Establishing populations of Rocky Mountain Sculpin using translocations in Cherry Creek and North Fork Spanish Creek

Conservation translocations are an effective strategy to restore populations of imperiled animals across all taxa​. This strategy has become common in the restoration of native fishes. The presence of non-native fishes is best predictor for the failure of conservation translocations; therefore, translocations often occur after chemical eradication of non-native fishes in target streams.  Native trout conservation translocations are common in Montana, however there are no recorded projects where native non-game fishes, such as sculpin, were also translocated. Rocky Mountain sculpin are widely distributed throughout Montana. The conservation status Rocky Mountain Sculpin is threatened in Canada and currently unknown in the US. Sculpin have declined in rivers throughout the west but are more abundant in streams with a native fish assemblage.  This study will assess efforts to establish self–sustaining populations of Rocky Mountain sculpin in Cherry Creek (Madison River watershed) and North Fork Spanish Creek (Gallatin River watershed). Both streams have been treated with piscicides to remove non-native fishes and introduce native westslope cutthroat trout (WCT). Cherry Creek has had an established population of WCT for over a decade. However, WCT translocations in North Fork Spanish Creek were initiated last year with a relatively small number of individuals. Using these two systems offers a unique comparison of Rocky Mountain sculpin translocations at two different stages of WCT population recovery.