Case Study Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout North Absaroka Wilderness Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River Reduced to a fraction of their historic distribution range Widespread habitat degradation and fragmentation Increasing environmental pressures 1 Webinar #2: Making Decisions: Evaluating Impacts and Tradeoffs to Wilderness Character

Case Study Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Goal of the North Absaroka Wilderness: “To restore YCT to a part of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River while maximizing, to the degree possible, all qualities of wilderness character.” First Objective: R emove hybridized YCT and non-native species and reestablish the native population of YCT in the middle reach of the river. 2 Webinar #2: Making Decisions: Evaluating Impacts and Tradeoffs to Wilderness Character

3

Case Study Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Management Action Alternatives: Remove undesirables mechanically; allow YCT to reestablish naturally Remove undesirables chemically; allow YCT to reestablish naturally Remove undesirables chemically; reestablish YCT by both natural means and stocking 4 Webinar #2: Making Decisions: Evaluating Impacts and Tradeoffs to Wilderness Character

Case Study Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Chosen Management Action Alternative: Remove undesirable fish chemically in the middle reach of the river Reestablish YCT through natural downstream drift and stocking pure YCT to waters downstream of the wilderness area 5 Webinar #2: Making Decisions: Evaluating Impacts and Tradeoffs to Wilderness Character

6

Case Study Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Key Points: Significant short-term negative impacts to the Untrammeled and Natural qualities AND significant long-term improvements to the Natural quality Preserves the Undeveloped quality by not using motorized equipment or mechanical transportation Upholds the wilderness management principle: "Seek the least possible degradation of wilderness character" 7 Webinar #2: Making Decisions: Evaluating Impacts and Tradeoffs to Wilderness Character