For the first time in 35 years, water from West Newton Lake outside Cody has been naturally flowing into neighboring East Newton. That could spell good news for the fishery in East Newton Lake, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department says.

Due to higher than average precipitation the last two years, record levels of precipitation late this spring and other factors, water levels in West Newton Lake recently rose to the point where parking lots, picnic tables and the boat ramp were submerged.

“What’s so significant about this is that water levels were high enough in early June that water from West Newton Lake was naturally flowing into East Newton Lake, an event that has not happened since 1984,” said Fisheries Biologist Jason Burckhardt.

Water flowing naturally from West to East Newton will provide nutrient-rich water that may help increase the growth of fish stocked in East Newton, the department says.

Although side by side, the two lakes receive water from different sources: West Newton Lake is supplied with water from the Trail Creek drainage, which is more nutrient-rich than the water East Newton normally receives from Buffalo Bill Reservoir through the Heart Mountain canal system.

East Newton Lake has long had issues with low water levels, which has led to fish die-offs in the past. In 1988, a pump was installed along the Heart Mountain Canal to provide a reliable source of water to East Newton. Up to 200 acre feet of water has been added to East Newton annually to provide stability to the fishery and eliminate the fish die-offs. This year, however, there was no need to pump in any water.

The Game and Fish has been working to increase the overall average size of trout in East Newton over the years, Burckhardt said, “and with the addition of West Newton water we’re expecting larger trout in East Newton in the coming years.”

As water levels began to rise in June, Burckhardt kept a close eye on the channel and infiltration gallery between the two lakes. It allows water to flow, but keeps goldfish from moving from West Newton to East Newton and prevents lake chub from moving from east to west.

“Water levels were so high in West Newton Lake in mid-June that we had gravel delivered and with the help of Dave Sweet with the East Yellowstone Chapter of Trout Unlimited, we made the infiltration gallery taller to prevent fish from passing between the two bodies of water,” Burckhardt said.

East Newton is managed as a trophy trout fishery, requiring all fish to be released and the use of artificial flies and lures only.  This water provides anglers an excellent opportunity to catch rainbow, brown, and brook trout from 15 to greater than 22 inches long.

West Newton Lake is stocked with Yellowstone cutthroat trout and is managed as a family fishery where statewide regulations apply.