The goal of the study was for the first time to estimate the annual absolute abundance of Westslope Cutthroat Trout (WCT) in the Elk River, focusing on improving the precision of population monitoring using boat electrofishing and guide-assisted angling methodologies.
The 2023 data show a growing trend in WCT populations, with a total estimated abundance of 29,397 individuals measuring 200 mm or greater. The study improved understanding of fish abundance trends, noted precision increases, and provided actionable recommendations for continued monitoring of the fish population in the Elk River over time.
