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<br />wide population, a database was developed to hold, for all waters, data which the Committees agreed <br />are important in evaluating the status of CRCT. The database can then be queried on the basis of <br />one or several of these data points to generate range-wide listings of waters reflecting many different <br />perspectives. The baseline database contains information on stream miles or lake acres occupied <br />by each population, genetic purity rating, numbers ofCRCT > 150 mm (6 in), type(s) ofbarrier(s), <br />type(s) of other salmonid(s) present, CRCT stocking history, and habitat limiting factors. A table <br />of data available as of July 1, 1998 is presented in Appendix A. <br /> <br />E. Conservation Population: <br /> <br />A water contains a CRCT conservation population if the fish in that population are rated A, <br />A-, B+, or B using the genetic purity definitions presented in C. above. These fish could be <br />described as "pure or essentially pure", and are considered to be important for conservation of the <br />subspecies. Protection of hybrids is consistent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed <br />policy on the Treatment of Inter crosses and Intercross Progeny (Federal Register 61(26),02/07/96). <br /> <br />Since one of the goals of the CRCT Conservation Strategy is to preserve as much CRCT <br />genetic diversity as possible, it may be necessary to protect a small amount of hybrid influence in <br />order to preserve a larger amount of CRCT diversity. This definition addresses these policy <br />guidelines and strategy goals while honoring the overall intent of species restoration efforts. <br /> <br />A water contains a CRCT conservation population if it is reproducing and recruiting as a <br />geographically distinct group, and meets the genetic purity criteria of "B" or better, or is being <br />managed through periodic stocking for the purpose of maintaining a genetic refugia. Naturally- <br />reproducing conservation populations equate to sub-populations within a meta-population. Genetic <br />refugia populations maintained by stocking will serve as an interim management tool while working <br />toward metapopulation objectives. <br /> <br />F. Hybrid <br /> <br />The term applies to individual fish, not to populations, and is considered to be a fish that has <br />cross-bred with other salmonids, commonly rainbow trout or other cutthroat subspecies. Populations <br />containing hybrids offer genetic and ecological value to conservation efforts. The number of <br />individuals and/or genes in a population that are hybrids can vary from population to population. <br />The percentage of hybrid genes expressed in populations therefore, can be used as a relative measure <br />of hybridization. This measure can be used as a component to assess the role of those populations <br />in the conservation of the subspecies. <br /> <br />G. Metapopulation <br /> <br />A collection of localized populations that are geographically distinct yet are genetically <br />interconnected through natural movement of individual fish among conservation populations. <br /> <br />March 1999 <br /> <br />14 <br />