Aquatic biologists plan to conduct a reclamation project on South Mesa Creek in Montrose County during the week of September 16. The project will apply a piscicide called rotenone to the creek along P16 road to remove non-native cutthroat trout. The project goal is to restore native Colorado River cutthroat trout within the creek. [Colorado Parks and Wildlife] crews (along with help from the Bureau of Land Management) will conduct removal efforts of non-native fish. Historically, Yellowstone cutthroat trout were stocked into South Mesa Creek and reproduced with the native Colorado River cutthroat, creating hybridized cutthroat trout, according to Eric Gardunio, a CPW Area Aquatic Biologist. CPW says that Colorado River Cutthroat Trout now occupy only about 11% of their historic habitat. The project aims to remove the hybridized cutthroat trout and restock the creek with native Colorado River cutthroat trout.