Photo from U.S. Fish and Wildlife
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is calling for a major expansion of critical habitat for the bull trout.
Listed as a threatened species in 1999, the bull trout was once plentiful across several western states, but now is found in only half of its historic area.
Fish and Wildlife proposes designating 22,679 miles of streams and 533,426 acres of lakes and reservoirs in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Nevada as critical habitat. This amounts to a nearly 600% increase in stream miles, and a nearly 400% increase in lake acres.
Here’s how the numbers break out across the region:
- Oregon: 3,100 stream miles and 29,139 acres of lakes or reservoirs
- Washington: 5,233 stream miles, 82,610 acres of lakes or reservoirs and 985 miles of marine shoreline
- Idaho: 9,671 stream miles and 197,915 acres of lakes or reservoirs
- Montana: 3,094 stream miles and 223,762 acres of lakes or reservoirs
- Nevada: 85 stream miles
Bull trout do best in clear, cold waters, making them a good indicator of overall water quality. FWS’s Pacific Region Director Robyn Thorson says protecting and restoring their habitat doesn’t just help the fish recover, but improves the health and streams and lakes.
Critical habitat is one of the least restrictive types of federal protection. Generally speaking, it only comes into play on federal lands, or in cases where federal permits are required. FWS says nearly all of the proposed critical habitat for bull trout is already protected as salmon habitat.
The announcement opens up a public comment period that expires March 15.
For more information on the proposal, how to submit comments, or attend one of several public hearings, see:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Bull Trout Proposed Critical Habitat Revision
