“A National Fish Habitat Partnership”

1. “A National Fish Habitat Partnership”

2. Western Native Trout Initiative(WNTI) Presented by Robin Knox WNTI Coordinator

3. Western Native Trout Initiative • Part 1 – Define what a “native” trout is in Colorado and the West  • Part 2 - Describe the National Fish Habitat Action Plan and the Western Native Trout Initiative • Part 3 – Describe the WNTI Small Project-Small Grant Program  • Part 4 – Describe the new “Campaign for Western Native Trout”

4. Western Native Trout Initiative • Native Trout: • Colorado River Cutthroat • Greenback Cutthroat • Rio Grande Cutthroat

8. Western Native Trout Initiative • Non- Native Trout • Brown Trout • Brook Trout • Rainbow Trout • Lake Trout • Snake River Cutthroat trout • Golden Trout • Various hybrids like cut-bows, etc

9. Western Native Trout Initiative • Wild Trout vs. Non-wild Trout All Colorado Trout are the result of naturally spawned eggs, or the result of hatchery spawned eggs. It just depends on the specific water that are fishing in. It could be either or both !

13. WNTI as a National Fish Habitat Partnership Primary work units of the NFHAP Diverse array of public & private entities Self-identified, self-directed Formed around WAFWA States Keystone fish species Coldwater aquatic systems

15. Distribution of Native Inland Trout (Oncorhynchus) and Char (Salvelinus) of the Western United States Alaska Westslope Cutthroat Redband trout Bull trout Yellowstone Cutthroat Coastal Cutthroat Colorado River Cutthroat Lahontan Cutthroat Greenback Cutthroat Paiute Cutthroat Bonneville Cutthroat Rio Grande Cutthroat Little Kern Golden trout California Golden trout Gila trout Apache trout Adapted from Behnke 1992

16. Status of Inland Native Trout *All petitioned species have been given not warranted decisions by the USFWS except for California golden trout and Colorado River cutthroat which are still pending. CAS=Conservation agreement and strategy, CA=Conservation agreement, CCA=Candidate conservation agreement. Gila trout was down-listed from endangered on July 18, 2006.

17. Western Native Trout Initiative Mission: The mission of WNTI is to serve as a key catalyst for the implementation of conservation or management actions, through partnerships and cooperative efforts that result in improved species status, improved aquatic habitats, and improved recreational opportunities for native trout anglers. Operational funding - $120,000/yr

18. WNTI Project Funding • The Western Native Trout Initiative (WNTI) has designated funding to 70 projects that conserve or enhance the status of western native trout. The WNTI matched $3.25 million of NFHAP funds to $7.0 million partner match(2006-2011).

19. WNTI Actions • Received $600,000 for habitat and science projects that benefitted western native trout each of the past four years. • Colorado Projects Funded: • Trapper Creek Riparian Protection - $7,750 • North Thompson Creek Habitat - $45,000 • LaGarita Creek Culvert - $63,000 • Wolf Creek Barrier - $22,500 • East Fork. Parachute Creek Barrier - $12,000 • Bear Creek Habitat Phase 1 and 2 - $47,328 • M. Fork. Thompson Ck. Habitat - $6,690

20. WNTI 2011 Actions • In an effort to increase awarness of the WNTI and to involve local groups such as TU or FFF Chapters, the WNTI Steering Committee developed the concept of a “Small Projects-Small Grants” program and searched for funding. The goal is to have a program that will encourage conservation projects at the local level and promote native trout conservation.

21. Western Native Trout Initiative • Project Development - WNTI Small Projects Grant Program - $15,000/yr • WNTI received 14 applications for small projects in 2011, and the WNTI Steering Committee determined the funded projects at their recent summer meeting. The following projects were funded: • Rattlesnake Creek Community Stewardship Program: $1485 • “Every Cutthroat Counts” Upper Teton River Signage: $770 • Chicago Creek WCT Re-introduction Project: $3000 • Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers Outreach Project: $2,000 • Apache Trout in the Classroom Project: $3000 • “Surviving Climate Change” RGCT Watershed Assessment: $3000 • McDonald Creek Water Quality Protection (partially funded): $1740

22. Western Native Trout Initiative • WNTI completes an annual report that is emailed to over 250 persons available on the website. • www.westernnativetrout.org • In 2011, WNTI noted in Trout Unlimited cable TV show episode and TRCP Native Trout Adventures (trcp.org)

25. Western Native Trout Initiative FUTURE CHALLENGES TO ADDRESS • WATER WITHDRAWAL • CLIMATE WARMING IMPACT • CONTINUED FOREST AND STREAM DEGRADATIONDEGRADATION • ACCESS TO STREAMS • FUNDING - YOU CAN HELP THROUGH SUPPORT OF THE CAMPAIGN!!

26. Western Native Trout Initiative

27. Western Native Trout Initiative Bull Trout

30. Western Native Trout Initiative

33. Western Native Trout Initiative

34. Turning the Tide

35. BUY ME!