On Tuesday, CalTrout held the 7th annual Casting Call with Trout Unlimited at the State Capitol. This event is an opportunity to bring legislators, conservation organizations, and the public together to raise awareness for California’s coldwater fisheries and also have some fun on the Capitol lawn practicing our casts. This year’s event was a special one. We kicked off the day with a formal signing ceremony that launched the new Central Valley Salmon Habitat Partnership (CVSHP), of which CalTrout is a founding member. From farmers to fisherman, from water agencies to private sector conservation groups and state and federal agencies, the Partnership brings all the major stakeholders to the same table to identify, prioritize, and implement actions that will restore habitat to support diverse and abundant salmon and steelhead populations.
The rivers of the Central Valley are historically productive habitat for salmon, but the landscape has been vastly altered. Dams and levees have cut off rivers from their historic floodplains resulting in a loss of important seasonal habitat for fish and waterfowl, decreased groundwater recharge, and less room for rivers to roam during flood times.
We are thrilled that the Partnership has now officially launched thanks to the hard work of many individuals, including our own Jacob Katz whose research has been incredibly influential in gaining support for Central Valley salmon habitat restoration. The CVSHP is taking a science-based approach to collaboratively set salmon habitat objectives.
Working with diverse interest groups is at the core of how CalTrout achieves our mission to solve complex resource issues. Having a presence at the Capitol and getting facetime with our legislators is key to advance critical policies, programs, and funding that shape fisheries management. When we work hand-in-hand– agencies, conservationists, and landowners– win-win solutions are found and implemented quickly. We’re looking forward to the return of Central Valley salmon and steelhead back to abundance. Many thanks to all who joined us on the Capitol lawn celebrating California’s native fish.
Tight lines,
Thank you for your interest in the Eel River Forum! We looking forward to sharing meeting updates and other info from the Eel River watershed with you as they develop.
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Thank you for your interest in Big Chico Creek and the Iron Canyon Fish Passage Project! We looking forward to sharing project updates, news, and stories with you from the Big Chico Creek watershed as they develop.
Thank you for your interest in Big Chico Creek and the Iron Canyon Fish Passage Project! One of our staff members will do their best to get back to you as soon as possible. However, please note that due to limited capacity we may not be able to respond to all questions or fulfill all requests.
Let us know if you are interested in volunteering and we will get in contact with you as soon as we can.
Thank you for your interest in the Elk River! One of our North Coast Region staff members will do their best to get back to you as soon as possible. However, please note that due to limited capacity we may not be able to respond to all questions or fulfill all requests.
Peter Moyle is the Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology and Associate Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences, at UC Davis. He is author or co-author of more than 240 publications, including the definitive Inland Fishes of California (2002). He is co-author of the 2017 book, Floodplains: Processes and Management for Ecosystem Services. His research interests include conservation of aquatic species, habitats, and ecosystems, including salmon; ecology of fishes of the San Francisco Estuary; ecology of California stream fishes; impact of introduced aquatic organisms; and use of floodplains by fish.
Robert Lusardi is the California Trout/UC Davis Wild and Coldwater Fish Researcher focused on establishing the basis for long-term science specific to California Trout’s wild and coldwater fish initiatives. His work bridges the widening gap between academic science and applied conservation policy, ensuring that rapidly developing science informs conservation projects throughout California. Dr. Lusardi resides at the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences and works closely with Dr. Peter Moyle on numerous projects to help inform California Trout conservation policy. His recent research interests include Coho salmon on the Shasta River, the ecology of volcanic spring-fed rivers, inland trout conservation and management, and policy implications of trap and haul programs for anadromous fishes in California.
Patrick Samuel is the Conservation Program Coordinator for California Trout, a position he has held for almost two years, where he coordinates special research projects for California Trout, including the State of the Salmonids report. Prior to joining CalTrout, he worked with the Fisheries Leadership & Sustainability Forum, a non-profit that supports the eight federal regional fishery management councils around the country. Patrick got his start in fisheries as an undergraduate intern with NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Division in Sacramento, and in his first field job as a crew member of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Wild and Heritage Trout Program.