Community Creek Clean-Up: Fishy Halloween on Sinbad Creek
2025-10-25 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Sunol Community Park, 11973-11977 Foothill Rd, Sunol, 94586, United States
Join California Trout, Alameda County Clean Water Program, Alameda Creek Alliance, and more for a morning of family-friendly activities celebrating the waterways in our backyards. There will be a creek clean-up, community science training, interactive talks, and fish crafts. Learn about the important dam removal project happening along Alameda Creek, and have fun while taking care of the environment. Not to get too spooky, but the best fishy costume wins a prize. Special shout out to our hosts, Friends of the Garden!
Where: Sunol Community Park aka Sunol Depot Gardens, 11973-11977 Foothill Rd, Sunol, CA 94586 (Google Maps Link)
Date and time: Sunday, October 25th, 2025; 9:00am – 12:00pm
Admission Price: Free
Spots are limited, RSVP HERE!
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Big Springs Community Day 2025
2025-10-25 10:00 - 15:00 | Big Springs Ranch Wildlife Area
Mark your calendars for October 25, 2025 for a day on the beautiful Big Springs Ranch Wildlife Area! Spend the afternoon viewing spawning Chinook salmon and nature journaling, as well as learning about the Shasta River, local habitat restoration efforts, the life cycle of salmon, and the ecology/geology of the Region.
There’s no better way to enjoy a Saturday than in California’s incredible landscapes with your fellow community members and neighbors. The event is FREE. Event is not ADA accessible. All ages are welcome (and encouraged) – bring the whole family!
10:00-11:00am – Join our experts in creating fish prints
10:30am – Geology of the Shasta Valley with Bill Hirt, College of the Siskiyous emeritus
11:30am – Fish dissection with Sarah Schaefer, Quartz Valley Indian Reservation
12:15pm – Salmon life cycle & data with Kurt Bainbridge, CDFW
1:00pm – Fish dissection with Sarah Schaefer, Quartz Valley Indian Reservation
1:45pm – Nature journaling with Jenn Rogge, outdoor educator
CalTrout is co-sponsoring the event, along with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Quartz Valley Indian Reservation, Siskiyou Science Festival, Scott River Watershed Council, The Nature Conservancy, Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center, and the Salmon and Steelhead Coalition (Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, and CalTrout).
Where: Shasta River, Big Springs Ranch Wildlife Area, 4415 E Louie Rd, Montague, CA 96064 (Google Maps Link)
Date and time: Saturday, October 25th, 2025; 10:00am – 3:00pm
Admission Price: Free
If you have any questions, please contact ShastaEvents@www.caltrout.org
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8th Annual Winters Salmon Festival
2025-11-01 11:00 - 16:00 | rotary park, 201 Railroad Avenue, Winters, CA, United States
Hosted by Solano County Water Agency, the 8th Annual Winters Salmon Festival is right around the corner – honoring the return of Chinook salmon to Putah Creek, in Winters, California. The event will offer live music, children’s activities, food trucks, and more. CalTrout will be tabling at the event so make sure to stop by and say hi!
Not only are we celebrating the return of salmon, but we recognize the anniversary of the historic Putah Creek Accord that set into motion the restoration of the Lower Putah Creek and facilitated the return of this native species. See you there!
Where: Rotary Park, 201 Railroad Avenue, Winters CA 95694 (Google Maps Link)
Date and time: Saturday, November 1st, 2025; 11:00am – 4:00pm
Admission Price: Free
For more information, check out the event website HERE!
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Fly Tying Craft and Cider Night
2025-12-16 18:00 - 21:00 | Bivouac Ciderworks Adventure Lodge, 3980 30th St, San Diego, 92104, United States
Join us for an evening of fly tying, while sipping on local cider. We’ll be joined by SoCal fly clubs to teach you everything you need to know, along with CalTrout team members to chat about exciting local restoration projects. Beginners welcome!
This event is hosted by CalTrout in collaboration with San Diego Fly Fishers, Golden State Fly Casters, and Bivouac Ciderworks. All supplies will be provided.
Where: Bivouac Ciderworks Adventure Lodge, 3980 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104 (Google Maps Link)
Date and time: Tuesday, December 16th, 2025; 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Admission Price: $15 (includes drink ticket)
Get Your Ticket HERE!
Questions? Email Alix at amartin@www.caltrout.org
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Pleasanton Fly Fishing Show
2026-02-27 - 2026-03-01 | Alameda County Fairgrounds, 2005 Valley Avenue, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
The Pleasanton Fly Fishing Show is an annual expo celebrating all things fly-fishing in the Bay Area. We’re excited to attend, chat with attendees about our current projects, offer an opportunity to buy merch, and engage with our community! Different members of the CalTrout team will be popping in throughout the weekend, so be sure to stop by our booth and say hi. Plus, many of our partners will be joining the fun, such as Lost Coast Outfitters, Cal Fly Fisher, and a bunch of fly clubs!
Where: Alameda County Fairgrounds 2005 Valley Avenue Pleasanton, CA 94588
(Google Maps Link)
Date and time:

Friday, Feb. 27 10am-6pm
Saturday, Feb. 28 9am-5:30pm
Sunday, Mar. 1 9am-4:30pm

Admission Price:

Adult: One Day Pass $20, Two Day Pass $35, Three Day Pass $45
Kids: $5 (5 and under Free)
Military/Scouts: Military w/ ID $12, Scouts under 16 in uniform Free
Note: cash only at the gate

Get Your Ticket HERE!
Interested in volunteering? Email Rachel McDermod, CalTrout’s Community and Partnerships Manager at rmcdermod@www.caltrout.org. We’re looking for support in running the booth alongside staff — this involves engaging with guests, talking about CalTrout’s work, and helping to sell merch.

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2026 Field Tour Series: Sacramento Valley Floodplains
2026-03-05 10:00 - 13:00 | CalTrout Woodland Office, 1059 Court St., Woodland, 95645, United States
Join us as we kick off our 2026 Project Field Tours with an on-the-ground visit to California Trout’s Floodplains Projects in the Sacramento Valley, where science meets boots-in-the-mud conservation. We’ll tour the recently retrofitted Fremont Weir and Knaggs Ranch in the Yolo Bypass, where, this winter (for the very first time!), 2,000,000 young hatchery salmon were released to rear in farm fields managed as food-rich wetland habitat. You’ll also see the newly installed gates in the Fremont levee that now allow millions of natural-origin juvenile salmon to access the Yolo Bypass floodplain. This access makes a measurable difference: salmon that rear on the floodplain grow faster, become healthier, and are better prepared for survival than those confined to the food-starved, leveed Sacramento River channel.
During the tour, you’ll spend time in the field with CalTrout’s Jacob Katz, Senior Scientist, and Jacob Montgomery, Senior Project Manager, as they walk through the project’s successes, challenges, and role in reactivating productivity across working landscapes. Expect an engaging conversation as the Jacobs share real-world insights into how innovative floodplain management is changing the game for struggling fish populations, and yes, there is a good likelihood of muddy boots.
Can’t wait to step into the field together and see our conservation work in action! Lunch included.
Where: CalTrout Woodland Office, 1059 Court St, Suite 119
Woodland, CA 95645 (Google Maps Link)
Date and time: Thursday, March 5th, 2026; 10:00am-1:00pm
Admission Price: Free
Sign up HERE!
If you sign up and realize you can’t attend, please reach out and let us know.
Any additional questions? Email CalTrout”s Director of Development, Sierra Wildeor for more information at swildeor@www.caltrout.org
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Science on Tap: Source Waters - The Science & Significance of Springs
2026-03-13 18:00 - 21:00 | Deadwood Shasta, 408 N, Mt. Shasta Blvd, Mt. Shasta, 96067, United States
You helped make our first Science on Tap such a success, so we’re back for round two: Source Waters Edition! Join us for an evening of science, community, and drinks. Discover the story behind the water that feeds our rivers – and pours from your tap.
Source waters are deeply important to the health, safety, and culture of California. Together, we’ll explore cultural significance, past conservation efforts, and recent milestones, including the campaign that helped lead to the establishment of Sáttítla Highlands National Monument. We’ll also take a deep dive into emerging science shaping the future of source waters protection and management, including insights from our current Source Waters work.
California Trout Executive Director Curtis Knight will be part of the night’s lineup, sharing California Trout’s engagement and contributions to protecting California’s spring-fed rivers. He’ll also reflect on the past campaign to stop Nestlé from developing a commercial bottling plant that would have extracted groundwater from sources vital to the McCloud River and its springs.
Speakers will include representatives from the Pit River Tribe, Mt. Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center, California State University, East Bay, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, Davis, and California Trout.
Come for the science, stay for the conversation! Can’t wait to see you there.
Where: 408 N, Mt. Shasta Blvd, Mt. Shasta CA 96067 (Google Maps Link)
Date and time: Friday, March 13th, 2026; 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Admission Price: Free
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International Ocean Film Fest Panel Discussion - Keep it Wild: from Ocean to River, Protecting Salmon in a Farmed Age
2026-04-12 15:30 - 17:00 | BATS Bayfront Theatre,, 2 Marina Blvd, Building B, San Francisco, California, 94123, United States
Wild salmon are in trouble, and the first step to recovering their populations is understanding why. Join CalTrout’s Executive Director Curtis Knight as he moderates a dynamic panel at the International Ocean Film Festival, on April 12 at 3:30pm at Fort Mason in San Francisco. The panel directly follows the 1pm world premiere screening of Superfish: Salmon, filmmaker Rick Rosenthal’s powerful exploration of wild salmon and the threats they face.
Filmmaker Rick Rosenthal will join the panel to speak to his experience creating the film and the firsthand salmon stories he discovered along the way. Chef and former CalTrout board member Loretta Keller will also join the panel to discuss restaurant salmon procurement practices and the interconnection of salmon restoration and food. Other panelists include Paul Lightfoot of Patagonia Provisions and Jennifer Kemmerly of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Free event but please RSVP HERE to guarantee a seat.

Where: BATS Bayfront Theatre, Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd Building B, 3rd Floor San Francisco, CA 94123 (Google Maps Link)
Date and time: Sunday, April 12th, 2026; 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Admission Price: Free
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Science on Tap: Staying Flexible in a Complex World – A Look into Lamprey
2026-04-14 18:00 - 20:00 | B Street Public House, 117 Broadway Street, Chico, 95928, United States
Science on Tap: Round 3! Join us for a public evening of science and storytelling, shining a spotlight on lampreys — ancient creatures with a powerful story to tell in Northern California waters.
We’ll explore the deep cultural significance of lamprey to the Mechoopda people and their ties to Big Chico and Butte Creeks, get an intro to lamprey life history and migration, and hear about creative engineering solutions developed on Battle Creek to help Pacific Lamprey navigate fish ladders — turns out they don’t jump, they suction their way upstream! We’ll also cover exciting new findings on the distribution of Kern Brook Lamprey (Occidentis hubbsi) across California.
No science background and new to the world of fish? No problem! Just bring your curiosity and come ready to chat about the waterways in our backyard. Good science is better with good company!
Speakers will include representatives from CalTrout, FISHBIO, Western Fishes, and more.
Where: B Street Public House, 117 Broadway St, Chico, CA 95928 (Google Maps Link)
Date and time: Tuesday, April 14th, 2026; 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Admission Price: Free
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Trout Fest on the Kern River
2026-04-18 09:30 - 13:30 | Riverside Park, 55 Kern River Dr., Kernville, CA, 93238, United States
Trout Fest, hosted by the Kern River Conservancy, will host over 30 vendors, organizations, and agencies – all coming together to celebrate and support recreational and conservation fishing. Enjoy casting clinics, fly tying, trout-themed painting classes, and more!
CDFW will even be bringing a truck full of fish for kids to release into the river, an unforgettable experience for young anglers. CalTrout team members from the Central California region will be tabling. Come say hi!
Where: Riverside Park, 55 Kern River Dr, Kernville, CA 93238 (Google Maps Link)
Date and time: Saturday, April 18th, 2026; 9:30am-1:30pm
Admission Price: Free
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CalTrout’s 27th Annual Gala & Auction
2026-05-01 17:30 - 21:00 | Four Seasons, 757 Market St., San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
Join us for California Trout’s Annual Gala & Auction – an evening driven by the shared belief that thriving rivers need bold communities.
Together with our community from across California, we’ll celebrate the progress we’re making for our state’s rivers, landscapes, and native fish – and invest in the work ahead.
Enjoy an unforgettable night of connection, generosity, and inspiration in support of California’s remarkable watersheds. From a lively cocktail reception and silent auction to a seated dinner and live auction, the evening is a uniquely CalTrout celebration of the action moving conservation forward across California.
This is conservation powered by people.
Evening Program
5:30 PM: Cocktail Reception & Silent Auction
7:15 PM: Dinner Program & Live Auction

Purchase your ticket or sponsorship HERE! Discounted tickets available for young professionals.

Interested in sponsoring the Gala? Contact Molly Ancel at mancel@www.caltrout.org
Have an auction item to contribute? Contact Riley Ahern at rahern@www.caltrout.org

2026 Field Tour Series: Big Chico Creek
2026-05-14 09:00 - 12:00 | Bidwell Park’s Chico Rod and Gun Club, 456 Upper Park Rd, Chico, CA, 95973, United States
Join us for a guided tour of Big Chico Creek, where science and conservation are transforming a former fish barrier into a thriving ecosystem.
At Iron Canyon in Bidwell Park, fish migration is currently blocked by a complete upstream barrier, preventing both steelhead and spring-run Chinook salmon from reaching critical upstream habitat.
CalTrout is restoring fish passage by removing components of a non-functioning fishway and reconfiguring a rock fall into a natural, free-flowing channel, allowing anadromous fish access to an additional 8.5 miles of cold-water refuge. The project will also provide benefits for Big Chico Creek’s non-salmonid native fish community, taking an entire ecosystem-based approach to restoration.
During the tour, you’ll walk along the creek and hear directly from CalTrout staff and project partners about the science, strategy, and persistence behind the work, including the latest updates on its progress. Lunch and morning snacks included.
Where: Bidwell Park’s Chico Rod and Gun Club (Parking Lot D); 1456 Upper Park Rd, Chico, CA 95973 (Google Maps Link)
Date and time: Thursday, May 14, 2026; 9:00am-12:00pm
Admission Price: Free
Sign up HERE!
If you sign up and realize you can’t attend, please reach out and let us know. Check out all of our upcoming field tours on our Field Tours 2026 webpage.
Any additional questions? If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Riley Ahern at rahern@caltrout.org or 916-254-8274!
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