Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Recovery
About
Colorado River Cutthroat Current Range
Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus) historically occupied most cool water habitats of the Colorado River drainages in Colorado, southern Wyoming, and eastern Utah. Now, genetically pure Colorado River Cutthroat Trout occupy ~12% of their historic range, primarily in isolated, small headwater streams.The current range of the subspecies has increased by more than 620 stream miles (up from ~8%) since 2005, due largely to agency and partner restoration efforts.
Similar to other native trout species in Colorado, the CRCT has been significantly impacted by habitat fragmentation, resource development, hybridization with rainbow trout, competition from non-native fish species, aquatic invasive species, and other natural and human-caused changes in habitat. The Colorado River Cutthroat Recovery Team was established to coordinate efforts among a handful of key states (including Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado).
Recent studies using DNA and physical differences from contemporary and century‐old museum specimens have revealed three distinct genetic lineages of Colorado River Cutthroat Trout:
Native to the Yampa, Green and White River Basins;
Native to the Upper Colorado, Gunnison and Dolores River basins; and
Native to the San Juan basin (until recently believed to be extinct).
Fisheries managers are working to conserve each of these distinct strains within their respective ranges by:
Finding or building barriers to exclude non-native trout from upstream habitats that are occupied by Colorado River Cutthroat Trout
Transplanting genetically pure populations, or stocking genetically pure hatchery fish into restored habitat above barriers
Fencing riparian habitat to limit livestock grazing
Restoring riparian habitats, stabilizing eroding banks, and restoring altered stream channels
Replacing culverts and stream crossings to reconnect fragmented habitat
Promoting agriculture and municipal water management practices that help conserve water so more can be maintained in rivers, streams, and lakes, for the benefit of fish.
Significant progress has been made in the last couple decades related to CRCT recovery. Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Status Report 2020, Western Native Trout Initiative
