In the cool morning air atop Cedar Mountain, a team of biologists from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) gathers at Navajo Lake—not to fish, but to find out how the fish are doing. With nets, measuring tapes, and years of data behind them, the team is there for the annual spring survey: a critical process that helps ensure Southern Utah’s beloved fishing spots remain healthy, sustainable, and teeming with life.
Using gillnets and catch-and-release methods, the biologists sample the lake’s fish population to evaluate species health, growth rates, and survival numbers. For local anglers and visiting recreationists alike, this work plays a behind-the-scenes role in shaping the experience on the water.
“These surveys help us understand how well our stocking programs are working, what fish are thriving, and where adjustments are needed,” says MaKayla Roundy, the DWR’s Southern Region Outreach Manager. “It’s all about maintaining a balanced ecosystem and a quality fishing opportunity.”
This visual story is one of several unique field moments shared through the DWR’s WildFind initiative, an internal media tip list highlighting conservation efforts, research projects, and fieldwork across the state. But for Southern Utah, the Navajo Lake fish surveys offer a particularly striking opportunity to witness large fish up close—and to better understand the careful science that sustains our outdoor heritage.
The lake is known for its rainbow trout, brook trout, and splake—a hybrid species of lake trout and brook trout. Each spring, DWR biologists set nets in the evening and retrieve them the next morning. The fish are then measured, recorded, and released back into the lake. The data collected is added to long-term monitoring efforts that help guide future stocking and habitat decisions.
“These fish tell a story,” Roundy adds. “And our job is to listen carefully, so we can respond in a way that protects this resource for generations to come.”
With drought, changing water temperatures, and increasing recreational use impacting waters statewide, the science-based stewardship happening at places like Navajo Lake has never been more important. And while the biologists might not be after a trophy catch, the knowledge they haul in each spring is invaluable.
To learn more about DWR’s fisheries management and updates from the Southern Region, visit the official DWR website.
