FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--SEPTEMBER 20, 1996
FWP FACT SHEET
Questions & Answers
GOVERNOR'S WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT WORKSHOP
September 26, 1996
Colonial Inn, Helena
Q: What is a westslope cutthroat trout?
A: The westslope cutthroat is one of a dozen subspecies of cutthroat trout found in the Columbia and Missouri drainages and the Rocky Mountains. The scientific name for westslope cutthroat trout is Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi. The North American trout share the genus name Oncorhynchus with the Pacific salmon. The species (clarki) and subspecies (lewisi) names for westslope are a reminder of the great explorers Lewis and Clark, the first Europeans to describe the subspecies.
Q: Are westslope cutthroat trout threatened or endangered?
A: No. Westslope cutthroat trout are not listed as threatened or endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They are considered a species of special concern by the state of Montana. One reason for the state taking a proactive role in westslope cutthroat trout management is to assure that it will not be necessary to list westslope cutthroat as threatened or endangered.
Q: Where are westslope cutthroat trout found?
A: Historically, westslope cutthroat were found in the Missouri River upstream of Fort Benton as well as its tributaries including the Judith, Milk and Marias rivers. West of the Continental Divide they were found in the Clark Fork and Kootenai river drainages in Montana and extending downstream into Alberta, Idaho and the extreme eastern portion of Washington. By far the majority of their historic distribution is in Montana.
Today, the range of westslope cutthroat trout is greatly reduced. They are found in less than 5 percent of their historic range in the Missouri River drainage. While they are faring better west of the Divide, they still inhabit less than 10 percent of their historic range. In most waters where they are found, it is believed their numbers are reduced from historic population levels.
Q: What has caused the decline of westslope cutthroat trout?
A: It is difficult to generalize about what has caused the decline of Montana's state fish. Several factors are believed to have contributed to its decline. The introduction of non-
native fish, such as rainbow, brown, and brook trout is a significant factor. Rainbow trout hybridize with cutthroat trout and produce fertile offspring, which exacerbates the loss of the cutthroat species with replacement by hybrids. Brown trout have commonly displaced cutthroat in larger rivers and brook trout have become the most common small-stream trout.
Because cutthroat trout are comparatively easy to catch, over-fishing has played a role in the species decline. But, perhaps most damaging to the fish has been habitat alterations caused by a variety of human activities that have changed the character of many streams. These changes combined with the competition from non-native trout are believed to be the major causes of the decline of westslope cutthroat trout.
Q: Where are westslope cutthroat currently found?
A:
There are a few small populations still found in the Missouri River drainage, but there are not any strong populations found east of the Continental Divide. West of the Continental Divide, the strongest population is still found in the South Fork of the Flathead. There are other populations found scattered throughout the Columbia and Kootenai river drainages.Q: Why should Montana's be concerned about westslope cutthroat trout?
A: As their scientific name indicates, westslope are an important part of Montana history and culture. A recent article in Montana Outdoors (July/August 1996) recounts how Montanans in the early 1900s were dismayed when rainbow and brown trout were planted in the Madison River. Our predecessors understood that the planting of non-native fish would be the end of the native cutthroat and grayling they so admired and loved to catch.
Westslope are a great sportfish as well. They evolved as aggressive feeders, a necessary adaptation for a species native to the cold, pristine and relatively unproductive waters of Montana. Due to the aggressive nature of their feeding habits, many Montanan anglers--young and old alike--remember the cutthroat as their first catch. Today, the cutthroat remains a great fish for young anglers to pursue in our streams and high mountain lakes. More experienced anglers have come to admire the cutthroat for their beauty. The familiar flash of gold under the water surface when a cutthroat rises to a dry fly is one of the highlights of many Montana fishing trips.
Q: What is the state doing about the plight of the westslope cutthroat trout?
A: All stream and river fishing for westslope cutthroat trout in the central portion of Montana is catch and release only. This regulation was adopted in 1996 to protect the upper Missouri River westslope cutthroat trout populations. FWP is taking a proactive approach to ensure that westslope will remain an important part of Montana's sportfishing future.