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RAC approves experimental introduction of white sturgeon to two reservoirs with catch‑and‑release rule
Summary
The RAC approved DWR's proposal to introduce white sturgeon in Grantsville and Hobbs reservoirs as experimental catch‑and‑release fisheries (50 fish each) after staff concluded escapement risk is negligible in those systems and follow‑up monitoring is planned.
The RAC unanimously approved a DWR proposal to introduce 100 white sturgeon—50 to Grantsville Reservoir and 50 to Hobbs Reservoir—as an experimental, catch‑and‑release fishery.
DWR staff said the two reservoirs were selected because escapement risk is negligible and because the waters can act as "laboratories" to test whether small introductions can diversify warm‑water opportunities without biological risk to native systems. The fish will be sourced from an existing private producer in Beaver County.
Craig Walker explained that growth in those reservoirs is expected to be modest (fish likely to reach sizes comparable to large trout rather than the enormous sturgeon found in the Columbia and Snake basins); sturgeon in the wild can live many decades but require flowing water to reproduce and reach sexual maturity at advanced ages, so natural reproduction in those reservoirs is unlikely.
DWR will implement a catch‑and‑release regulation for the new fish, conduct internal review and monitoring, and report outcomes to the RAC and public. The RAC asked DWR to monitor thermal conditions (lethal high temperatures are a risk for warm, shallow reservoirs) and to return with data on survival and angler interactions.
RAC vote: motion to accept the white sturgeon introduction and accompanying catch‑and‑release regulation passed unanimously.
Next steps: DWR will secure the fish, implement the regulation and begin monitoring; staff said follow‑up evaluations will determine whether further introductions are warranted.
