Page 24 - 2015 Annual Project Review

KEYSTONE INITIATIVE
Empowering Local Action
Promoting the Recovery of the Endangered Southern California Steelhead.
CalTrout is an established leader of fish and water issues in southern California and empowers local groups to implement restoration projects and advocate locally. As such, CalTrout leads the current collaborations of non-profit organizations, government resource agencies, and interested stakeholders promoting the recovery of the endangered Southern California steelhead – the Santa Clara River Steelhead Coalition and the South Coast Steelhead Coalition.
Santa Clara River Steelhead Coalition
LONG-TERM GOALS
• Provide fish passage to historic spawning / rearing habitat on the Santa Clara River and its major tributaries.
• Promote conservation stewardship and steelhead awareness locally through an array of community engagement opportunities.
• Address other threats to steelhead recovery including invasive species and climate change.
Santa Clara River. Photo: Lynne Plambeck
RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Received approximately $215,000 from the CA DFW’s Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (FRGP) for the continuation and expansion of the Santa Clara River Steelhead Coalition through May 30, 2017.
• Completed and ratified the Santa Clara River Steelhead Coalition Strategic Plan and Santa Clara River Steelhead Coalition Outreach, Education and Community Engagement Plan.
The Coalition has also drafted a work plan for 2015-2017.
• Empowered Friends of the Santa Clara River to do their first ever application to the FRGP to complete a feasibility study and design to replace a critical fish passage barrier on Santa Paula Creek, thus restoring access to the most productive habitat in all of the watershed.
• Participated and/or hosted in a number of Community engagement events, such as 1) unveiling the Southern California Steelhead Exhibit at the Aquarium of the Pacific, including screening of CalTrout-produced Southern California Steelhead: Against All Odds on World Fish Migration Day, 2) co-captained
– with The Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Club – the 3360 Johnson Road/ Santa Clara River gateway site for the California Coastal Commission’s 30th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day, 3) attended and presented in the Poster Session at the Salmonid Restoration Federation’s Steelhead Summit in Ventura, California.
Steelhead exhibit at Aquarium of the Pacific
WHAT WE WILL ACHIEVE IN 2015-16
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Support the Wishtoyo Foundation and their Ventura Coastkeeper Chapter to effectively engage in restoration of the Santa Clara River Estuary.
Support or partner on two key passage projects: Sisar Creek Arizona Crossing Replacement Design Alternatives Analysis and implementation and HWY 126 Caltrans Bridge on Hopper Creek. Lead development and implementation of a Southern Steelhead Monitoring Program.
Lead and/or partner non-native aquatic species management in the Rose Valley Lakes System (RVLS).
Draft, solicit and secure funding to research the effects of invasive non-native aquatic species on Southern steelhead and Tidewater Goby in the Santa Clara River Estuary.
Lead an IRWM Arundo donax removal and habitat restoration on 150-200 acres along the main stem of the SCR.
Present to NMFS and UWCD cost-effective and feasible alternatives addressing notching of Vern Freeman Diversion. Continue to engage the local community in a dialogue around water, steelhead, and stewardship, particularly by implementing a Water Talks Program of six featured talks throughout the watershed. Grow and strengthen the Coalition membership.