Contents Habitat Range Evolution of the Greenback Population declines Current Greenback Status Catch and release fishing How you can help! Related links

Introduction Of all trout species, Greenbacks are one of the prettiest. Their spots are larger than any other cutthroats, and their spawning colors more brilliant. The decline of the native cutthroat trouts of the American West was caused by over harvest of the fish, habitat destruction by early American settlers, and the artificial introduction of competing non-native trout. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 put a brake on this degradation, but it is only now, a quarter-century later, that "bringing back the natives" has become a top priority in federal land management policy.