- Utah wildlife biologists use rotenone in Mill Creek to protect native fish.
- The project sparked social media concerns over rotenone’s safety for humans and wildlife.
- Officials assure public of safety, citing EPA guidelines and transparent communication efforts.
MILLCREEK — Utah wildlife biologists wrapped up a project this week to enhance native habitat for Bonneville cutthroat trout in Salt Lake County, but not before it stirred up a bit of a social media buzz.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources began using rotenone earlier this week in a 3.1-mile segment of Mill Creek, stretching from Church Fork in Millcreek Canyon down to the I-215 bridge crossing in the eastern valley.
Utah and other western states have used rotenone for fisheries projects for decades, largely when it’s too difficult to physically remove invasive fish that have entered a habitat. The substance, which comes from roots of a tropical plant in the bean family, is a respiratory toxin to fish, helping clear out unwanted fish, and has historically been considered not dangerous to people, pets or other wildlife in low quantities…