In late September, Environmental Services staff joined US Fish and Wildlife Service biologists to survey fish in Tryon Creek. Here’s Amber Ayers from our watershed team measuring a resident cutthroat trout before releasing it back to the creek.

The survey counted many juvenile and adult cutthroat trout and hundreds of sculpin, plus crawdads and a fathead minnow. 

 This survey was along the section of creek from High Bridge in Tryon Creek State Natural Area to Boones Ferry Road, and is part of ongoing fish survey work in Tryon Creek. Monitoring the presence and abundance of fish helps us determine the effectiveness of habitat restoration and water quality improvements by the city and other organizations. 

Stormwater runoff and fish-blocking culverts are some of the things that harm native fish populations in Tryon Creek. Learn more in the Tryon Creek Watershed Report Card.