The fish population of the San Juan River through Pagosa Springs are under close observation this week. Colorado Parks and Wildlife are surveying fish health following the 20,000+ acre fire on the West Fork of the San Juan. The operation uses a mild shock to stun the fish and a net to pluck them from the water.
It takes a good oarsman and quick reflexes to bring the fish in.
A second raft is used to measure and weigh each fish. Here Mike Reed is about to release a trout.
So far the report is positive and promising. Jim White, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Aquatic Biologist, says,”I have had no reports of distressed or dying fish in the San Juan or West Fork. Usually, if a die off occurs it happens after the first big rainfall event. Pagosa has seen several of these events and to the best of my knowledge, no fish kills. There is not much one can do about a debris/ash flow other than document and re-stock.”
The team thought the fish looked good Tuesday. An actual report will be available later in the year.
The river bank displays darker deposits over a lighter clay shore. Most of the chemistry here is organic and will disapate into the ecosystem. People are reporting charred driftwood!
