Redband trout are a subspecies of rainbow trout that are native to several Great Basin systems. Interior populations typically reside in high-elevation streams in arid regions. These streams are characterized by extreme fluctuations in seasonal waterflow, temperature and dissolved oxygen levels. Despite their adaptability to these harsh conditions, redband trout are considered an at-risk species due to their population declines related to habitat degradation, habitat fragmentation and climate change. Managing declining redband trout populations is challenging because we have limited understanding of how environmental conditions impact their physiological tolerance, metabolic performance, and growth potential.

The Goose Lake Basin, a hydrologically closed system within Oregon’s Great Basin, has been heavily impacted by drought, wildfire and elevated stream temperatures in recent years. The Basin’s sensitivity to climate impacts makes it a valuable model for understanding how redband trout may be affected by changes in climate that reduce the availability and quality of their aquatic habitat. The Basin has been identified as a “Conservation Opportunity Area” in the Oregon Conservation Strategy, which identifies the maintenance, enhancement, and restoration of riparian and wetland habitats as a priority conservation need.

Katherine’s research aims to fill key gaps in understanding how changing water temperatures affect redband trout physiology, with the goal of improving conservation and management practices in the Goose Lake Basin. She is collaborating with partners such as the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, and the Lake County Umbrella Watershed Council.

By analyzing existing and new data on water temperatures and stream drying, she will identify current suitable habitats across different watersheds. Her research will also involve developing a habitat-specific bioenergetics model to predict how environmental factors impact trout’s energy intake, growth, and health. This model will use diet samples and observed water temperatures to help identify high-quality habitats and climate refugia – areas relatively buffered from climate impacts – for redband trout, both now and in the future. The collective insights from her work will enhance our ability to predict environmental effects on interior redband trout and pinpoint key habitats for their growth and survival. Deliverables will include maps of current and future habitat suitability, which her collaborators can use to prioritize conservation and restoration efforts across the Basin.