Aquatics director Justin Hart said from South Hughes canyon down the Huntington Creek has suffered significant loss of fish. The toxic ash has entered the river and the fish have suffocated. Many fish have been buried and displaced. “It’s a significant majority and a large fishable area that will be affected. The Left Fork isn’t as affected and the Scad Valley area appears to be in good shape. Although flash flood events could affect those areas. There are still fishing opportunities in the main branch. Below Electric Lake a couple miles of the fly zone is still fishable. There is debris and mud out of Gordon Creek which is killing carp below Wellington. Fish Creek is OK. Clear Creek and Mud Creek could have affects but there will be little impact at Scofield Reservoir. The hardest hit area is the Huntington Creek. We need to get through this year and maybe in a year or two we can restock. We are worried about the erosion and the ash loads. The spring runoff next year will bring significant ash flow and debris. Next summer we will take a look at it. There are still areas to fish and we will start over in the burned areas and stock good quality fish who will see good growth and we will have good fishing there again. We have seen wildlife re-entering the burned areas. Make sure you are careful and don’t fish in risky areas. Be aware of the weather and what’s going on. There are still fishing opportunities out there,” said Hart, “One displaced fisherman told me has had success in Straight Canyon. You can still fish Miller’s Flat, Cleveland Reservoir and Electric Lake, the tiger trout are very popular there.”
The burned area of Huntington Canyon is closed from Crandall Canyon to near Electric Lake.
Huntington Creek runs black
"Huntington Creek carries a heavy ash load where it passes under the Crandall Canyon bridge."