Western US rivers face fishing closures due to heat and drought

Record heat and historic drought conditions across the Western United States are forcing wildlife officials to implement fishing restrictions to protect trout populations. As water levels drop, rivers heat more rapidly, reaching temperatures that can be lethal to fish. In Yellowstone National Park and parts of Montana, officials have expanded afternoon fishing bans to reduce stress on species like rainbow and cutthroat trout.

In Colorado, the situation has led to unprecedented restrictions on 19 rivers. Tensions are rising regarding federal water management; Trout Unlimited has formally requested that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation increase streamflows in the Gunnison River and Black Canyon. The nonprofit argues that current decisions to reduce releases from the Blue Mesa Reservoir to recover storage are damaging vital Gold Medal trout fisheries and impacting local outdoor businesses.