Currents Newsletter High Country Angler Blog About Us. Likely fished by the ancient Anasazi civilization, they were also the first trout to be identified in the New World by early explorers. Nestled in the rugged mountains of southwest Colorado lies a remote, privately owned ranch that shelters the pristine waters of Haypress Lake. The Rio Grande cutthroat was the first trout to be discovered in North America by Europeans and was first described in 1541 by Spaniards crossing the southwest in search of gold. Haypress Lake is the primary collection site for Rio Grande cutthroat eggs in Colorado and the offspring are restocked throughout the Rio Grande Basin. (Provided by Colorado Fish and Wildlife) The subspecies currently occupies less than 12% of its historic range. Rio Grande cutthroat trout have irregular shaped spots that are concentrated behind the dorsal fin, smaller less numerous spots located primarily above the lateral line anterior to the dorsal fin, and basibranchial teeth that are minute or absent. While the universe of cutthroat trout subspecies is always evolving with new genetic research, most scientists recognize at least 10 distinct subspecies within western U.S. (link to https://westernnativetrout.org) In Colorado, there are at least three subspecies, including the Rio Grande cutthroat trout (native to the San Luis Valley), the Greenback cutthroat trout (native to the South … This beautiful trout is considered a minor subspecies of the Yellowstone cutthroat and is native to the Rio Grande, Canadian and Pecos River drainages of New Mexico and Colorado. They currently live in only about 100 headwater streams, occupying 10 percent of their former range. It was early October and the Aspens were in full bloom. 4 - Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief - derives aesthetic, recreational, scientific, spiritual, educational and other benefits from the Trout’s existence in the wild. The project is part of a long-planned strategy to restore the native Rio Grande cutthroat trout to waters where its numbers have dwindled toward the edge of extinction. "Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout: A Technical Conservation Assessment", "Species Profile Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout", "Rio Grande Cutthroat - Oncorhynchus clarki virginalis - Introduction", http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/rio-grande-cutthroat-trout-no-longer-an-endangered-species-candidate/, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rio_Grande_cutthroat_trout&oldid=988816281, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Rio Grande cutthroat trout from the Conejos watershed in southern Colorado, This page was last edited on 15 November 2020, at 12:12. The Rio Grande cutthroat trout evolved in New Mexico as a member of a native fish assemblage that included the longnose dace, the Rio Grande chub and the Rio Grande sucker. However, due to the loss of populations across their native range and reports of Rio Grande cutthroat in Mexico and Texas, it is unclear how far south this trout once occurred. In Trout and Salmon of North America, Robert Behnke also notes that RGCT may have been native to streams of the Davis Mountains of west Texas, but even if true they have long since been extirpated from that state. The Rio Grande cutthroat trout was a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act from 2008 to 2014. These were most likely Rio Grande cutthroat trout (O. c. virginalis)[3]. A Rio Grande cutthroat. The historic range of Rio Grande cutthroat trout has been reduced over the last 150 years due to many changes on the landscape, including: drought, water infrastructure, habitat changes, hybridization with nonnative Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout, and competition with Brook and Brown Trout. 2013 Conservation Agreement(12MB) ​and the ​2013 Conservation Strategy which outline long-term conservation objectives for this subspecies. As a result, pure populations of Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout are restricted primarily to headwater streams.​. Rio Grande cutthroat trout are light rose to red-orange on the sides and pink or yellow-orange on the belly. However due to the loss of populations across th… April 2006 version. The multi-agency project to restore the native species has been years in … They are also rare, occupying only about 10% of their original habitat that actually extended into Texas at one point. They live an average of five years, but in rare cases, may survive into their teens. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. Locations Resources The Greenbacks Rendezvous Fall 2020 Events News & Media. A multi-agency effort to restore it still can inspire anger and concern. Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis) is one of three recognized subspecies of native trout found in Colorado, and is the southernmost subspecies of cutthroat trout. 9. Map Information » Places to Stay & Fun Things to Do » More Activities & Information » Where is Rio Grande Area Fishing Map » Click Areas on Map for More Fishing Information. Rio Grande cutthroat trout typically spawn between mid-May and mid-June. It now only occupies just 12 percent of its historic habitat in approximately 800 miles of streams. Males are sexually mature at age two; females mature at age three. Four of these evolved in Colorado: the Colorado River cutthroat trout in drainages west of the continental divide, Greenback cutthroat trout in the South Platte and Arkansas River drainages, and the Rio Grande cutthroat trout in streams that drain into the San Luis Valley. Colorado Fishing Rio Grande Area Fishing Map . [4], Rio Grande cutthroat have the distinction of being the southernmost subspecies of cutthroat trout. In the continuing effort to restore native cutthroat trout to state waters, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the National Park Service are cooperating on a major project set for late summer in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. The longest stretch of Gold Medal waters in the entire state of Colorado, this is your best chance to catch a trophy trout! Biologists estimate that 127 conservation populations now exist in the two states, and 57 of those populations are considered to be secure. 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