Can you recall a time when the Santa Ynez River was one of the most productive Southern California steelhead rivers? Or perhaps you’ve only heard tales of people fishing Los Angeles River near Steelhead Park, hoping to fill their creel with the formidable fish.

If you want the full story on Southern California steelhead−their history, why their population has declined so drastically, and what conservation groups have been and are currently doing to recover this threatened species−check out the story below made by US Fish and Wildlife Service.  We’re excited, but not surprised, to see CalTrout’s Dr. Sandra Jacobson (a geneticist and avid fly fisher of 35 years) featured prominently for her incredible work leading the South Coast Steelhead Coalition. “Jacobson’s drive for success is contagious, and she is as positive as she is clear about the coalition’s goals, “we are implementing the Fisheries Service’s Recovery Plan, and their steelhead expert, Mark Capelli, provides insight as an active member of the coalition. We are committed to improving habitat and stream connectivity for steelhead. An effort of this scale takes time and people, and this group is filled with great people who are working to make a difference,” she said.”

(Want to see the story map bigger? Click here.)