[troutman]

The Bow River Declining Trout Population is Finally Getting the Attention It Deserves.

https://www.calgaryriverusers.org/th...qOlEU9BY-RP_AI

Data analysis showed that the Rainbow Trout population has declined by as much as 50% over ten years from 2003 to 2013. Although the reasons for the decline are unknown, the researchers have suggested that catch-and-release mortality, flood events, whirling disease, and angling pressure may well have contributed to the trout population decline. Because disease and floods are largely uncontrollable from a management perspective, the researchers suggest that stringent tactics such as angler restrictions may be necessary to stop the decline and hopefully enhance the sport fishery.

Alberta Environment & Parks (AEP) conducted fish population surveys across the entire sport fishery from Bearspaw Reservoir to Carseland Weir in 2018,2019 and 2020. That supports the previous research that the trout population has declined considerably over the past 20 years from their highs in 2000-2003.