Bowman Lake
Several high, pristine fishless lakes in the park have been stocked with non-native sportfish species. The idea was to provide increased opportunities for recreational angling. During earlier periods there was little appreciation for the integrity and complexity of aquatic systems that evolved over thousands of years. Fish stocking in the region began shortly after the turn of the century and continued until 1971.
Introduced fish bring new diseases, alter the composition of plankton communities, interrupt food web dynamics, and prey on native fish. Research has shown that changes in zooplankton communities generally occurs when fish are introduced into previously fishless waters. Non-native Lake trout pose a grave threat to native bull trout, westslope cutthroat trout and other native species in several park lakes. There are still a few pristine lakes and streams in the park that remain strongholds for genetically untainted native fish species.
