Protect the Best
Protect The Best Salmon and Steelhead Strongholds and Wild Trout Waters
Home | Key Initiatives | Protect the BestKeep strongholds and wild trout waters intact and protected
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. Places like Hat Creek, Fall River, Owen’s River, McCloud. For over 47 years we’ve been working to protect California’s iconic wild trout waters. Our commitment has never been stronger.

FOCUS AREAS
PROTECT THE BEST PROJECTS
Adult 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 More