Common use of LIST OF COVERED SPECIES Clause in Contracts

LIST OF COVERED SPECIES. This Agreement covers the following Federally listed species: Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorynchus clarki henshawi) (Threatened). Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhyncus clarki henshawi) is the only salmonid native to the Lahontan basin. LCT was once distributed throughout the basin and drainages of ancient Lake Lahontan but currently within the Northwest Distinct Population Segment are forced to survive as small populations in the isolated headwaters of streams in many mountain ranges in Nevada and Oregon. Settlement of the Great Basin resulted in the loss of LCT habitat as livestock grazing, urban and mining development, water diversions, hybridization, and competition with non-native trout led to significant declines in the range and numbers of this unique trout species. In response to these declines, Lahontan cutthroat trout was listed as endangered in 1970 and reclassified as threatened in 1975. In January of 1995, the Service issued the recovery plan for the Lahontan cutthroat trout, which was followed by NDOW’s Quinn River/ Blackrock species management plan in 1999. Lahontan cutthroat trout were historically common in the Xxxxx River, Blackrock and Little Humboldt subbasins of the Humboldt River system. The Blackrock Drainage alone may have had as many as 46 streams occupied by LCT. Presently, LCT is thought to occupy only 15 percent of their historic stream habitat in the Xxxxx River and Blackrock drainages. The populations have suffered from habitat loss, hybridization with nonnative salmonids and recent extended periods of drought. Recovery actions in the Xxxxx River drainage are a number one priority item in the Service’s 1995 Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Recovery Plan. To facilitate recovery of LCT, the NWDPS team was formed in 1999. Members of the team are comprised of personnel from the Service, NDOW, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and University of Nevada, Reno. Expanding on the themes identified in the 1995 Recovery Plan, the team has been working to restore habitat and networked populations based upon the results of recent research.