Restoration of Paiute Cutthroat Trout to Silver King Creek, CA

For more information contact Andrea Schreier: amdrauch@ucdavis.edu

Background and Significance of Study

The threatened Paiute cutthroat trout (PCT) is native to a 10km stretch of Lower Silver King Creek in the Carson-Iceberg wilderness, California. An initial transfer of PCT from Lower Silver King Creek to Upper Silver King Creek led to the establishment of several pure populations of PCT above fish barriers. Subsequently, beginning in the 1920s, the native PCT range in Lower Silver King Creek was stocked multiple times with numerous nonnative trout, including California golden trout, Lahontan cutthroat trout, and rainbow trout. This led to the extirpation of PCT in their native range, largely through competition.

After a chemical treatment in Lower Silver King Creek (to be completed Summer 2015), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will restore PCT to their native range using pure PCT from within the watershed above fish barriers. Genetic management to date has involved confirming putative pure (non-introgressed with nonnative trout) PCT populations. These populations will be used as source populations for the restoration of fish into Lower Silver King Creek.