Resurrecting an Idaho icon: How research and management reversed declines of native westslope cutthroat trout

Abstract

Westslope Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi (WCT), the dominant nonanadromous salmonid in central and northern Idaho, historically were extremely abundant and widely distributed. Despite restricted harvest methods and limits since 1899, many WCT populations declined and by the 1960s, populations in several major drainages were on the brink of collapse. In response, fisheries biologists began investigating WCT population dynamics, life histories, and habitat requirements and developed evidence-based regulations and habitat restoration alternatives. Here we describe fluvial WCT case histories that illustrate how research and management collaborated to rebuild populations. The sustained and successful effort to restore fluvial WCT in Idaho offers insights to assist WCT recovery efforts elsewhere. Today, populations in many watersheds have been rehabilitated and WCT currently inhabit about 80% of their historical stream range. Despite continued threats, many Idaho WCT populations are relatively secure, provide unique recreational opportunities, and remain an important ecological, cultural, and economic resource.

Citation

Mallet, Jerry; Thurow, Russell F. 2022. Resurrecting an Idaho icon: How research and management reversed declines of native westslope cutthroat trout. Fisheries. 47(3): 104-117.