1. Southwest Native Trout Strategy: Update and Planned Activities
Apache trout
Gila trout
Jack Williams
Brad Powell
Rio Grande cutthroat

2. Southwest Native Trout: Why?
Whitewater- Baldy Fire 2012
Demonstrated conservation need and opportunities
Restoration, reintroduction, research, and education
Strong partnerships exist
State and federal agencies, NGOs
Proven interest from TU state leaders and local members
AZ Trout Workshop, Rio Costilla, Gila recovery projects
Citizen science opportunities
Habitat and population monitoring
Climate change and fish management
Response to wildfires, drought, higher temperatures
Rio Grande cutthroat stream
Baseflow 0.07 cfs

3. Southwest Native Trout: Percentage of historical range
currently occupied
Apache trout (AZ): 25%
Gila trout (AZ, NM): 5%
Rio Grande cutthroat
trout (CO, NM, TX): 11%

4. Strong partnerships and proven interests
Protecting RGCT on Alamitos Creek
Bringing back the native trout of Texas.
Rio Costilla watershed restoration project
West Fork Black River Apache trout metapopulation restoration
Gila trout
post-fire recovery
6th Annual Native and Wild Trout Conference.

5. Goal of Southwest Native Trout Strategy
Our goal is that Apache, Gila and Rio Grande cutthroat trout and their habitats will be sustainably conserved and expanded in the Southwest, resilient to climate change, well distributed and with abundant, fishable populations.

6. 5-Year Business Plan for SW Native Trout
$2.4 million cost over 5 years
Major themes for new funding to support initiative:
Communicating values of SW Native Trout
Responding to climate change
Building resiliency by creating larger stronghold populations
Better responses to drought, wildfire and extreme storm events
Increasing involvement and capacity among Southwest TU chapters

7. A sampling of high priority projects and needs
1. Videos to tell special stories of Southwest native trout
2. Improve stream monitoring network and TU member participation in citizen science
3. Repatriation of RGCT into Texas
4. Drought and wildfire risk management
5. BMPs for wildfire recovery
6. Creating Apache trout stronghold in West Fork Black River
Creating Gila trout stronghold in West Fork Gila River
Creating stronghold Rio Grande cutthroat trout in Great Sand Dunes Park and Preserve

8. Apache Trout Arizona Phoenix Historically occupied about
600 mi of stream habitat.
Apache trout population 2010
Invading brown and rainbow trout
Wallow Fire 2011
538,000 acres burned.

9. From Ashes to Opportunity
Arizona
Phoenix
Apache Trout
From Ashes to Opportunity
Restoring the
West Fork Black River
West Fork Black River

10. Apache trout
Forest planning (4FRI process , Tonto Plan, Black River Forest Rest.)
NFWF proposal to develop a more effective multi-agency monitoring plan for Apache trout populations and habitats
Metapopulation restoration in W. Fork Black River
Stream temperature data used to identify populations at risk
Recovery work in Dude Creek, West Fork Oak Creek, Haigler Creek
Craign Watershed Protection planning
Native and Wild Trout Conference

11. Gila Trout Historically occupied about 600 mi of stream habitat.
In 2010, 15 populations occupied about 80 mi of stream habitat.
Gila wilderness
The Whitewater Baldy fire of 2012 burned 300,000 acres through the heart of remaining Gila trout strongholds.

12. Reintroducing Gila trout into Arizona
Lots of unoccupied
historical range!

13. Gila trout
TU/Jim Brooks completed 5 survey trips Gila recovery streams
Develop updated database of remaining populations
Natural barrier survey on two streams in the Blue River drainage in AZ
Gila genetics work –(Whiskey, Main & S Diamond, and Spruce)
Gila temperature monitoring funding from FWS
Future feature article in Trout on full scope of Gila restoration effort
Piscicide treatment for Whitewater creek, fish barrier on W. Fork of Gila
Lake Roberts youth fishing derby
$96,300 Fed challenge grant, $100,000 private donation (5 populations)

14. Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout
Historically occupied over 6,000 miles of streams and rivers.
2010 occupied less than 700 miles of small stream habitat.
75% of populations are genetically pure.
Average population extent is less than 6 miles – lack resilience.
Have lost migratory life history.
Extinct in Texas.

15. Rio Grande cutthroat trout
Identification of stronghold restoration opportunities high priority
Restoration work in Sand & Jim Creek in Colorado
Strategic water transactions
RGCT sign & Posters (10 signs posters)
Middle Creek Trail work
Haypress Dam evaluation
Medano and Hudson Bridges
Fish barriers on the Hondo and Gavilan Creek
Pecos Wilderness restoration
Rio Costillo barrier

16. Great Sand Dunes NP and Preserve
Removal of non-native trouts
Reestablishment of Rio Grande cutthroat trout

17. Rio Grande cutthroat trout: returning native trout to Texas

18. Pecos River populations of Rio Grande cutthroat trout
11 populations occupying 60km of stream habitat
Most populations small
All populations in close proximity and vulnerable to single catastrophic event
McKittrick population would provide insurance against loss of Pecos form

19. “I find it hard to believe that any exotic trout would do as well in the creek as the native cutthroat. Nature has fitted them for survival in what is at best a marginal habitat on the southern edge of trout country. They thrive and grow fat in a creek that is little more than a trickle. The Rio Grande cutthroat trout are of this place. They belong here like the basalt along the canyon floor and the ponderosa pines that reach for the sky.” Frank Weissbarth, Holy Ghost Creek

20. Questions?