Low water levels lead to increased fishing limits at Crouse Reservoir

DIAMOND MOUNTAIN, Utah (ABC4) — Due to low water levels, an emergency change issued by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) on Tuesday has increased the daily fishing limit at Crouse Reservoir, effective immediately.

The change, issued by DWR Deputy Director Michael Canning to the Utah Fishing Guidebook, now allows anglers to keep up to eight trout of any species, doubling the previous limit of four.

“This emergency change will allow the public to harvest more fish from the reservoir so they can be used and not wasted as water levels continue to decline this summer,” Canning said in a press release. “Increased harvest will hopefully improve the survival of any remaining fish, as well.”

The low water levels in Crause Reservoir can be attributed to the lack of snow Diamond Mountain received during the 2024-25 winter season. “Pot Creek, the creek that feeds all of them, doesn’t run year-round anymore and it’s mostly fed by snow melt runoff,” Trina Hedrick, Coldwater Sportfish Coordinator at DWR told ABC4.com.

“We hold water at Matt Warner and Calder Reservoirs up above Crause, so it often stays low,” Hedrick added. “It’s simply a matter of not getting enough snow, and it’s hard to maintain three reservoirs because of it.”

Hedrick also noted that DWR highly encourages anglers to take advantage of this opportunity, as the oxygen levels within the reservoir will suffer if the current fish population isn’t reduced. She said the fish are “really big and a lot of fun,” and that they feel “it’s best to encourage fishing there,” and for Utahns to “harvest and enjoy the fishing while it’s still there.”

The change is currently in effect and will expire on December 31st, 2025.