Utah Cutthroat Slam raises over $100k since 2016

A native Colorado River cutthroat trout caught in Utah. Photo: Sean Scadden

UTAH – The annual Utah Cutthroat Slam recently passed a milestone of raising over $100,000 in funding. Money raised by the Cutthroat Slam goes towards projects to restore native cutthroat trout throughout Utah.

In 2016, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah Trout Unlimited introduced a fishing challenge known as the slam, encouraging anglers to catch all four subspecies of cutthroat trout native to Utah within their natural habitats.

This initiative also serves as a fundraising effort for cutthroat trout conservation, with the $20 registration fee supporting projects aimed at benefiting these native species.

Since 2016, 25 projects relating to cutthroat trout restoration have received funding, with 16 of those completed.

The projects receiving the most funding include improvements on the Lower Beaver River, receiving $10,000 in funding, and focused on reshaping streambanks, adding natural debris to provide cover for fish, and seeding natural vegetation while removing invasive trees.

Another highly-funded project includes flood mitigation and stream improvement for Clear Creek. This project received $9,000 in funding and worked to redesign the current stream stabilization project, which will help protect a roadway in the area and reduce flooding while also providing better habitats for Bonneville cutthroat trout found in the waterway.

Since the Slam’s inception in 2016, 1,464 anglers have completed the challenge, with 142 of those having completed the slam more than once.

As of August 19, the slam had been completed 162 times in 2024.

“We are so grateful to the many anglers who participate and help fund cutthroat trout restoration in Utah,” DWR Sportfish Coordinator Trina Hedrick said.

“These projects are crucial in helping restore our native cutthroat trout throughout the state and wouldn’t be possible without this funding. We also appreciate our partners, Utah Trout Unlimited, and others involved in these important efforts.”

Anyone interested in participating in the Utah Cutthroat Slam can learn more and register on the DWR’s website.