Over the next two years, project partners will sample juvenile cutthroat in 15 streams across Hood Canal to develop a genetic baseline for each population. This data will tell us whether subpopulations in the 15 streams are genetically distinct from one another.
Following the collection of these samples, partners will then collect samples in marine waters throughout Hood Canal to assign adults back to their population of origin. With that data, partners can better understand the minimum marine migration distance these fish travel, and also which streams contribute significant numbers of fish to the marine fishery.
This project follows along the lines of current work being done by WDFW in southern Puget Sound, which you can learn more about here.