Allyn Kratz: managing editor Kyle Wilson: junior editor RhoDESCO Print: design & graphics Katrina Lund: life cycle game art Kevin Rodgers: photography Special Edition: Funds provided by Embrace a Stream Grant Greenback Cutthroat Trout
Published by The State Fish of Colorado, the Greenback trout can lay eggs when it is only one year old. The Brook Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited Cutthroat Trout is nearly extinct, Why? Trout lays its eggs in the fall with the fry hatching soon P.O. Box 458 Colorado Springs, CO 80901 thereafter and growing over the winter. The Cutthroats lay their eggs in the spring. When the fry of the Cutthroat must compete for food and space with the older and larger fry of the Brook Trout, it is at a disadvantage. Cutthroat Trout lay fewer eggs than Brook Trout, so again, the Brook Trout are able to out-survive the Cutthroat Trout. As a result of this practice of planting hatchery fi sh in the lakes and streams around Colorado, the Yellowfi n Cutthroat became extinct and the Greenback Cutthroat were so few in number that it was listed as endangered. How did the Greenbacks get to OPÏn "29!. #(2)34)% To increase the fi sh population, hatcheries began to raise “native trout” and placed them in these ponds. Over time, The Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited is working with fi sh to put back into the rivers. Again, the way it was some of these trout escaped into the creek. The creek many other organizations and governmental agencies to save the done was not good for the Cutthroats. Because Cutthroat has a natural barrier, a waterfall, that provides protection Greenbacks. A small number of fi sh from Bear Creek were taken to the Trout are diffi cult to raise in a hatchery, Rainbow, Brook to the “native trout” from the invasion of the non native Federal Hatchery in Leadville in order to produce more Greenbacks. and Brown Trout were used to restock the rivers and species of trout. These fi sh from below could not go Some of the Leadville fry are raised in the Mt Shavano Hatchery in streams in Colorado. Rainbow Trout are a distant relative up the stream past this barrier. As a result, these “native Salida. Many of these fi sh are moved to isolated Lake Zimmerman. In 2016 to the Cutthroat Trout. These two would often mate, trout” were protected. They have lived in this stream for some of these Lake Zimmerman fi sh will be used to collect eggs for more with the result being a Cutbow Trout. Brown Trout would over 130 years. In 2012 genetic testing proved that this Greenbacks. It is also hoped to place some Greenbacks into a new stream grow large in warmer water and would often eat the small population of “native trout” were actually the only to create a second population of Greenbacks in the wild. Cutthroat. Worst of all was the Brook Trout. Cutthroat remaining pure Colorado Greenback Cutthroat Trout To learn more about the Greenback Trout, go to: http://cmctu.org/protection/bear-creek-greenbacks/ Trout do not lay eggs until they are three years old. Brook (Oncorhynchus clarki stomias) in the whole world. Greenback Cutthroat Trout Life Cycle Game Instructions You are a tiny egg in the life cycle of a Greenback cutthroat trout. Can you make it through the journey of life and survive to spawn? Materials Needed Greenback Cutthroat Trout Life Cycle Game board 1 die, perhaps an extra one from another game 1 game piece per player. You will need to fi nd a small objects around the house or outside. A nice pebble would work, a bottle cap, an extra button, a small shell, etc. Use your imagination. You could also borrow from another game. 50 “Energy Tokens”. These represent a growing fi sh’s needs, such as oxygen in the water, space, water temperature, food, etc. You can use pennies or other small objects. How to Play The game is most fun with up to four players. If you have more, you may want to form teams and share one game piece per team. Each player begins with a game piece on “Start.” Each player begins with 5 Energy Tokens. Someone can be the offi cial “banker” of the tokens, or each person may do it themselves, on the honor system. Roll the die to determine who goes fi rst. Whoever rolls the highest number goes fi rst, then continue taking turns in a clockwise rotation. When it’s your turn, roll the die and move your game piece the number of squares rolled. Read out loud and follow the instruction in the square you land on. If you die, either by running out of Energy Tokens or other consequences of the square you land on, you can start over at “Start” with 5 Energy Tokens. Keep track of how many lives it takes to fi nish. “End” square can be reached with an exact roll or a higher number. Groups can play until one player reaches the end, everyone spawns, or time is up. If you make it to the end, you can start over with 5 Energy Tokens. Discussion Questions How many of you died? How many times? How many of you spawned? What challenges did you face growing up? What made life easier? What can humans do to help Greenback Cutthroat Trout survive to spawning adulthood?