Establishing Habitat requirements of Cutthroat trout on Gold Creek, Alberta, in relation to the proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Mine

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The Westslope Cutthroat Trout (WCT) is one of the most important native aquatic species in the Western North America; however, its range has been severely reduced by habitat destruction resulting from agricultural, industrial and urban development, and the introduction of non-native sportfish, which have impacted WCT through competition and hybridization. COSEWIC lists WCT as 'threatened' in Alberta, and of 'special concern' in British Columbia. The remaining refugia of WCT are located in hard to access, high elevation headwater streams of the Rocky Mountains. With increasing development, research must be directed at a deeper understanding of the habitat needs of remaining populations, with particular emphasis on winter habitat, which all recovery plans for WCT cite as the major habitat knowledge gap.