History
Lahontan cutthroat trout, commonly referred to as LCT, were once a top aquatic predator in their historic range, which encompassed 12 lake systems and more than 7,000 miles of streams across northern Nevada, the Eastern Sierra and southeastern Oregon.
LCT were listed as endangered under what is now known as the Endangered Species Act in 1970 and reclassified as threatened in 1975 to allow for recreational fishing. Protection under the Endangered Species Act mobilizes resources and programs to recover and prevent extinction of a species. In the 52 years since LCT were added to the federal list of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, population numbers across the Lahontan Basin have continued to decline.
Lahontan cutthroat trout have inhabited the Lahontan Basin for at least five million years, and fossilized trout that share similarities with LCT are recorded to have been in the basin for nearly 10 million years. Their long history, the everchanging landscape, and harsh climate extremes have forged a resilient fish – one capable of withstanding higher maximum stream temperatures and persisting through the last glacial period, making their decline remarkable.
LCT once moved freely around the Lahontan Basin, largely due to the nearly 8,500 square-mile ancient Lake Lahontan that once covered most of northwestern Nevada. Tributaries to this ancient lake included the Humboldt, Little Humboldt, Reese, Walker, Carson, Susan, and Truckee rivers. As the lake began to dry 12,500 years ago, the LCT that were once free to move between these tributaries found themselves relatively isolated in the lake and river drainages we now see on the landscape.
Today, almost every LCT population is isolated and unable to share their genetics with other populations as they once did. Many populations have been isolated by warmer rivers caused by poor habitat quality or diversion of flow, or physical barriers such as dams and diversion structures. The inability of these fish to move about under current land use practices is limiting their resilience as a species.
Moving Forward
Efforts to prioritize recovery projects across the basin to stabilize existing Lahontan cutthroat trout populations and to enhance potentially suitable habitat that is likely to support the species are currently underway. LCT recovery partners intend to face these challenges head on and will need the support of a diverse group of stakeholders from across the range. To that end, we welcome feedback on and participation in our recovery efforts. We want to collaboratively build approaches to LCT recovery that balance the needs of the local community with the needs of the species for a mutually beneficial outcome for now and into the future.