More than 6,300 fish were relocated from Caples Lake in Alpine County to two nearby lakes as part of a four-day fish-rescue operation last week.
The El Dorado Irrigation District reported that brown, rainbow and lake, or Mackinaw, trout accounted for two-thirds of the total fish captured and were released into nearby Silver Lake.
The remaining third were brook trout and were transferred to Red Lake because brook trout are not part of the mix at Silver Lake, a district news release said.
Included in the relocation were fish up to 36 inches long, the district reported.
About 80 volunteers from throughout the region joined state Department of Fish and Game employees in the rescue effort.
The rescue was undertaken because of the emergency drawdown of Caples Lake. The El Dorado Irrigation District began lowering the water level in July after an inspection found that gates in the main dam were seriously deteriorated. Repairs are scheduled to begin later this month.
The district expected to spend $150,000 for the rescue operation and an additional $235,000 to restock the lake.
– Cathy Locke
