2024 Fish Rescue Report

Members of the East Yellowstone Chapter of Trout Unlimited and local volunteers completed seven days of fish rescue in October 2024. A total of 2,039 Trout and other species were rescued and returned to their waters of origin. The majority were Trout (1,657).

This year fish were rescued from Cody Canal Irrigation District (CCID), Willwood Irrigation District (WID), and Shoshone Irrigation District’s Garland Canal (SID)

In all 3 irrigation systems rescued, Brown Trout were the majority of those rescued (1,519 out of 1,657 total trout or 92%). This reflects a noted change in the species makeup in the South Fork of the Shoshone and in the Lower Shoshone River. The decline in percentage of rainbows (6%) and cutthroat (2%) are notable from previous years.

The total volunteer hours recorded for the 2024 rescue was 784 hours, 716 in actual rescue and 68 in organizational activities). The majority of the hours were from volunteer groups (Cody HS FFA members, Cody HS Outdoor Club members, Cody Middle School Science students, and Powell HS Science students). Without the help of these students, we would not be able to conduct the rescue. Their engagement also helps in the education of these students and spreads the word of the negative impacts for fish entrapment.  A number of adult volunteers from the Cody. Powell, Lovell and Wapiti also assisted.

Written by: Jeff Theisen