The Four C's: Connected
Why is Connected Important?
Connected water is particularly important to bull trout because they have multiple life history and migration strategies, the success of which depends on river-corridor connectivity.
Resident
Resident bull trout in the Jocko live their entire lives near where they hatch.
Fluvial
Fluvial bull trout move into the Lower Flathead River and return to the Jocko to spawn.
Adfluvial
Adfluvial bull trout (before dams blocked their way) migrated 175 miles from the headwaters of the Jocko to Lake Pend Oreille 1 to 4 years after emerging from the gravel. Once they matured, those bull trout traveled from Lake Pend Oreille to the headwaters of the Jocko to spawn and then returned to Lake Pend Oreille.
Before dams blocked their way, some Jocko River bull trout migrated from the headwaters of the Joko to Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho. Once they matured, those bull trout traveled back to the headwaters of the Jokco to spawn.
Other Kinds of Connections
Other connections besides those linking the different habitats within the river are also important. For example, connections between the river and the floodplain are one of the most important requirements for a healthy stream. Without it, streams focus their power and erosive energy on stream banks. Pools fill in and banks become unstable. Floodplains dry out. Stream flows are no longer replenished by groundwater because the connection between groundwater and the river is lost.
The Four C's: Connected
Why is Connected Important?
Connected water is particularly important to bull trout because they have multiple life history and migration strategies, the success of which depends on river-corridor connectivity.
Resident
Resident bull trout in the Jocko live their entire lives near where they hatch.
Fluvial
Fluvial bull trout move into the Lower Flathead River and return to the Jocko to spawn.
Adfluvial
Adfluvial bull trout (before dams blocked their way) migrated 175 miles from the headwaters of the Jocko to Lake Pend Oreille 1 to 4 years after emerging from the gravel. Once they matured, those bull trout traveled from Lake Pend Oreille to the headwaters of the Jocko to spawn and then returned to Lake Pend Oreille.
Before dams bull trout migrated from the headwaters of the Joko to Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho.
Other Kinds of Connections
Other connections besides those linking the different habitats within the river are also important. For example, connections between the river and the floodplain are one of the most important requirements for a healthy stream. Without it, streams focus their power and erosive energy on stream banks. Pools fill in and banks become unstable. Floodplains dry out. Stream flows are no longer replenished by groundwater because the connection between groundwater and the river is lost.
