Drought doesn’t just affect Utah’s lakes, rivers, and streams — it also affects the fish who live in them, requiring more thought and care from anglers this summer. While fish can’t drown in quite the way people can, it is possible for them to suffocate in the water when there isn’t enough dissolved oxygen. And unfortunately for Utah’s fish, drought means not only less water, but less dissolved oxygen in the water. … That doesn’t mean, though, that you can’t or shouldn’t fish during a drought — in fact, at Crouse Reservoir, anglers are currently allowed to harvest more fish than usual, since extremely low water levels have led to fears fish won’t survive. … That means following some best management practices when practicing catch and release to make sure the fish can recover, including going earlier in the day, pinching down the barbs on hooks, and minimizing the time you’re fighting the fish or have them out of the water.

Other drought impact news:

• KSL (Salt Lake City, Utah): Utah officials promote water-wise yards for long-term conservation
• Palo Alto Online (Calif.): If drought emergency is over, why are Peninsula trees now showing signs of stress?​