We are excited to announce that two CalTrout projects to reconnect habitat and restore estuaries are moving forward thanks fo funding from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
Government grants make up 35% of our operating budget, allowing us to execute large-scale and significant programs that benefit wild fish and people in California.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) selected 38 projects to receive funding for multi-benefit ecosystem restoration and protection projects under its Proposition 1 and Proposition 68 grant programs. Below are the two projects by CalTrout that were selected totaling $1,822,157.
$1,109,271 award from CDFW Proposition 1 and Proposition 68 funding
Harvey Diversion is a significant barrier to the migration of endangered California Southern Steelhead Distinct Population Segment (DPS) and is in need of immediate remediation to support the recovery of the species in the Santa Clara Watershed.
Assessments of the Santa Clara watershed have clearly indicated that the removal of Harvey Diversion will restore migration corridors required to access high-quality spawning, rearing and foraging habitat for steelhead located in the upstream reaches of the Santa Paula watershed. Santa Paula Creek has been shown to contain productive habitat for southern steelhead with the greatest potential to contribute to the recovery of the species within this evolutionary significant unit.
The disruption of coarse sediment transport is the single greatest factoring driving hydrogeomorphological change within the Harvey Diversion reach, and remediation will reestablish ecosystem processes within the basin. Successful implementation of this project will also increase habitat types and complexity within the restoration reach which will facilitate fish migration, as the project location represents a gradient transition point in the watershed and refuge during migration is a critical factor in survival and success of the species
$802,886 award from CDFW Proposition 1 and Proposition 68 funding
Sign up to hear from California Trout! CalTrout’s mission is to ensure healthy waters and resilient wild fish for a better California. Hear about our work and how to get involved through our monthly newsletter, The Streamkeeper’s Blog, “Trout Clout” action alerts, article from our e-magazine, The Current, event invites, and much more! We respect your privacy and will never sell or share your information with other organizations.
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.