Santa Ynez River Restoration

Southern California steelhead

Southern California steelhead

Bradbury Dam Blocks Steelhead Access

The Santa Ynez River in the Santa Barbara/Lompoc/Solvang area once supported the largest steelhead run south of San Francisco. In the 1950s, steelhead access to roughly half of the watershed and more than 2/3 of the spawning habitat was completely obstructed with the construction of Bradbury Dam. With the endangered species
listing of steelhead in 1997, CalTrout filed a water rights challenge at the State Water Board to obtain adequate flows and fish passage at Bradbury for the benefit of the steelhead. This process was stalled for several years.

Conservation Goals

  • Provide fish passage to historic spawning / rearing habitat.
  • Provide adequate flows to maintain/enhance the steelhead population below Bradbury Dam.

Recent Accomplishments

  • In 2012, State Board hearings resumed with the Environmental Defense Center (EDC) representing CalTrout and advocating for adequate flows and fish passage. Because steelhead continue to utilize habitat below the dam, EDC also represented CalTrout in connection with the environmental review for the proposed installation of municipal wells that could negatively impact the lower watershed.

What We Will Accomplish in 2013-14

  • Bureau of Reclamation will be issuing a Biological Assessment regarding steelhead as part of the proposed relicensing of the Bradbury Dam and the NMFS will follow suit with a more detailed Biological Opinion. CalTrout will closely evaluate and comment on these agency documents to ensure that the protection/restoration of the species is given the highest attention.

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Key Partners: Environmental Defense Center

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