Western Native Trout Initiative

I. Final Project Report:

The final version of the 2009 Westslope Cutthroat Trout Status Assessment data is now available from our( IDFG) ftp site. The zip file contains the database, documents, and maps. The WCT_2009 Access Geodatabase Contains data tables and related lookup tables as well as ArcGIS layers for Current Distribution, Historical Distribution, and Barriers. Opening the database in Microsoft Access provides links to summary queries. Distribution, Historical Distribution, Barrier, and Conservation Population Attributes are summarized by Range, State, and Sub-basin.

The WCT_Maps sub-folder contains pdf maps and ArcMap documents in 44” x 34” format showing data for the entire range as well tabloid and letter sized maps illustrating the data by sub-basin (HUC 4). The tabloid and letter sized ArcMap documents include a tool query and zoom to the data by sub-basin.

The main folder contains documents including the 2009 Westslope Cutthroat Trout Status Update Summary report prepared by Bruce May, the WCT Assessment Master Protocol, and the Process-Session Data Entry Protocol .

Use the following ftp site and login information:
ftp://ftp2.idaho.gov/outgoing/
User - idfgpub
Password - SD55j2c9
The zipfile name is WestslopeCutthroatStatusAssessment2009.Rename2zip.
After downloading the file, change the file extension from .Rename2zip to .zip. This is done because some filters prevent downloading .zip files. After unzipping the file, see the WCT_2009_Contents_ReadMe.htm file for a list of contents and links to the database, maps, and documents.

If you are on the IDFG network you can find the folder at Q:\Fishery\WestslopeCutthroatStatusAssessment2009.
Thank you for your patience. We wanted to get this information into a useful format before distributing.

II. Project Summary:
The project is associated with updating the westslope cutthroat trout (WCT) database that was created in 2002. This effort will be the first update of the database. The information generated from the 2008 update will be compared with information collected in 2002 regarding distribution within the historical range of WCT. Additionally, the database will be expanded to include additional variables and evaluations which will bring the WCT database up to a condition comparable to the other inland cutthroat trout subspecies. The funding sought from the Western Native Trout Initiative would support a Geographic Information System (GIS) specialist, data entry, and additional funding support for Bruce May of Wild Trout Enterprises, Inc, who has been hired as the contractor to perform this task by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

III. Project Need:
The range-wide status and database has not been updated since 2002 so there is a definite need. The ongoing legal actions involving petitions to list WCT under the Endangered Species Act require all involved states and federal land management agencies to have the best available information for submitting to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the administrative record. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is providing $20,000 towards this effort but we need additional funding to cover a GIS specialist, data entry, and the participation of Bruce May