<br />stream reaches (Behnke 1976, 1992, Brooks 1989, Hickman 1978, Thwaits 1907, Jordan and Ever-
<br />mann 1908, Suckley 1874, Yarrow 1875, Cope 1955, Dodge and Cain 1970).
<br />
<br />The Snake Valley sub-basins contain the most studied WB streams of the seven historically occupied
<br />basins (Behnke 1976, Hickman and Duff 1978, Duff 1988, Haskins 1993, 1987). Based on this
<br />information an estimated 277 perennial stream miles could have been present within these two
<br />sub-basins. Multi-land ownership information is included in this estimate, including NF, BLM, State,
<br />and private lands. In Nevada, only one WB populations on the HNF is a remnant population while the
<br />remaining three (and 1 BLM population) are transplants from remnant populations in the Snake Valley
<br />area While in Utah, two remnant populations occupy BLM lands in the Deep Creek Range (Behnke,
<br />1976). The author discovered the two populations in the Deep Creek Range in 1974 following
<br />intensive surveys of WB historic habitats begun in 1972 in coordination with Dr. Robert Behnke,
<br />Colorado State University. Another "possible. WB population was discovered in the Pilot Range
<br />sub-basin in 1975, however, population sampling by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR)
<br />was not conducted until 1978; then meristic analysis by Dr. Rober J. Behnke confirmed this remote,
<br />sparse population to be a genetically pure Lahontan cutthroat trout of Pyramid Lake origin (Hickman
<br />and Behnke 1978, Hickman and Duff 1978).
<br />
<br />Considering recovery in the Snake Valley sub-basins, the WB currently occupies only 1.5% of its
<br />historic habitat. As an example of WB recovery needs, an estimated 102 stream miles (47 miles on
<br />NF, 25 miles on NPS, 27 miles on BLM, and 2.5 on other lands) are estimated to be needed for viable
<br />WB population recovery based on historical and current stream information, and the author's profes-
<br />sional experience in the area. The HNF stream mileages would account for 46% recovery while NPS
<br />could provide 24% of stream recovery. The NPS stream miles were historically administered by the
<br />HNF ownership until the creation of Great Basin National Park in 1986. Prior to 1986, the amount of
<br />WB NF historic habitat could be stated as 29% in Snake Valley, with a population occupancy of only
<br />5% and a population extirpation of 95%. In addition, recovery potential for WB could be enhanced
<br />in cooperation with the Goshute Indian Tribe which indicates an estimated availability of 30 historical
<br />stream miles in the Deep Creek Valley portion of the Southern Great Salt Lake sub-basin (personal
<br />communication, Buzz Cobell, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
<br />
<br />Current habitat assessment for the two occupied sub-basins' overall habitat condition is fair to good,
<br />and the trend is stable (Table 1 O). The HNF sub-basins rated as 50% good and 50% fair habitat, with
<br />grazing occurring on 100% of occupied streams and mining on 50%. There is also a significant
<br />uncertainty relative to condition and trend. Specific comments pointed to on-going land activities, i.e.
<br />mining, grazing and roading, coupled with stream de-watering, changes in channel morphology, and
<br />terrestrial erosion - instream sedimentation as major factors influencing habitat (Table 11). The two
<br />WB populations (one remnant and one transplanted) on HNF within the Bonneville Basin could be
<br />classed as having a "at risk, stable" (ARS) status due to these on-going activities. The three WB
<br />transplanted populations outside the Bonneville Basin have a .stable and expanding" (SEX) popula-
<br />tions; the two populations in the Deep Creek Range could be classed as .at-risk, declining" (ARD) ,
<br />but on-going and future management by state and federal agencies could enhance the stability of
<br />these populations (Table 12).
<br />
<br />Genetic verification has been completed on all populations on HNF through meristic and electro-
<br />phoresis evaluation. The one remnant HNF population has been verified genetically pure through
<br />mDNA analysis (Table 7). Rainbow trout and other hatchery cutthroat were identified as exotic
<br />species and a threat to WB population recovery in all seven sub-basins. These exotic species were
<br />present in five sub-basins (71 %) including the two sub-basins occupied by WB populations. Hybrid-
<br />ization with exotics and mining are viewed as major threats to existing WB populations. Some
<br />quantification of population status is available from state wildlife agencies, in Nevada and Utah, but
<br />
<br />45
<br />
|