I am going to be composing a research based paper about the notorious greenback cutthroat trout. The premise of the paper is going to be that perhaps our beloved state fish, the one that has supposedly gone from plentiful to extinct, to endangered to stable and back to extremely endangered at best,, is in fact either extinct, or was never really a distinct subspecies to begin with. The credible and scholarly information that is available about the greenback is so contradictory and changing so rapidly, in regard to historical information as well as current genetic findings, that I believe it will be possible to argue that the fish is either just a Colorado River cutthroat, or that it is in fact extinct. 
     The thesis for this paper will likely read something like 'due to a wide variety of possibilities, the likelihood that a truly distinct subspecies of cutthroat trout, indigenous only to Colorado, remains in existence is very unlikely if not downright wishful thinking.' Some of the subtopics that I will discuss to support my thesis are: 1. the contradicting studies / published works of literature that have come out within the last ten years 2. the weakness of historical identification and taxonomy of fish 3. The lack of concrete documentation about the original range of this fish 4. the general improbability of a pure population of these fish existing due primarily to interbreeding with other species 5. the question of wether the greenback was ever a truly distinct subspecies, or just populations of Colorado River cutthroats outside of their known range that came to be referred to as greenbacks. 
     I hope to be able to highlight many of the questions and contradictions that surround our state fish primarily by presenting the contradictions in research and the follies in conservation efforts. It is my intention to introduce as many examples of uncertainty around the topic as possible in combination with facts about environmental degradation and interbreeding between trout species. My hope is that if I am able to compile enough of this information, that readers will be led to their own conclusions without it being necessary for me to indicate what the logical conclusion is. 

     As a native of Colorado, one of the most intriguing fish stories that is unfolding currently is that of the state fish of Colorado, the greenback cutthroat trout. This lovely little fish was declared as the state fish in 1994 to celebrate the success of stocking efforts that were believed to have literally brought the fish back from extinction. The fish was declared extinct in the 1930s, but was later believed to be discovered in a few remote locations in the 50s. 
     After nearly 20 years as our celebrated state fish, the identity and even existence of this species is under serious scrutiny today. A study titled: "Across the Great Divide: Genetic Forensics Reveals Misidentification of Endangered Cutthroat Trout Populations," published in the journal Molecular Ecology, brought forth new information. The study was published in 2007 and presented the idea that nearly all of the "greenbacks," especially those that were the result of stocking efforts implemented to preserve the species, were actually another subspecies of cutthroat trout. 
     The fact that this idea is the result of looking at data provided in a study done by researchers from various credible institutions, and published in a widely accepted, well known, and peer reviewed scholarly journal gives the grim conclusion a certain weight that requires additional reflection and investigation. This specific study certainly deserves all of the attention it has received. My hope is that it might also serve as a platform for calling attention to the irreversible nature of fish stocking programs around the world. 
     It is my belief that diminishing biodiversity is one of the most threatening symptoms of mankind's influence on this planet. This study shows a direct correlation between human actions and shrinking biodiversity; despite our intentions of preserving it. It is not an opinion article or a piece of speculation, this source is a collection of data that produces a logical conclusion and it would be very difficult to argue against this source. I plan on using other scientific sources in addition to this one to build my case that we humans are just another inescapably involved partiin this environment; far from the stewards of it.