Today the southernmost known populations are found on the eastern flanks of the Gila Mountains in Southern New Mexico.[5]. Nestled in the rugged mountains of southwest Colorado lies a remote, privately owned ranch that shelters the pristine waters of Haypress Lake. Over the past century this subspecies has declined, primarily due to the effects of introduced trout species and habitat loss. "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. Rio Grande cutthroat trout Greenback cutthroat trout: O. c. stomias (Cope, 1871) Native to the Arkansas and South Platte River headwaters on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado; it is designated as threatened (1978). Haypress Lake is the primary collection site for Rio Grande cutthroat eggs in Colorado and the offspring are restocked throughout the Rio Grande Basin. Currents Newsletter High Country Angler Blog About Us. 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. Rio Grande cutthroat have the distinction of being the southern most subspecies of cutthroat trout. Video capture by Jerry Neal (CPW). 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. 4 - Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief - derives aesthetic, recreational, scientific, spiritual, educational and other benefits from the Trout’s existence in the wild. Native Trout Public Lands Youth Education River Surveys Chapters. The presence and abundance of native trout on the landscape helps maintain a healthy and balanced ecosystem. Biologists estimate that 127 conservation populations now exist in the two states, and 57 of those populations are considered to be secure. The Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout (RGCT) is a native sportfish that occurs in coldwater streams and lakes in the Canadian River, Pecos River, and Rio Grande basins in Colorado and New Mexico. Cutthroat trout were the first New World trout encountered by Europeans when in 1541, Spanish explorer Francisco de Coronado recorded seeing trout in the Pecos River near Santa Fe, New Mexico. Rio Grande cutthroats currently live on 700 miles of stream in the Santa Fe National Forest, which is approximately 91% of their historical range. The Rio Grande cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki virginalis), a member of the family Salmonidae, is found in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado in tributaries of the Rio Grande.,[1][2], It is one of 14 subspecies of cutthroat trout native to the western United States, and is the state fish of New Mexico. Rio Grande cutthroat trout: O. c. virginalis (Girard, 1856) Native to New Mexico and southern Colorado. Colorado Fishing Rio Grande Area Fishing Map . Mr. McKinnon . Rio Grande cutthroat trout possess similar coloration, but usually have fewer scales in and above the lateral line and more irregularly shaped spots on the caudal peduncle. The effort is also being supported by Colorado Trout Unlimited and the New Mexico Council of Trout Unlimited. The Rio Grande cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki virginalis), a member of the family Salmonidae, is found in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado in tributaries of the Rio Grande., 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. We were fishing the South Fork Rio Grand River, about 10 miles south of the town of South Fork, Colorado. The longest stretch of Gold Medal waters in the entire state of Colorado, this is your best chance to catch a trophy trout! Rio Grande cutthroat trout – a native subspecies of New Mexico – are as integral to the land’s history as its ecosystems. Rio Grande cutthroat trout are light rose to red-orange on the sides and pink or yellow-orange on the belly. The Mexican reports have been all but dismissed, but Garrett and Matlock (1991) provided evidence indicating that Rio Grande cutthroat were likely native to Texas. Rio Grande cutthroat trout. Range and GMUs of the RGCT RGCT Rangewide Database 2013 A multi-agency effort to restore it still can inspire anger and concern. 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 … Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout Rio Grande cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis, can be found in high elevation streams and lakes of the Rio Grande, Canadian, and Pecos River drainages in Colorado and New Mexico, giving it the southern-most distribution of any form of Cutthroat Trout. Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout are native to the Rio Grande and Pecos River drainages of Colorado and New Mexico. The multi-agency project to restore the native species has been years in … Rio Grande cutthroat feed opportunistically on aquatic insects and terrestrial insects that fall into the water. 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