Staff Report - The California Fish and Game rescued 20,000 fish at Caples Lake and moved them to nearby Silver Lake and Red Lake. Wearing waders and carrying hand nets, 20 state Fish and Game employees braved the early morning chill and cold water to capture the fish Monday. Fish were then carted in water-laden buckets and trash cans across the lakebed and up the side of the main dam at the lake to waiting hatchery trucks. The fish were then transported to Silver and Red lakes. Brown, rainbow and Mackinaw trout were relocated to Silver Lake, while 300 captured brook trout were taken to Red Lake. In addition to the trout, numerous Sacramento suckers were also captured and moved. The fish ranged from one inch to 24 inches in length. The rescue took place in the area between a newly installed temporary “bladder” dam and the Caples Lake main dam. Fish and Game recruited a small number of volunteers to assist in carrying the buckets to the trucks and sorting the fish. Approximately 90 volunteers were on hand for the first rescue, which occurred over four days during the last week of August. For safety reasons, the number of volunteers for the second rescue was kept to a minimum. The muddy, low-water conditions prohibited the use of boats and required Fish and Game personnel to exercise extreme caution as they worked the area between the two dams. During the rescue, El Dorado Irrigation District dam operators slowly lowered the remaining water level between the two dams. The area is now almost completely dewatered and as it dries, crews are inspecting the lake bottom and readying it for repairs to the main dam outlet works. Fish and Game officials said that they will examine the lake behind the temporary dam early next week and determine whether a third rescue is feasible. The El Dorado Irrigation District’s Board of Directors declared an emergency on July 1 after a mid-June underwater investigation revealed major deterioration of the outlet works at the Caples Lake main dam. To access the areas that must be repaired and maintain a safe work environment, the water level in the reservoir had to be drawn down.