Status of Coastal Cutthroat Trout: In California and Oregon

Coastal Cutthroat Trout are an important subspecies of native trout that occupy coastal streams from northern California to Prince William Sound, Alaska. Despite their ecological importance and popularity as a sport fish there has not, to date, been a range-wide assessment of their status. Here, we present initial results of a range-wide Coastal Cutthroat Trout assessment. The assessment relies on existing data shared by agency biologists and professional judgment. In early 2014, our assessment team held their first workshop in Orick, California. Since then, we have assessed more than 30,000 square miles and worked with over 120 biologists from multiple agencies. Because site-specific fish distribution layers were not available in advance of the assessment, we gathered documented occurrence data that was gathered incidentally during Pacific salmon surveys. In addition, we developed habitat Intrinsic Potential models with attributes specific to Coastal Cutthroat Trout in advance of the assessment to help us define our sampling frame. We have developed a standard protocol and decision tools to provide a consistent framework for the assessment. The results of the assessment will help us better understand Coastal Cutthroat Trout distribution within stream networks, relative population and habitat health, limiting factors, and estuary use.