Looking back on 2017

A word from CalTrout’s ED, Curtis Knight

CalTrout is surging forward. What drives this success? Strong values and a unique model, made possible by you. Based on solid science, we rally diverse stakeholders, prove innovative concepts through on-the-ground and in-the-water projects, then take that success and scale it up.  This past year offers many examples of this successful model playing out across our six regions.

On the North Coast, we’re moving forward with our Eel River restoration work and engaging in a multi-stakeholder alternative agreement to PG&E’s Potter Valley Project that promotes ecosystem health in lieu of a contentious re-licensing battle.

In our Shasta/Klamath region, we’re working with ranchers and farmers in the Shasta and Scott Valleys to identify solutions that balance the needs of wild fish and people.  Healthy populations of salmon and steelhead in these two Klamath River tributaries are important seed populations for the recolonization of the upper Klamath Basin following planned dam removal in 2020.  And yes, the removal of four dams on the Klamath River is poised to happen in just over two years.

In the Central Valley, CalTrout played an integral role in the launch of the Central Valley Salmon Habitat Partnership. This partnership brings together a broad group of stakeholders – state an federal agencies, farmers, water suppliers, conservationists, fisherman – who will work together to restore and protect vital salmon and steelhead populations, habitats and ecosystem conditions.

Proving a concept and scaling up has been the focus of our Sierra Meadows region as they led the Sierra Meadows Partnership’s adoption of the Sierra Meadows Strategy, a plan to restore 30,000 acres of meadows and their watersheds to a healthier and more resilient landscape by 2030.

Moving to the southern half of the state, our Ventura and San Diego regions are committed restoring and reintegrating Southern California Steelhead habitat to ensure the survival of the endangered yet resilient species.  We continue to work on barriers to fish passage such as Matilija Dam on the Ventura River and the I-5 array on Trabuco Creek along with the threats from invasive species, water diversions, and wildfires. Clearly this last threat will shape much of our work into 2018.

And last but not least, we issued our State of the Salmonids II: Fish in Hot Water Report with UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences. This comprehensive, scientific assessment of California’s 32 native salmonids will guide our work in the coming years. It outlines a six-point plan to return our native salmon, steelhead, and trout to resilience.

2017 has been a productive year and, with your support, we’ll continue to surge forward in 2018.

Tight lines,

P.S. .S. You are key to our success! You sustain CalTrout’s efforts to ensure wild fish will thrive again in cold, healthy California waters. There is still time to make your year-end gift.