2021 marks California Trout’s 50th Anniversary – a milestone for a conservation nonprofit that puts us in rare company.
Our roots at CalTrout are among passionate anglers concerned with the threats facing our state’s unique and awe-inspiring wild fisheries. But our impact serves everyone – from tribal communities whose ways of life revolve around river systems, to an agriculture industry that feeds the entire world, to every single person in California who simply needs a drink of water.
For our Future. For California. Forever.
5 KEY INITIATIVES
- Protect The Best
- Reconnect Habitat
- Integrate Fish & Working Lands
- Steward Source Water Areas
- Restore Estuaries
Protect The Best
There are still places in California with abundant wild fish- and we intend to keep them that way. Salmon and steelhead strongholds like the Smith River, California’s signature stronghold river, and the Eel River are places where sustainable wild fish abundance exist or is still achievable. Likewise, there are iconic wild trout waters that require near-constant vigilance from a myriad of threats.
Learn MoreEel River Forum
North Coast
Achieve consensus among a coalition of agency, tribal, and conservation partners regarding priority recovery actions and policy reform needed to recover salmonid populations in the Eel River basin,...
Learn MoreAdult Salmonid Sonar Monitoring Program
North Coast
The South Fork Eel River is a salmon and steelhead stronghold and represents the best opportunity to restore wild fish abundance on the North Coast. This stretch of river has been impacted by...
Learn MoreNative Rainbow Trout Subpopulation Expansion Plan
South Coast
The management of non-native aquatic species addressees a major threat to the survival of native trout. Management is arduous and expensive, but worth the long-term investment to clear prime habitat...
Learn MoreWF San Luis Rey Native Trout Protection
South Coast
The goal of this project is to protect one of the last and most southern native rainbow trout populations of steelhead lineage in Pacific coast of United States.
Learn MoreSan Mateo Creek Non-Native Removal
South Coast
The goal of this project is to remove non-native species that are detrimental to native trout survival in San Mateo Creek, in federally designated critical habitat for endangered Southern California...
Learn MoreRose Valley Creek Stream Restoration Project
South Coast
To develop an alternative analysis for the restoration of Southern California steelhead in the Rose Valley Lakes System and Sespe Creek Watershed.
Learn MoreJune Mountain Ski Area Whitebark Pine Restoration
Sierra Headwaters
The overarching goal of the restoration project is to remove dying trees across 518 acres of National Forest System lands over five years. CalTrout is pursuing additional funding to accomplish this,...
Learn MoreHot Creek Protection
Sierra Headwaters
Seeking full implementation of the water agreement settlement terms: a) the Fisheries Enhancement Fund is active and functioning, (b) instream flow requirements are met, and (c) fully appropriated...
Learn MoreOwens River Protection
Sierra Headwaters
Restore the ecological health of the Upper Owens watershed and improve local angling opportunities in Mammoth and Hot Creeks and the Owens River.
Learn MoreFall River Wild Trout Program
Mt. Shasta-Klamath
Protect CA’s largest spring-fed river, over 30 miles of wild and native trout habitat, and one million acre-feet per year of cold, clean volcanic source water that provides habitat for native fish...
Learn MoreMcCloud River Protection
Mt. Shasta-Klamath
The goal of this project is to protect three miles of pristine salmon habitat on the Upper Sacramento and McCloud rivers (blue ribbon wild trout fisheries) from inundation.
Learn MoreHat Creek Restoration
Mt. Shasta-Klamath
Restore Hat Creek wild trout populations to over 5,000 fish per mile, restore 1.5 miles of instream habitat with large woody debris structures, and protect cultural resources on over 5,000 acres...
Learn MoreSmith River Protection
North Coast
Raise awareness of the current threats to the pristine North Fork of the Smith River from international mining corporations.
Learn MorePrairie Creek Floodplain Restoration
North Coast
Restore salmonid stream channel and floodplain rearing habitat on a highly degraded abandoned Mill Site through a multi-phase design and implementation program. Establish the Save the Redwoods...
Learn MoreSouth Fork Eel River
North Coast
Establish common and standardized procedures applicable throughout California’s coastal watersheds for identifying ‘instream flow objectives’ through 1) the development and application of...
Learn MoreReconnect Habitat
There are thousands of dams in California, most of which were built and are operated for water supply and flood protection benefits with little consideration for their effects on fish. As a result, native salmon and steelhead have lost large amounts of their habitat. Dams and barriers block migration upstream to high-quality habitat and restrict migration of juvenile fish to the ocean.
Learn MoreCochran Creek Fish Passage and Channel Restoration Project
North Coast
The project’s primary goals are to improve fish passage to sustain anadromous populations of coho, steelhead, and coastal cutthroat trout, as well as to enhance and expand tidal, brackish,...
Learn MoreMill-Shackleford Bridge Fish Passage Restoration
Mt. Shasta-Klamath
This project addresses Watershed Restoration Grant Program Funding Priority 3: Protect and Restore Anadromous Fish Habitat. Specifically, the project will result in 1) the removal of a human‐caused...
Learn MoreHighway 76 – Pauma Creek Fish Passage
South Coast
Remove the only total fish passage barrier between a robust rainbow trout population in Pauma Creek and the Pacific ocean.
Learn MoreHarvey Diversion Fish Passage
South Coast
The goal of the project is restore passive fish passage at this location and stabilize sediment transport through this reach.
Learn MoreSanta Margarita River – Sandia Creek Fish Passage
South Coast
The proposed bridge replacement project on the Santa Margarita River at Sandia Creek Drive removes a high priority fish passage barrier, improves trail user experience and safety, protects the public...
Learn MoreSanta Clara River Floodplain Restoration
South Coast
Restoration of floodplain processes by focusing on the removal of non-native, invasive plants and revegetation with native species to reestablish critical habitat for sensitive species and riparian...
Learn MoreI-5 Trabuco Creek Fish Passage Project
South Coast
The main goal of this project is to enable steelhead passage through this total barrier at the Interstate 5 bridge array on Trabuco Creek and provide access to 15 miles of upstream high quality...
Learn MoreRindge Dam Removal
South Coast
Remove an outdated dam in Malibu Creek canyon, a high priority steelhead recovery river with designated critical habitat for steelhead. This dam has reduced water storage capacity and poses a...
Learn MoreMatilija Dam Removal
South Coast
Support the Matilija Coalition, Ventura County Watershed Protection District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in securing funding to finalize a dam removal design and associated re-evaluation of...
Learn MoreKlamath Dams Removal
Mt. Shasta-Klamath
Recover Klamath River salmonid populations by removing 4 dams on the Klamath River (Iron Gate, Copco 1, Copco 2, and JC Boyle) and opening up fish passage to over 400 miles of potential spawning and...
Learn MoreCedar Creek Barrier Removal
North Coast
Cedar Creek, a tributary of the South Fork Eel River, has approximately 9 miles of salmon and steelhead habitat currently inaccessible to Chinook, coho, and steelhead. Migration is blocked by a 5 ft....
Learn MoreWoodman Creek Project
North Coast
Remove the Northwestern Pacific Railroad barrier at the mouth of Woodman Creek and restore the historic channel-mouth configuration to allow unimpeded coho, Chinook, and steelhead access to 10-14...
Learn MoreEel River Dams License Renewal – Potter Valley Project
North Coast
Improve streamflows and expand spawning habitat for Eel River salmon and steelhead in the upper mainstem Eel River. Work with Regional Coalition partners (Sonoma Water, Mendocino County Inland Water...
Learn MoreSearsville Dam Fish Passage
Bay Area
Ensure passage for juvenile and adult steelhead in San Francisquito Creek beyond Searsville Dam.
Learn MoreIntegrate Fish & Working Lands
Over the last century and half California’s population has ballooned to over 40 million people and the state’s rivers and landscapes have been irrevocably altered. As a result, wild fish populations have suffered, with 45% of the state’s native salmonids on a trajectory toward extinction in the next 50 years if current trends continue.
Learn MoreCentral Valley Salmon Habitat Partnership
Central Valley
Working together for salmon and steelhead habitat restoration
Learn MoreSouthern Steelhead Coalitions
South Coast
CalTrout leads two Southern California steelhead coalition with the goal to augment and in some cases re-establish stable steelhead populations in designated high priority rivers of Southern...
Learn MoreSanta Margarita Ecological Reserve Steelhead Habitat Improvement
South Coast
This project will improve steelhead habitat in the Santa Margarita River through non-native aquatic species removal, invasive vegetation removal and sediment reduction.
Learn MoreLittle Shasta River Flow Enhancement Project
Mt. Shasta-Klamath
In 2017, CalTrout partnered with the Hart Ranch on the Little Shasta River and completely retooled the ranch’s irrigation infrastructure. By replacing leaky pipes and valves, improving water...
Learn MoreScott Bar Fish Passage
Mt. Shasta-Klamath
By implementing the Scott River Mill Creek Fish Passage Restoration Project, California Trout will restore access for returning adult coho salmon to approximately seven miles of spawning and rearing...
Learn MoreScott River Restoration
Mt. Shasta-Klamath
Recover salmonid populations in the Scott River, a key mid-Klamath River tributary and nursery, by restoring spawning and rearing habitat, in-stream flows, water quality, and other ecological...
Learn MoreShasta-Scott Safe Harbor
Mt. Shasta-Klamath
Recover salmonid populations in the Shasta River, a key mid-Klamath River tributary and nursery, by restoring spawning and rearing habitat, in-stream flows, water quality, and other ecological...
Learn MoreElk River Recovery Project
North Coast
At over 3,600 sq. miles, the Eel River watershed is the third largest watershed entirely in California. While the majority of the watershed is privately owned and managed for timber production, and...
Learn MoreFloodplain Salmon Habitat Credit Development
Central Valley
Develop on-farm water management practices that benefit native fish species and the aquatic ecosystems on which they depend for use in agriculture conservation incentive programs.
Learn MoreFlood Infrastructure Retrofits
Central Valley
Retrofit flood infrastructure in the Tisdale and Sutter bypasses to enhance fish passage; improve water use efficiency; create floodplain rearing habitat for endangered salmonids; and increase...
Learn MoreNigiri Project
Central Valley
Scientifically demonstrate that productivity created by shallow inundation of floodplains is foundational to supporting self-sustaining populations of fish and wildlife in the Central Valley.
Learn MoreFish Food on Floodplain Farm Fields
Central Valley
By comparing and contrasting hydrologic conditions and aquatic food web dynamics across the spectrum of existing wetland habitat types (i.e., river channel, managed wetlands, farm fields and...
Learn MoreSecuring South Bay Stream Flows for Steelhead
Bay Area
Ensure adequate streamflows are returned to key South Bay streams.
Learn MoreBay Area Outreach and Education
Bay Area
Increase outreach overall to youth, members, fly clubs, and others about our efforts in the Bay Area and statewide.
Learn MoreNapa River Restoration
Bay Area
Build a stakeholder outreach video to share with key stakeholders in the Napa watershed to expand voluntary floodplain restoration expansion.
Learn MoreWalker Creek Coho Salmon Research and Monitoring
Bay Area
Adequately understand streamflows, water temperatures, and food web in Walker Creek to identify potential limiting factors for coho salmon.
Learn MoreSteward Source Water Areas
Water is the lifeblood of California, fueling one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, supplying drinking water for communities and sustaining diverse rivers and the species that depend on them. California’s prominent source water areas, the Sierra Nevada mountains and the greater Mt. Shasta area springs need restoration and protection.
Learn MoreWest Walker Meadows Restoration
Sierra Headwaters
Restoration of ecological resiliency of priority meadows within the headwaters of the West Walker River, including habitat for Lahontan cutthroat trout populations.
Learn MoreSierra Meadows Wetland Riparian Area Monitoring
Sierra Headwaters
CalTrout is leading a team of expert scientists with Sierra Meadows Partnership to develop and implement the first Sierra Meadows Wetland and Riparian Area Monitoring Plan (SM-WRAMP). The SM-WRAMP...
Learn MoreNative Rainbow Trout Recovery Plan
Sierra Headwaters
Apply the Sierra Meadow Strategy approach to establish a prioritized inventory of meadow restoration activities providing maximum habitat benefit for listed Kern River rainbow trout, amphibian, and...
Learn MoreGolden Trout Habitat Restoration
Sierra Headwaters
Restore the ecological health of meadows and native Golden trout populations within the Golden Trout Wilderness.
Learn MoreOsa Meadow Research and Restoration
Sierra Headwaters
Create greater ecological resilience of Osa Meadow to combat climate change and other stressors and promote recovery of Kern River rainbow trout populations. Study the cause-and-effect of meadow...
Learn MorePrioritizing and Restoring Sierra Meadows
Sierra Headwaters
Restore 30,000 meadow acres in the Sierra Nevada by 2030.
Learn MoreModoc Meadows Restoration
Mt. Shasta-Klamath
Restore 5000 acres, (35 meadows) assessed and prioritized, 250 acres (4 meadows) to be restored at "shovel ready" status.
Learn MoreSpring Source Waters Basin Assessment
Mt. Shasta-Klamath
Protect Northern California Volcanic Aquifers and their cold-water spring sources from overdraft, pollution, and long-term variability in regional climate. Abate threats posed by geothermal fracking,...
Learn MoreRestore Estuaries
Estuaries and lagoons provide critical feeding and nursery habitat for juvenile fishes and are important transition zones between freshwater and ocean. However, estuaries have become dramatically reduced in size and quality due to development and watershed modifications such as diking and draining.
Learn MoreCannibal Island Restoration
North Coast
CalTrout is convening a broad, collaborative team of agency partners to restore a 950-acre tidal marsh estuary surrounding Cannibal Island, adjacent to the mouth of the Eel River. The design will...
Learn MoreAquatic Species Assessment Tool (ASAT)
North Coast
South Coast
Bay Area
The Aquatic Species Assessment Tool (ASAT) will provide an integrated quantitative framework for assessing the impact of management actions on salmonids and other sensitive species that depend on the...
Learn MoreMad River Estuary Restoration
North Coast
Restore key salmonid off-channel rearing habitat and provide public access, specifically for angling and river recreational uses in the lower Mad River's simplified estuary. The project includes two...
Learn MorePescadero Marsh Revitalization
Bay Area
Working with partners to avoid fish kills, adequately monitor the steelhead population, and inform future marsh restoration.
Learn MoreRegions
With six regional offices across the state, we're fully immersed in key geographies where wild fish influence the community. We build partnerships with landowners, agencies, and the local community to find the best solutions for both fish and people.
Select a region to learn more about our projects in that area:
Regions
With six regional offices across the state, we're fully immersed in key geographies where wild fish influence the community. We build partnerships with landowners, agencies, and the local community to find the best solutions for both fish and people.
Select a region to learn more about our projects in that area: