The greenback cutthroat trout was originally found in cold-water tributaries of the Arkansas and South Platte Rivers of eastern Colorado.
Cutthroats (greenback, Colorado River, Rio Grande, and the extinct yellowfin) are the only trout native to Colorado and were
once widespread and abundant.
The greenback cutthroat trout was originally found in cold-water tributaries of the Arkansas and South Platte Rivers of eastern Colorado.
By the early 1900's, habitat loss, unregulated fishing pressure, and the stocking of non-native trout greatly reduced the
distribution and abundance of the native cutthroat trout.
Recovery efforts for the federally-threatened greenback have brought it back and expanded its range so that it has been downlisted from "Endangered" to "Threatened".
This fish was declared the State Fish of Colorado in 1994.
Maximum length: 12-18 inches
See The Incredible Journey of the Greenback Cutthroats, a video account of the history and status of the greenback cutthroat trout in Colorado. To obtain a copy, send a check for $16.95 to the Colorado Wildlife Heritage Foundation 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216.
A photo of a greenback cutthroat trout.
A photo of a greenback cutthroat trout in spawning colors.
Colorado Division of Wildlife. Bring Back the Greenback: A Native Trout Bounces Back from Near Extinction. Brochure.
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