The native species most sensitive to water quantity and quality are Redband trout and Mountain Whitefish. Instream flow studies related to these two species are being conducted as part of the watershed planning assessment work.

Redband are a subspecies of rainbow trout and are the native resident trout in the Spokane area. Rainbow trout found here are remnant steelhead which were residualized after being trapped behind one of the dams. Historically, when these rainbow trout behaved like steelhead (i.e., they were anadromous) they did not spawn with resident rainbow trout (i.e., redband trout). Now, residualized steelhead/coastal rainbow trout tend to spawn at the same time and in the same locations as redband trout. This has lead to hybridization in many NE Washington populations. These residualized coastal rainbow trout are also known to hybridize with native westslope cutthroat trout. Hatchery operations also play a role in this as there has been planting of coastal varieties of rainbow trout across the state for many years.

Photos courtesy of Peter Rissler

Contact: Reanette Boese, Spokane County Water Resources