In harmony with environmental commitments made in the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Animas-La Plata Project and Record of Decision, Reclamation stocked 50,000 of a new whirling disease resistant strain of rainbow trout at Lake Nighthorse, near Durango, Colo. the last two weeks of September. Reclamation's commitment is to stock trout in Lake Nighthorse on an annual basis.

The Colorado River rainbow Hofer-Harrison cross strain originated in Germany. The trout eggs are produced at a Colorado Division of Wildlife brood hatchery and then raised at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Hatchery in Hotchkiss, Colo. The trout stocked in Lake Nighthorse are 10 inches long.

Currently, the area in and around Lake Nighthorse remains closed to public use due to construction and will remain closed until Reclamation finds a recreation manager and appropriate recreation facilities are in place to provide for public safety and protect land and water resources from damage due to uncontrolled use. Trespassers may be subject to citation by La Plata County Sheriff.

Reclamation is working to secure a recreation manager by working with the Animas-La Plata Water Conservancy District and other entities to develop a recreation plan.