Two hundred eighteen native Bonneville cutthroat trout were removed from Deep Creek and placed in a nearby stream. Pure strain native cutthroat, once thought to be extinct in the state, are found in only a few isolated locations throughout the watershed. High water temperatures, lack of stream cover and ash flow into the channel threatened this remnant population.

On June 21, 2002, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources biologists, assisted by personnel from the Dixie National Forest, captured and temporarily moved the fish to Tenmile Creek, located 20 miles to the north. "It was obvious that the surviving fish that were still in the stream after the fire were stressed from high water temperatures," said Dale Hepworth, aquatics manager for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Southern Region. "The fish showed a great amount of relief and increased vigor after being placed into a cool tank of water."

Biologists used electroshocking equipment to find the fish, and then placed them into aerated coolers, before transplanting them to Tenmile Creek. The original Deep Creek population of cutthroat was estimated at 2,000, and although only 218 were recovered, the rescued population will preserve the cutthroat’s genetic base. Once Deep Creek begins to heal, the fish will be placed back into their original habitat.

Fisheries biologists use electroshocking equipment to locate surviving Bonneville Cutthroat in Deep Creek.