This species occurs in coastal coniferous forests in and along permanent, cold streams and spring seeps containing small, water-washed or moss-covered rocks and rock rubble. Individuals tend to prefer sites in seeps and small, trickling tributary streams where the movement of water is relatively slow. Contact with water or a wet, saturated substrate is habitually maintained by this species, thus making it very sensitive to desiccation (Green et al. 2014, NatureServe 2020). This species is largely restricted to streams, and only rarely do individuals venture as far as 50 m from water (Good and Wake 1992). This species is commonly associated with mature forests but is also found in young forests where suitable microclimatic and microhabitat conditions are maintained. This species is a larval developer, with larvae often occurring under stones in shaded reaches of streams, where shading can be provided by over or understory vegetation, or by wood cover within the stream (Welsh 1990, McIntyre et al. 2018).

This species is restricted to coastal and near-coastal regions of the Coast Ranges of the western USA, stretching from the vicinity of the Chehalis River in Grays Harbor County, Washington, south to the zone of contact with Rhyacotriton variegatus along the Little Nestucca River and the Grande Ronde Valley in Polk, Tillamook, and Yamhill Counties in northwest Oregon. It occurs at elevations from near sea level to approximately 1,000 m asl (Good and Wake 1992, Green et al. 2014). Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 22,824 km².

Conservation Actions In-Place
The range of the species is in areas largely managed for timber production. However, it is known to occur in a few protected areas. For example, in Washington, some occurrences are in natural area preserves, and some protection measures are afforded through forest practice rules and habitat conservation plans that manage riparian zones for riparian-dependent species, including torrent salamanders. It is listed as Sensitive in Oregon and a Species of Greatest Conservation Need under the State Wildlife Action Plan in Washington, and is currently under review for federal listing by the U.S. Endangered Species Act. 

In an effort to prevent the introduction of Bsal into the US, an Interim Rule of the Lacey Act has been enacted that bans the importation of 201 species of salamanders (USFWS 2016). Additionally, a temporary voluntary trade moratorium of imports of Asian salamander species that are known to carry the disease until such time as effective testing and treatment regimens can be developed and distributed has been recommended to all exporters, shippers, sellers and buyers by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC). A North America Bsal Task Force has also been created, with working groups designed to address a variety of disease prevention and mitigation goals (North America Bsal Task Force 2021).

Conservation Needed
Continued and potentially strengthened management of protected area(s) where this species occurs, including in riparian management zones in headwater streams managed for timber production, and expanded protection of suitable habitat elsewhere in its range is needed.  

Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats. Additionally, there is a need for monitoring the population status of this species given the threats of timber harvesting and related road construction.