Updates on Redband Trout Conservation

Redband trout includes three subspecies of rainbow trout (O. mykiss gairdneri, newberrii, and stonei) found east of the Cascades Mountain Range in portions of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada. A range-wide assessment, promulgated by participating state and federal agencies of the Western Native Trout Initiative, was completed in 2012. The assessment focused on the non-anadromous range of the species. Current distribution of redband trout is 42 percent of its historical range. Major threats include loss of genetic diversity, competition with non-native fishes, habitat degradation, and land management practices. Redband trout was found not at imminent risk for extinction. It is widely distributed and many populations are isolated from hybridization. Even so, participating agencies and organizations were compelled to develop a conservation agreement in 2014 to facilitate greater cooperation and coordination. The conservation agreement identifies six goals and 28 actions to promote redband trout conservation efforts range-wide. Most recently, a Redband Trout Species Conservation Team formed to refine conservation actions more specific to the geographic management units established in the 2012 range-wide assessment. The conservation team has just begun developing a redband trout conservation portfolio using the 3-R Framework adopted by Trout Unlimited and others. Preliminary results are presented.