Spring Creek Population History of the Pyramid Lake Rediscovery (Again) Unfortunately, given its small size, the trout Lahontan Cutthroat population at Spring Creek has a very low In October 2009, a team from Weber State probability of survival. It lacks the numbers The Lahontan cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus University in conjunction with personnel and space necessary to maintain sufficient clarkii henshawi, is native to the Lahontan Basin from the DWR identified several specimens genetic diversity. It is believed that for a on the border between California and Nevada. believed to be of a pure or hybrid strain of mountain stream cutthroat population to For thousands of years it thrived and played the Pyramid Lake Lahontan cutthroat trout survive it must have a minimum of 3.3 km an important economic and cultural role in Spring Creek in Uintah, Utah. Using of habitat and an abundance in the area of among the Native American tribes of the electrofishers and dip nets, a 600 m stretch 0.3 fish per meter.3 Based on our region. The largest strain of this fish of the stream was sampled. A maximum observations, the Spring Creek population originated in Pyramid Lake, in western of 16 different individuals was collected in A Unique Environment has a maximum abundance of 0.1 fish/m Nevada and has reached recorded weights of two sampling trips. The fish appeared to Spring Creek’s unique vegetation and only 200 m of habitat. However, against up to 41 pounds, making it the largest “The Fish that Won’t Die” be restricted to a 200 m stretch. and substrate set it apart from all odds and despite these limitations this subspecies of cutthroat trout. Unfortunately, Terry Hickman, featured in the Mar. Individuals were separated by intervals of other streams in the area. population has shown surprising longevity, by the early 1900s, the Lahontan cutthroat 1980 edition of Sports Illustrated, 15 to 20 m and occupied very inconsistent surviving for more than 20 years. was nearly extinct due to overfishing and rediscovers the Pyramid Lake types of habitats. They ranged in size from Furthermore, given that the Spring Creek environmental damage caused by logging and Lahontan cutthroat trout after 40 186 to 280 mm, which, assuming normal population is non-native, it could be used for growth2, would put them in the range of 3 mining. The Pyramid Lake strain in particular years of being “extinct.” future investigations of population ecology was believed have been completely lost and to 4 years of age. No fish was found in the without as much concern of the negative for many years it was believed that these lake 200 m stretches upstream or downstream impacts of such studies. Thus, there is giants would never be seen again. 1 Rediscovery and of the occupied reach. All fish in Spring potential to learn much from this little Creek had medium to large spots more or population as long as it persists. Redistribution less evenly distributed over the sides of the body, top of the head, and on the In 1977, however, a considerable amount of abdomen. This spotting pattern is typical excitement was generated when a of the Lahontan cutthroat trout subspecies. population of Pyramid Lake Lahontan Results are currently pending for genetic cutthroat trout was discovered in the Pilot tests on fin clippings taken from these fish Spring Creek, Uintah, Utah Peak Mountain Range, Box Elder County, to determine the purity of this population. Utah. It was concluded that the population Spring Creek was a small mountain stream had been introduced to the area in 1930, a that bubbled right out of the side of the time when eggs taken from Pyramid Lake mountain. It was characterized by small Lahontan Cutthroats had been planted in pools, steep cascades, and waterfalls. Most several places in Utah and Nevada. In an of the stream was shaded and surrounded attempt to preserve this strain, it was by thick underbrush (e.g. snake grass and introduced to several streams across birch trees). The substrate was mostly rocky Fishing on Pyramid Lake during its northern Utah. One of these sites was Student researchers: from left to th with a very low percentage of sand and silt. peak years (early 20 century). One Spring Creek in Uintah, Utah, where eggs The average stream width was 2.1 m and right: Tim Healy, Bryce Galbraith, Failure Turns into Success: hundred tons of Lahontan were stocked in 1986. This attempt, average depth was 0.2 m. The water Jared Eames. Cutthroat Trout were fished from however, was believed to have been a failure Supplanted Pyramid Lake strain temperature was 6.9o C on October 9. Pyramid Lake each season. as, afterwards, no sign of the offspring was of Lahontan cutthroat trout is Spring Creek is used for local irrigation via 2 found. found again after it was thought pipes that draw water out during the warmer Acknowledgements to be lost. months. There is one man-made diversion of the stream that was constructed by early We thank Sam Zeveloff and the Department of References: Zoology along with Craig Schaugaard and Paul settlers to supply water for irrigation to the Thompson of the Utah Division of Wildlife 1 Behnke R (2002) Trout and salmon of North America. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, Inc. Uintah Central Canal. The fish populations Resources for support . 2 Trotter P (2008) Cutthroat: Native trout of the west. Berkeley, CA: Scott & Nix, Inc. was found between the diversion and an 3 Hilderbrand RH & Kershner LK (2000) Conserving inland cutthroat trout streams: How much is enough? North American Journal of Fisheries Management 20:513-520. upstream waterfall..