Slinkard Creek Restoration Key To Preserving Native Lahontan Cutthroat Trout

Preserving Native Lahontan Cutthroat Trout in Slinkard Creek

Near Monitor Pass lies Slinkard Creek, a beautiful little tributary of the West Walker River. It’s found within Slinkard Valley — a DFG Wildlife Refuge accessible only by foot — and it holds Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, which currently occupy less than 10% of their historic stream habitat.

A Slinkard Creek Lahontan.

Due to its isolation and the quality of its habitat, Slinkard Creek has become one of the last best places for preserving Lahontans. In fact, the most robust LCT restoration population is located in 1.2 miles of Slinkard Creek above a man made barrier.

This population is on the brink of a genetic bottleneck — the minimum population limit where the Lahontan’s unique genetics may be conserved.

In addition, small, isolated populations are also extremely vulnerable to catastrophic events, which could wipe out a few small pockets of native fish far easier than an expansive, wide-ranging population.

Clearly, it’s a critical time for the Lahontan Cutthroat.

That’s why CalTrout is helping restore Slinkard Creek and native Lahontan populations, and why we’ve set a goal that within a decade, we will secure and maintain self-sustaining LCT populations across the six recovery tributaries of the Upper Walker River (including Slinkard Creek).

Slinkard Meadows

For more information about this project you can contact our project manager-Jenny Hatch at 530-541-3495 or by email at jhatch@caltrout.org