Coastal Cutthroat Trout

Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) is one of 14 subspecies of Cutthroat Trout in North America. This subspecies is uniquely coastal and it is the only subspecies that is anadromous. Historically abundant along the south coast of BC, CCT have been declining since the 1970s. CCT have not yet been assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and therefore is not protected under Canada’s Species at Risk Act. However they are listed as high priority for assessment by COSEWIC. This subspecies is threatened by past forest harvesting and land clearing, agriculture, and urbanization; and is limited by availability of suitable freshwater rearing habitat in most systems.  

The Little Campbell River has been identified as a top priority for CCT enhancement in the south coast region of BC (3/40 streams assessed) and recommended to be designated as a regional index stream. In 2018, A Rocha initiated this multi-year project with the overall goal to  increase production of Coastal Cutthroat Trout within the Little Campbell River. Priority objectives include addressing knowledge gaps (e.g., current stock assessment information, habitat availability, distribution, and quality, historic abundance data, and water quality conditions), assessing the degree to which low summer baseflows limit CCT production, and initiating restoration activities where habitat limitations are known.

This project is being conducted in partnership with Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd., Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, BC Ministry of Environment, Semiahmoo Fish and Game Club, and the Freshwater Fisheries Society.

Conservation Status

*S3S4: range rank indicates a range of uncertainty about the status of the species; *S: subnational status; *3: special concern, vulnerable to extirpation or extinction; *4: apparently secure.