Putting Conservation Genetic Principles into Practice: A Westslope Cutthroat Trout Facility Application

The perceived benefits of artificial propagation facilities are derived from intrinsic programmatic goals (overarching intent). For example, what is the purpose of the facility, why is the facility being operated, and what is intended to be gained?  Further, perceived benefits are drivers of program decisions and activities.  Tolerance to differing magnitudes of genetic risk also depends on program intent, where acceptable levels of risk are agreed upon given the purpose of the facility.  The genetic risk(s) threshold(s) for program activities can be modulated by the conservation mandates and primary recovery goals.  Seattle City Light’s Native Salmonid Conservation Facility is conceived of as a research-oriented, adaptively managed program based on sound, salmonid-specific genetic and ecological principles to maximize genetic diversity, maintain natural life history strategies, and to help maximize post-release survival.  This program will be used to illustrate how biological measures (demographics, genetic diversity, population boundaries, and effective population sizes) inform decisions regarding population handling at a facility, specific bioprograms instituted, and juvenile release procedures.