CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department announced it won’t request a flushing flow on the North Platte River this fall in order to retain as much water as possible in Pathfinder Reservoir to aid fish condition over the winter.

"By not having a fall flushing flow there will be more water in Pathfinder this winter and that will benefit the trout and walleye in that fishery," says Al Conder, fish supervisor for the Casper Region. Flushing flows are used to clean riffles, improve trout spawning habitat and increase insect and forage fish populations for food availability in the river.

A drop in reservoir levels results in the loss of prime habitat that is necessary to produce adequate amounts of food for sport fish. The water retained in the reservoir should help maintain these types of habitat and keep forage fish at sustainable levels. Forage fish include emerald and spot tail shiners, suckers and fathead minnows.

A normal fall flushing flow would move approximately 10,000 acre-feet of water from Pathfinder Reservoir to be re-stored over the winter in Glendo Reservoir. Currently, Pathfinder Reservoir contains approximately 209,000 acre-feet of water.

The department plans to request flushing flows next spring if conditions are right.
(contact: Robin Kepple (307) 473-3400)