Alaska to northern California. The Umpqua River cutthroat trout ESU inhabits a large coastal 

 basin (drainage area over 12.200 square km) in the southwestern Oregon coast. Spawning sites 

 are located in the North and South Umpqua Rivers and their tributaries, of which Smith River 

 and Calapooya, Elk. and Scholfield Creeks are major tributaries. The estuary of the Umpqua 

 River is one of the largest on the Oregon coast. 



MAJOR IMPACTS 



In general, land use practices have reduced salmonid production in Oregon by decreasing habitat 

 diversity and complexity, and accelerating the frequency and magnitude of natural events such as 

 flooding and drought. In addition, dredging, filling, and diking of estuarine areas for 

 agricultural, commercial, or municipal uses have resulted in the loss of many estuarine habitats. 



Drought is the principal natural condition that may have contributed to reduced Umpqua River 

 cutthroat trout production. Drought conditions have prevailed in Oregon for the 7 years prior to 

 1996, leading to decreased streamflows and increased water temperatures during the summer 

 months. 



Cutthroat trout are not harvested commercially, and scientific and educational programs have 

 probably had little or no impact on Umpqua River cutthroat trout populations. However, the 

 cutthroat trout is a popular gamefish throughout the Pacific Northwest and available information 

 indicates that recreational fishing has likely contributed to the general decline in Umpqua River 

 cutthroat trout populations. Given the susceptibility of cutthroat trout to angling and the 

 potential impacts of recreational fishing to native fish stocks, it is likely that a long standing 

 fishery in the lower mainstem Umpqua River aimed at hatchery-reared cutthroat trout also 

 promoted an incidental harvest of native Umpqua River cutthroat trout. In response to NMFS' 

 concern regarding harvest mortalities, ODFW has closed the Umpqua River to cutthroat trout 

 fishing effective January 1, 1995. However, undocumented illegal harvest is believed to occur 

 on Umpqua River cutthroat trout. While the severity of this source of mortality is unclear, it may 

 pose a significant threat to depressed populations of cutthroat trout in the Umpqua River. 



The significant decline in numbers of cutthroat trout passing Winchester Dam suggests that 

 management plans and practices followed by various state and Federal agencies have not 

 provided adequate protection for this species. 



58 



