This species of torrent salamander is found the farthest south in the Pacific Northwest region.

[2] The time it takes from oviposition to reach sexual maturity ranges from five to eight years, making the generation interval rather long.

R. variegatus has the lowest desiccation tolerance of all North American salamanders, meaning they cannot easily withstand “extreme” temperatures and low moisture levels.

[3] The habitats preferred by R. variegatus are calm, shallow, high in oxygen, and slow-flowing, such as seeps and mountain brooks, with coarse, gravel-like beds.

R. variegatus adults can venture away from the stream, but they prefer the water, which only comes out when the moisture level of the ground is high enough.

The genus Rhyacotriton is found in the Pacific Northwest, extending from Northern California to the Olympic Peninsula.

Some Rhyacotriton species are found more inland but are still relatively close to the coast; these are mainly populations of R. kezeri.

The areas with populations of R. variegatus are forests with fresh water sources that meet all their habitat requirements.

These forests have >80% canopy coverage due to sizeable trees and large amounts of moss.

After being assessed, it was placed in the “Least Concern” category, meaning there is no immediate threat to the species' survival, and it has a wide distribution with an assumed large population.

Direct effects from logging and disturbing forests, along with the building of roads and other man-made features, limit the habitable areas for these salamanders.

Many concerned people still petition to place R. variegatus in a more at-risk category because of the previously unregulated logging that altered the population.