The State Water Resources Control Board recently adopted an order to protect the endangered steelhead trout population and downstream senior water right holders for Cachuma Reservoir in Santa Barbara County. This important Order will help restore the Santa Ynez River watershed for wildlife, recreation, and other uses. CalTrout has been engaged in this project since 1990 and has offered expertise and guidance to support the recovery of southern steelhead populations by reconnecting their historic habitat and ensuring that management of the river meets public trust requirements.
“This order is an important step towards improving the condition of a struggling species, while continuing to develop the science and information needed to return the species to sustainable levels,” said State Water Board Chair E. Joaquin Esquivel. “I am hopeful that adoption of this order will inspire the parties to continue working collaboratively to resolve these long-standing water management challenges – challenges not unlike those found in other communities and watersheds throughout the state.”
The Order requires the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to increase flows on the Santa Ynez River below Bradbury Dam to provide additional habitat for steelhead and prevent its extinction. To minimize impacts on local water users, higher flows will be required only during wetter years. The Board adopted a significant Order requiring improved water flows and critical studies to benefit endangered steelhead such as the potential for fish passage over the Dam and other improvements to habitat.
“Southern California steelhead are critically endangered – once a steelhead stronghold, the Santa Ynez River population of steelhead plummeted after Bradbury Dam was constructed. We are optimistic that today’s Order will help restore the species,” said Russell Marlow, CalTrout’s South Coast Project Manager.
Historically, the Santa Ynez River was a major spawning ground and nursery stream that supported the largest steelhead run in Southern California. Damming the river in 1953 stored runoff for the Santa Barbara area, but blocked off crucial spawning and rearing habitat and reduced the average annual run from 20,000 adult fish to fewer than 100 today.
Similar to salmon, steelhead trout spend much of their life in the sea before returning to the place of birth in a freshwater stream to spawn. Southern California steelhead, which includes the population of the Santa Ynez River, have been federally listed as an endangered species since 1997 and are on the brink of extinction.
According to the order, the Bureau of Reclamation is also required to:
Southern Steelhead species in SOS II Report
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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.
5 Comments
I would like to get a history and dates of Steelhead Planting in the Santa Ynez River fir this century please.
Lompoc valley is sadly pushed to the side constantly.
Start at the ocean work your way up to dam .
Steelhead can’t even get to river if opening is blocked at mouth.
Do your job
Why can’t we fish below the Bradbury dam if we catch and release, barbless hooks, non targeting of stealhead, etc ? Lots of other species in the many ponds.
Hello it is Luke Paterson. I am 12 years old. You may now me from the Steelhead Trout fundraiser started by Nate Young. Sora Young his sister was my 1st grade teacher. At that fundraiser i volunteered for every organization there. My love of fish started on independence day when I was 7, that was the day I caught my first fish. Ever since then I loved fish. But not untill this year did I know about the steelhead trout going extinct in this county. All I know is that I want to help and I want to help NOW.
Hey Luke! Thanks for your comment and for the enthusiasm! We’d love to get in touch. Shoot me an email at kglenwright @caltrout.org if you get the chance. Thanks!