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Yellowstone National Park officials have revealed a plan to protect the native fish population in the park.

According to the Park Service, the Native Fish Conservation Plan Environmental Assessment is designed to guide the management of fisheries and aquatic resources in the park for the next two decades.

The Park's preferred alternative would conserve the Yellowstone cutthroat trout in
Yellowstone Lake by increased netting of non-native lake trout. It also
calls for removal of non-native fish from some streams and lakes in the
park, and introduction of native fish into restored habitats. It would
allow managers to take an adaptive management approach to native fish
conservation, incorporating new information and lessons gained from
experience in annual work and treatment plans. This plan does not propose
any changes in the Madison or Firehole rivers.

The Environmental Assessment (EA) and an electronic form to submit comments
on the internet can be found on the web at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/yell
A hard copy or CD is available by calling (307) 344-2874, or by writing to the Native Fish Conservation Plan EA, National Park Service, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190.

Those interested in learning more about the EA are encouraged to attend one
of two public meetings scheduled for early next year:

Bozeman, MT: January 5th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the
Comfort Inn, 1 370 North 7th Avenue

Cody, WY: January 6th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Holiday
Inn, 1701 Sheridan Avenue

Written comments may be submitted through the web site, in person, by mail,
or at either of the scheduled public meetings. Comments will not be
accepted by phone, fax, or e-mail. All public comments must be received or
postmarked by midnight, January 31, 2011.

Once comments are analyzed, the National Park Service will make a decision
on the final plan. The Regional Director of the Intermountain Region of the
National Park Service will then sign a Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) containing details of the decision, which is anticipated to occur
in time to allow the park to move forward with conservation efforts this
coming summer.