Where Does Bonneville Cutthroat Trout Live?

Bonneville Cutthroat Trout lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find Bonneville Cutthroat Trout

Water type

freshwater

Depth

Varies greatly depending on habitat. In lakes, they can be found from shallow littoral zones to deeper pelagic areas. In rivers and streams, they inhabit riffles, runs, and pools, often seeking cover near undercut banks, large rocks, or woody debris.

Environment

Cold, clear, well-oxygenated lakes, rivers, and streams. They prefer habitats with complex structure, including gravel or cobble substrates for spawning, and riparian vegetation for shade and insect input. Tolerant of a range of salinities in historical Lake Bonneville remnants, but primarily freshwater today.

Geographic range

Historically, the Bonneville Basin of western Utah, southeastern Idaho, northeastern Nevada, and southwestern Wyoming. Current distribution is fragmented, primarily in headwater streams and isolated lakes within this historical range, due to extensive restoration efforts.

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