Federal agencies already have it listed as a “Species of Concern,” let’s leave it at that.
It’s for that reason, as our population grows and energy demands only increase, we have to pay attention to how we manage these lands for not just our energy needs, but also our social and economic needs tied to species such as the redband. It’s really common sense that large wood, which is not so prevalent in the high desert, breaks up water currents that provide a place to conserve calories and grow insects that feed these fish. But this unique strain of rainbow trout have the same habitat needs as any other salmonid. When we think of stream complexity, we think of wild coho habitat and our log-less rivers along our coastlines. Also the redband’s growing season is considerably shorter than fish living in less harsh winter environments. They don’t often have the luxury of feeding on protein sources other than insects, leeches, and salamanders so they experience slower growth rates than species that have access to saltwater protein derivatives such as cutthroat trout, salmon, and steelhead. Redbands exist in our high desert lakes, rivers and streams, where cold water is a necessity, and often in short supply. Despite their ability to thrive in the high desert, they are still incredibly vulnerable, and like most of the species we’ve brought to the brink of extinction, we don’t even know what future threats await for these majestic fish. They don’t do well “domesticated,” therefore they are as synonymous with wilderness as the bison is to the Great Plains. Redband rainbows are in a class of their own. Of all the cold-water fishes in the nation, trout are the most highly sought after. Trout are iconic due to their abundance, their tenacity, accessibility, and fragility. Trout are the “gateway drug” for fishing fanatics in the Pacific Northwest.
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