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SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW 



1. Trout mortality rates in high elevation streams that 

 are subjected to harsh winter weather conditions are 

 typically higher in winter than during the warmer 

 months. This supports the well accepted view that the 

 winter environment ultimately limits the trout carrying 

 capacity of mountain streams. 



2. Sudden catastrophes associated with the severity of 

 winter weather such as suffocation under collapsed 

 snowbanks or the alternate dewatering and flooding of 

 stream sections by ice dams are primarily responsible 

 for the elevated trout mortalities in winter. 



3. Anchor ice can be very destructive to trout and other 

 aquatic life. 



4. Trout in mountain streams were observed to feed 

 regularly in winter whenever drifting food organisms 

 were available. 



5. The semi-aquatic insects that provide food for trout 

 can be depleted by ice action during a typical winter. 



