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.The research objectives will fill these knowledge gaps on WCT overwintering ecology. The projects will study selected WCT populations and their habitat to understand winter habitat selection of WCT and model habitat type and use by WCT populations. Project I will focus on the quantity of available winter habitat and the limitations and challenges to the WCT populations in the watershed due to species competition and watershed development, while Poject II will address specific physical and chemical characteristics of the winter habitat. Both projects will combine meta-analysis of existing data, field studies and predictive modeling. As our industry partner, Riversdale Resources is instrumental in supporting the research financially and logistically. Their proposed mining operation is in the center of WCT habitat in the south west Alberta Rocky Mountains. The proposed development of a mine on Grassy Mountain near Blairmore, AB, is situated on the top of two watersheds with pure WCT populations, Blairmore Creek and Gold Creek. These two streams will be integral to the proposed research. Riversdale Resources agreed to make their surveys and data available, provide easy access to the streams through their property and support accommodation during fieldwork efforts, and to utilize the research results to minimize environmental impacts of their operation.