Restoring Colorado's Native Trout | Denver News

Rocky Mountain National Park is launching phase two of a bold mission to revive Colorado’s endangered greenback cutthroat trout—its state fish—by poisoning invasive brook trout in key streams like the Grand Ditch. Over 14 miles of waterways, including the Colorado River Trail, will be closed until August 30th as biologists deploy EPA-approved rotenone, a natural breakdown poison that clears non-native fish without lasting harm. Once thought extinct, these native trout are making a comeback thanks to past efforts—and this second round is critical to wipe out stubborn survivors and secure their future. While some trails stay open and fishing remains allowed south of the trailhead, the goal is clear: restore native waters in the Cache la Poudre watershed where these fish once thrived before being displaced by 19th-century stocking. It’s a fight for heritage, one poisoned stream at a time. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/8dc11dedc7111735