Native Cutthroat Trout Preservation
North Fork Swan River: Native CutThroat Preservation
Native cutthroat trout are a cornerstone species in the Blue River watershed, reflecting the health and integrity of cold, clean mountain streams. As Colorado’s only native trout species, they are uniquely adapted to local conditions and play a vital role in maintaining balanced aquatic ecosystems. Cutthroat trout support biodiversity by interacting with insects, plants, and other wildlife, and their presence signals excellent water quality.
Project updates
January 2026: A suite of 6 design alternatives was presented to White River National Forest personnel, identifying tradeoffs between structure size, cost, and building materials. A preferred alternative was selected to proceed to the 100% design level, including construction cost estimating.
September 2025: During a site visit and kickoff meeting between BRWG, the WWE team, and White River National Forest staff, a suitable location for the structure was identified low in the N Fork basin, to provide the greatest stream mileage for native Cutthroat Trout. Engineering design will focus on this proposed site.
August 2025: Engineering design of the structure has been awarded to Wright Water Engineers, Inc. WWE has assembled a team of specialist subcontractors and is scheduled to complete the design in Winter 2026.
June 2025: Cultural clearance surveys conducted by ERO Resources, Inc. found limited material that is unlikely to adversely affect the project footprint.
January 2026: A suite of 6 design alternatives was presented to White River National Forest personnel, identifying tradeoffs between structure size, cost, and building materials. A preferred alternative was selected to proceed to the 100% design level, including construction cost estimating.
September 2025: During a site visit and kickoff meeting between BRWG, the WWE team, and White River National Forest staff, a suitable location for the structure was identified low in the N Fork basin, to provide the greatest stream mileage for native Cutthroat Trout. Engineering design will focus on this proposed site.
August 2025: Engineering design of the structure has been awarded to Wright Water Engineers, Inc. WWE has assembled a team of specialist subcontractors and is scheduled to complete the design in Winter 2026.
June 2025: Cultural clearance surveys conducted by ERO Resources, Inc. found limited material that is unlikely to adversely affect the project footprint.
Cutthroat Trout, our only native trout species , survive in isolated, fragmented streams throughout Colorado.
BRWG is a leading partner in the Swan River Restoration Project which will result in restored connectivity of the Swan River once reaches C and D are restored. This collaborative, multi-phase project is located in the upper Swan River drainage near the Town of Breckenridge and is designed to address damage caused to the Swan River as a result of historical dredge mining. Part of the full restoration of the Swan River includes a goal to build effective structures to protect native Cutthroat Trout which live in the North Fork of the Swan River upstream of the restoration site.
Non-native exclusion structures are one of the few effective ways to save native trout species from predation, reduce competition for food, limit hybridization through interbreeding, and help prevent disease. The focus of exotic fish exclusion projects in Colorado is centered on protecting native cutthroat trout from downstream threats. Natural or engineered exclusion structures are used to isolate cutthroat trout in headwater streams, which protects them from whirling disease, hybridization with rainbow trout and competition with brook trout and other non-native fish species.
The goal of the native trout preservation project is to:
Non-native exclusion structures are one of the few effective ways to save native trout species from predation, reduce competition for food, limit hybridization through interbreeding, and help prevent disease. The focus of exotic fish exclusion projects in Colorado is centered on protecting native cutthroat trout from downstream threats. Natural or engineered exclusion structures are used to isolate cutthroat trout in headwater streams, which protects them from whirling disease, hybridization with rainbow trout and competition with brook trout and other non-native fish species.
The goal of the native trout preservation project is to:
- Replace existing, inadequate structures to prevent non-native fish species including other trout from negatively affecting native Cutthroat populations.
- Restore and maintain a self-sustaining native trout fishery and create habitat for a diversity of native wildlife.
- Increase the native trout population by allowing natural migration without detrimental influx of non-natives.
Click the link to learn more about non-native fish exclusion structures.
For Swan River Restoration Project plans and photos, go to:
Summit County Swan River Restoration Project Page
For Swan River Restoration Project plans and photos, go to:
Summit County Swan River Restoration Project Page
Page header photo courtesy of Zach Mahone.