Montana is famous for its trout. Anglers travel from around the world to fish our streams and lakes.

This is the story of one of Montana's native gems, the Yellowstone cutthroat trout.

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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and its conservation partners have developed a conservation strategy for Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Montana.

A companion document presenting the conservation strategy for the Shields River watershed is also available. These plans identify available information, data gaps, and propose conservation needs to protect or restore Yellowstone cutthroat trout within its historic range.

Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Conservation Strategy for Montana

• Table of Contents (PDF)

• Chapters 1-5 (PDF)

  • Introduction (Pages 1–3)

  • Watershed Characterization (Pages 3–11)

  • Status and Ecology of Yellowstone Cutthroat (Pages 11–16)

  • Conservation Actions (Pages 16–21)

  • Conservation Schedule and Milestones (Pages 21–24)

• Chapter 6.0: Subbasin Assessments and Conservation Opportunities

  • Yellowstone Headwaters Subbasin

    • Soda Butte Creek – Yellowstone River (PDF)

  • Upper Yellowstone River Subbasin

    • Yellowstone River - Mulherin Creek (PDF)

    • Cedar Creek - Cascade Creek (PDF)

    • Trail Creek - Little Timber Creek (PDF)

    • Big Timber Creek - Otter Creek (PDF)

    • Sweet Grass Creek (PDF)

    • Boulder River Part 1 (PDF)

    • Boulder River Part 2 (PDF)

    • Boulder River Part 2 (II) (PDF)

  • Shields River (PDF)

    • Shilders River - Crazy Head Creek

  • Upper Yellowstone Lake Subbasin (PDF)

  • Stillwater River of the Yellowstone Subbasin (PDF)

    • Goose Creek - Island Lake Project

  • Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone Subbasin (PDF)

    • Line Creek - Bluewater Creek

  • Upper Yellowstone - Pompeys Pillar Subbasin (PDF)

  • Pryor Creek Subbasin (PDF)

    • Pryor Creek - Lost Creek

  • Bighorn Lake Subbasin (PDF)

    • Dry Head Creek - Crooked Creek

  • Shoshone River Subbasin (PDF)

    • Sage Creek - Bear Creek

  • Lower Bighorn Subbasin (PDF)

    • Rotten Grass Creek - Grapevine Creek

  • Little Bighorn Subbasin (PDF)

• Chapters 7-9 (PDF)

  • Summary

  • Literature Cited

  • Appendix A

Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Conservation Strategy for the Shields River Watershed above Chadbourne Diversion

• Complete Report (Pages 1-30) (PDF)

• Table of Contents - Chapter 2 (PDF)

  • Table of Contents

  • Introduction

  • Status of Yellowstone Cutthroat

• Chapters 3-4 (PDF)

  • Shields River Subbasin Characterization

  • General Conservation Strategies

• Chapters 5-7 (PDF)

  • Data Review and Conservation Strategies and Opportunities by Stream/Watershed

  • Additional Information Needs and Adaptive Management

  • Literature Cited

• Range-wide Status Assessment for Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout: 2012 (PDF)

• Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Conservation Strategy for the Shields River Watershed: 2012 (PDF)

• Memorandum of Understanding and Conservation Agreement for Westslope Cutthroat and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in Montana 2007 (PDF)

• Range-Wide Status Assessment for Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout: 2006 (PDF)

• Range-Wide Status of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout: 2001 (PDF)