Parks Canada has achieved success in the restoration of a threatened fish species in Banff National Park. Over a span of more than ten years, the federal agency has witnessed westslope cutthroat trout returning to Hidden Lake, near Lake Louise, where they are now reproducing naturally and establishing a self-sustaining population.
Shelley Humphries, an aquatics specialist with Parks Canada, expressed enthusiasm about the progress, stating that there are no longer concerns about the trout population in the area. She cited successful similar efforts in the United States that have led to the removal of species from the list of threatened species.
Efforts to remove brook trout naturally in 2011 proved unsuccessful, prompting the use of rotenone, a natural fish poison, in 2018 and 2019 to eliminate the invasive species. Starting in 2021, Parks Canada introduced trout eggs into Hidden Lake for four consecutive years, resulting in successful spawning and the appearance of fully grown fish this year.
Humphries emphasized the importance of ongoing monitoring, with hopes that the trout will expand their habitat beyond Hidden Lake to utilize streams and creeks. She highlighted the positive population trend, expressing a desire to see the fish spawn in streams, not just in the lake’s headwaters.
The westslope cutthroat trout once thrived across Banff National Park but faced challenges due to recreational fishing and the introduction of non-native fish such as brook trout, which displaced them from their natural habitat. Humphries described the current conservation efforts as an opportunity to rectify past mistakes and save the fish species, which were once abundant in only 10% of their traditional waterways.
In addition to the ongoing project at Hidden Lake, Parks Canada is also working on similar initiatives in locations like Helen Lake, Cascade Creek, Katherine Lake, and Corral Creek, with plans to extend conservation efforts to protect threatened bull trout. Humphries emphasized the ecological benefits of these projects, noting that they can positively impact other wildlife species like birds of prey and bears by removing brook trout from the ecosystem.
Maintaining a commitment to protecting endangered species, Parks Canada aims to safeguard these populations and prevent their extinction through dedicated conservation efforts.