About Bull Trout
Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) are a charismatic, apex predator of freshwater ecosystems. They are members of the salmon and trout family. Although called “trout” they are a species of char and share the Salvelinus genus with fish like the Eastern Brook Trout, Arctic Char, Lake Trout, and Dolly Varden.
Bull Trout primarily inhabit the Eastern slope of the Cascade Mountain Range, except for a few populations that occur around the Puget Sound and Olympic Peninsula of Washington. This is the only area where Dolly Varden and Bull Trout overlap, and they can be difficult to distinguish just by looks.
Bull Trout Biology
Bull Trout have some of the most specific habitat needs of all Salmonids. One of the most important habitat features Bull Trout rely on is very cold water. At this point in history, this fish primarily exists only in the coldest streams and lakes, often at high elevations or upstream of impassable dams. They
also require clean water, habitat complexity, and connected migratory corridors, like other Salmonids. Habitat degradation (high temperatures, bad water quality) and loss (dams impeding migration) are some of the primary causes of decline for this species. The Bull Trout was listed as “threatened” on the United States Endangered Species Act in 1998 and remains there today.
Introducing the BTTF
Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group has been implementing the Bull Trout Task Force (BTTF) since 2011. The primary goal of the task force is to assist in Bull Trout recovery in the Yakima River Basin. BTTF staff are trained to perform education and outreach, remove recreational rock dams that block fish passage, post educational signage at recreation areas, evaluate de-watering and fish passage conditions, and assist regional biologists with Bull Trout population monitoring and other special projects. Ongoing projects that use BTTF staff labor include seasonal redd surveys (Washington Department of Fish and Widlife), demographic (snorkel) surveys (WDFW), and Bull Trout rescue (Yakama Nation).
Our Partners
We are grateful to our funders: Washington Department of Ecology, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery board for seeing the inherent value of this native species.
For any questions regarding Bull Trout in the Yakima River Basin please contact our Bull Trout Recovery Coordinator, Aimee Taylor at [email protected]