EP031: Tim Loux – Managing Lahontan Cutthroat Trout in Pyramid Lake and the Truckee River

“The USFWS will engage all members of the community in making choices to manage LCT in the Truckee River” – Tim Loux, USFWS

Welcome to episode 31 of the Reno Fly Shop Podcast. Leading up to this episode several listeners and customers around the shop have asked to find out more information about the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout of Pyramid Lake. I reached out to what I would consider a definitive source for biological information related to the Pilot Peak strain. Tim Loux is a Senior Fishery Biologist and works at the Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex. This is the hatchery located on the Truckee River and the source for all Pilot Peak LCT into Pyramid Lake.  

Tim grew up fishing the Tahoe/Truckee area, and as a kid decided to pursue a career in fisheries. He attended Feather River Junior College, and transferred to Montana State University where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Fish and Wildlife Management. After college Tim accepted a position with the US Fish Wildlife Service, in the Red Bluff Fish and Wildlife Office and in 2002 had the chance to work on Spring Run Chinook.

Fish Operations at Marble Bluff Dam on the Truckee River

After 4 years of salmon work, Tim accepted a position with the USFWS Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex to work on Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (LCT) and Cui-ui. Currently, Tim is a Senior Fishery Biologist with the Complex; he manages the Marble Bluff Fish Passage and Research Station, leads the recovery effort for LCT in Pyramid Lake and the Truckee River, and is the National Fish Passage Coordinator for Nevada and the Eastern Sierra.

Floy Tags

Contact info for Tim and Supporting Information:

Tim Loux email

USFWS Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex

Truckee Watershed LCT Recovery Plan

Genetic Variations in the LCT

The Return of a Lake-dwelling Giant

Editorial Note: From personal and professional experience the topics that we discuss in this episode will have signficant and permanent impacts to the Truckee River and the fish populations as we have become to know them.  Dam removal/modification and the recovery of Lahonton Cutthroat Trout will forever change the Truckee River landscape.

These issues are being addressed now by federal and local governments.  These efforts will move forward and we as anglers, concerned citizens and river enthusiasts must pay attention and get/stay involved if we want our voices heard. It is my opinion that the decisions being made for management of the biological resources of the Truckee River now and in the near future will have permanent impacts on the watershed.  Please get involved and stay involved. This will be a marathon effort, not a sprint. Please check with all of us here at the Reno Fly Shop for up-to-date information as it comes available.

Thanks, Jim Litchfield.