Final Report For Redband Trout Status and Evaluation Project

Despite their popularity as a sport fish, much remains to be learned about native resident rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) east of the Pacific Northwest’s Cascade Crest. Typically referred to as O. mykiss gairdneri, redband trout, and inland trout, the populations that comprise this designation in the Columbia Plateau region may have been replaced or hybridized by hatchery plantings of coastal rainbow trout. Yet in the few places where genetic analysis has occurred, researchers have found that native redband trout persist. The lack of information about these resilient fish has prevented the development of a fish management plan as well as investigation as to whether these fish should be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. To further our knowledge about redband trout in the Columbia Plateau region that covers eastern Washington State and the lands of the Colville Confederated Tribes and the Spokane Tribe of Indians, maps were created using ArcGIS that show historic and current presence of these resilient fish as well as streams where genetic analysis needs to be done to verify their presence. In addition, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists reviewed existing field protocols and then field tested a protocol to assess redband trout presence in Washington State.