A Review of a Quarter Century of Native Trout Conservation in Southern Utah

Abstract

Status of native cutthroat trout first became a management issue in southern Utah in the 1970s after the Endangered Species Act was passed and several remnant populations of native trout were identified. Initial restoration efforts began in 1977 when individuals from a remnant population of Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki utah) were transplanted to a stream that had been treated with rotenone to remove nonnative trout. Restoration efforts became a routine part of Utah's fishery program in 1980 when the state incorporated Federal Aid in Fish Restoration funding into its program, which formally included native trout. Here, we evaluate the native trout restoration program by reviewing the progress made and problems encountered during the past quarter century. Evaluations were categorized by topic: (1) implications of changing genetic identification techniques; (2) success of treating streams and lakes with rotenone; (3) sources of native trout for re-introductions; (4) use of migration barriers to isolate native from nonnative trout; (5) practical considerations in restoration of metapopulations; and (6) socio-political issues. Project delays, setbacks, and failures have occurred over time, but overall accomplishments have been positive. Consistent progress resulted from making native trout restoration a formal part of annual work plans. Stream habitat known to contain native trout has increased over 15 times since 1977. Wild brood stocks were developed from local sources of both Bonneville and Colorado River ( O. c. pleuriticus) cutthroat trout. Plans are in progress to develop additional stream and lentic populations of native cutthroat trout, and incorporate native trout into overall sport fishery management plans.