were captured in Fontenelle reservoir in October 2005. This marked the first time they were found upstream of Fontenelle Dam and likely resulted from a separate, more recnt illegal introduction.
-Now that Burbot are above Fontenelle dam, Burbot will move upstream and establish populations in the upper Green River drainage and possibly the Finger Lakes in the Wind River Mountains near Pinedale. In fact, the Game & Fish Department (WGFD) has found Burbot in the lower New Fork River (2006) and the Green River near Big Piney (2007).
-WGFD received reports in 2007 that Burbot are present in the Hams Fork River as far upstream as Opal.
-During fall 2007, Burbot were captured in Jim Bridger Pond. They gained access to the pond via the pipeline that transports water from the Green River.



It increases the penalty, allows for license revocation and for civil damages to be assessed. It's a good bill, and we support it. Please contact your legislator and tell them you do too. It's easy. Just find their name on the roster at http://legisweb.state.wy.us/LegislatorSummary/LegislatorList.aspx?strHouse=H&strStatus=N and click on it to send them an e-mail.

Stop the insanity.