Vortex disease found in fish in northeast Utah Creek. This is how anglers can help slow the spread
VERNAL – A disease that attacks the cartilage tissue of the head and spine of a fish and can be fatal to fish was recently discovered in fish in a creek near a national fish hatchery in northeast Utah.
Eddy diseases have been identified in fish at Jones Hole Creek, which is adjacent to Jones Hole National Fish Hatchery in Uintah County near Dinosaur National Monument and about 40 miles northeast of Vernal. Wildlife officials said fish in the hatchery itself have tested negative so far.
The disease was first discovered in Utah 30 years ago. According to biologists with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, it is caused by a microscopic parasite that attacks the infected fish. They added that the disease is most common in salmon or trout species and can lead to neurological damage, skeletal deformities, and even death.
The agency states that the disease has no human impact and “does not pose a risk to human health” but affects fish, which led to their warning.
It is a disease that has been found in several areas of the state since 1991. Biologists began testing for vertebral disease in the Jones Hole Creek area in 2017, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service first found the disease in rainbow trout samples taken two months ago. DWR officials said Friday.
Travis Anderson, deputy manager of the Jones Creek hatchery, said in a statement that the fish at the facility likely had no impact because the water from the adjacent facility does not come from Jones Hole Creek.
“The water for the hatchery is drawn underground from nearby springs located east of the creek in hatchery areas,” he said. “When we were first informed of the positive results from the vertebral disease sample, we installed a temporary fish barrier at the downstream end of our flood bypass canal. This should help prevent potential swirling disease-positive fish from entering the bypass canal upstream and in Diamond Gulch there is a pond immediately adjacent to the hatchery. “
Brown trout samples taken from the stream also tested negative.
The state wildlife division said anglers could help prevent vertebral disease from spreading. They asked anglers who wanted to fish at Jones Hole Creek not to fish in areas above the “closing signs” that border the hatchery. Fish have been removed from the site.
An undated photo of a map of the hiking trails at Jones Hole and Ely Creek in the Jones Hole Creek area of Uintah Counties. (Photo: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources)
They also asked anglers not to use felt-soled waders, as the boots could pick up the parasite and transport it to other bodies of water, which could spread the disease to fish in other bodies of water.
They also asked the anglers to flush any mud and aquatic plants from their boots, waders, or other tackle after they fished in the area.
“Let all equipment dry in the sun for a few days before using it again,” DWR officials wrote. “Do not enter any other body of water until you have thoroughly cleaned all of your fishing gear.”
Finally, they urge anglers not to move fish, parts of fish, or water from Jones Hole Creek to any other body of water – regardless of whether the fish is dead or alive, as it could contain spores that could ultimately spread the disease to fish in other bodies of water could.
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