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

西坡切喉鳟鱼（WCT）是北美西部最重要的原生水生物种之一；然而，由于农业、工业和城市发展导致的栖息地破坏，以及非本土运动鱼的引入，通过竞争和杂交影响了WCT，其范围严重减少。COSEWIC将WCT列为阿尔伯塔省的“受威胁”，不列颠哥伦比亚省的“特别关注”。WCT剩余的避难所位于难以进入的高海拔落基山脉的源头。随着发展的加快，研究必须深入了解剩余种群的栖息地需求，特别是冬季栖息地，所有的WCT恢复计划都将其列为主要的栖息地知识缺口。研究的目的是填补这些知识空白的WCT越冬生态学。这些项目将对选定的白腹腹鹬种群及其栖息地进行研究，以了解白腹腹鹬的冬季栖息地选择以及白腹腹鹬种群的模式栖息地类型和利用情况。项目1将重点研究冬季栖息地的数量以及物种竞争和流域发展对流域内WCT种群的限制和挑战，而项目2将研究冬季栖息地的具体物理和化学特征。这两个项目将结合现有数据的元分析、实地研究和预测建模。作为我们的行业合作伙伴，Riversdale资源公司在财政和后勤方面为我们的研究提供了支持。他们提议的采矿作业位于阿尔伯塔落基山脉西南部WCT栖息地的中心。拟议在AB Blairmore附近的Grassy Mountain上开发一个矿山，该矿山位于两个纯WCT种群的分水岭的顶部，即Blairmore Creek和Gold Creek。这两个流程将是拟议研究的组成部分。Riversdale Resources同意提供他们的调查和数据，在实地工作期间，通过他们的财产和支持住宿提供方便的通道，并利用研究结果最大限度地减少他们的操作对环境的影响。

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.