Dam construction, mill operations, comercial harvest and the introduction of non native lake trout, rainbow trout and brown trout proved to be too much for the meek cutthroat. The Lahonatn Cutthroat isnow found only in small remnant populations on the Sierra's east flank and out into Nevada. Under mandate from the Endangered Species Act, the US Fish and Wildlife Service is undertakingthe re introduction of the Lahontan Cutthroat into the Truckee River. The task of re introducing an endemic species back into its native waters is a laudible endeavor. The reintrodcution of the Lahontan Cutthroat back into the Truckee will be difficult if not impossible.
Rainbow trout are highly competetive and readily interbreed with cutthroat.
For the plan to work, the vast majority of brown trout and virtually all of the rainbows will have to eliminated. It will be interesting to see how lofty ideals, common sense and big government interplay on the Truckee. I hope they don't ruin the river in an effort to save it.