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.
Increased native rainbow trout numbers, decreased non-native aquatic species such as bullhead
Learn MoreThe West Fork San Luis Rey River in San Diego County has one of two known remaining native rainbow trout populations of coastal steelhead descent in extreme Southern California. This population is in a remote canyon of the San Luis Rey River, identified as a high priority steelhead recovery watershed in the Southern California Steelhead Recovery Plan (NMFS, 2012). This project will remove non-native aquatic species that inhibit native trout survival, and perform genetic studies to identify important trends in inbreeding depression. Non-native aquatic species removal by CDFW in 2019 was successful in reducing the number of bullhead and, coupled with sufficient rainfall that year, led to a more stable native trout population.
CDFW
North Coast
The project’s primary goals are to improve fish passage to sustain anadromous populations of coho, steelhead, and coastal cutthroat trout, as well as to enhance and expand tidal, brackish,...
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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,...
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Working together for salmon and steelhead habitat restoration
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This project addresses Watershed Restoration Grant Program Funding Priority 3: Protect and Restore Anadromous Fish Habitat. Specifically, the project will result in 1) the removal of a human‐caused...
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CalTrout is convening a broad, collaborative team of agency partners to restore a 950-acre tidal marsh estuary surrounding Cannibal Island, adjacent to the mouth of the Eel River. The design will...
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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...
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South Coast
Bay Area
The Aquatic Species Assessment Tool (ASAT) will provide an integrated quantitative framework for assessing the impact of management actions on salmonids and other sensitive species that depend on the...
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Remove the only total fish passage barrier between a robust rainbow trout population in Pauma Creek and the Pacific ocean.
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The goal of the project is restore passive fish passage at this location and stabilize sediment transport through this reach.
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The proposed bridge replacement project on the Santa Margarita River at Sandia Creek Drive removes a high priority fish passage barrier, improves trail user experience and safety, protects the public...
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Restoration of floodplain processes by focusing on the removal of non-native, invasive plants and revegetation with native species to reestablish critical habitat for sensitive species and riparian...
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The main goal of this project is to enable steelhead passage through this total barrier at the Interstate 5 bridge array on Trabuco Creek and provide access to 15 miles of upstream high quality...
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Remove an outdated dam in Malibu Creek canyon, a high priority steelhead recovery river with designated critical habitat for steelhead. This dam has reduced water storage capacity and poses a...
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Support the Matilija Coalition, Ventura County Watershed Protection District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in securing funding to finalize a dam removal design and associated re-evaluation of...
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CalTrout leads two Southern California steelhead coalition with the goal to augment and in some cases re-establish stable steelhead populations in designated high priority rivers of Southern...
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This project will improve steelhead habitat in the Santa Margarita River through non-native aquatic species removal, invasive vegetation removal and sediment reduction.
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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...
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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.
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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...
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To develop an alternative analysis for the restoration of Southern California steelhead in the Rose Valley Lakes System and Sespe Creek Watershed.
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Restoration of ecological resiliency of priority meadows within the headwaters of the West Walker River, including habitat for Lahontan cutthroat trout populations.
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CalTrout is leading a team of expert scientists with Sierra Meadows Partnership to develop and implement the first Sierra Meadows Wetland and Riparian Area Monitoring Plan (SM-WRAMP). The SM-WRAMP...
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Apply the Sierra Meadow Strategy approach to establish a prioritized inventory of meadow restoration activities providing maximum habitat benefit for listed Kern River rainbow trout, amphibian, and...
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Restore the ecological health of meadows and native Golden trout populations within the Golden Trout Wilderness.
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Create greater ecological resilience of Osa Meadow to combat climate change and other stressors and promote recovery of Kern River rainbow trout populations. Study the cause-and-effect of meadow...
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Restore 30,000 meadow acres in the Sierra Nevada by 2030.
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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,...
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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...
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Restore the ecological health of the Upper Owens watershed and improve local angling opportunities in Mammoth and Hot Creeks and the Owens River.
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Restore 5000 acres, (35 meadows) assessed and prioritized, 250 acres (4 meadows) to be restored at "shovel ready" status.
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Protect Northern California Volcanic Aquifers and their cold-water spring sources from overdraft, pollution, and long-term variability in regional climate. Abate threats posed by geothermal fracking,...
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Recover Klamath River salmonid populations by removing 4 dams on the Klamath River (Iron Gate, Copco 1, Copco 2, and JC Boyle) and opening up fish passage to over 400 miles of potential spawning and...
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In 2017, CalTrout partnered with the Hart Ranch on the Little Shasta River and completely retooled the ranch’s irrigation infrastructure. By replacing leaky pipes and valves, improving water...
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By implementing the Scott River Mill Creek Fish Passage Restoration Project, California Trout will restore access for returning adult coho salmon to approximately seven miles of spawning and rearing...
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Recover salmonid populations in the Scott River, a key mid-Klamath River tributary and nursery, by restoring spawning and rearing habitat, in-stream flows, water quality, and other ecological...
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Recover salmonid populations in the Shasta River, a key mid-Klamath River tributary and nursery, by restoring spawning and rearing habitat, in-stream flows, water quality, and other ecological...
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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...
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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.
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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...
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Restore key salmonid off-channel rearing habitat and provide public access, specifically for angling and river recreational uses in the lower Mad River's simplified estuary. The project includes two...
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Cedar Creek, a tributary of the South Fork Eel River, has approximately 9 miles of salmon and steelhead habitat currently inaccessible to Chinook, coho, and steelhead. Migration is blocked by a 5 ft....
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Remove the Northwestern Pacific Railroad barrier at the mouth of Woodman Creek and restore the historic channel-mouth configuration to allow unimpeded coho, Chinook, and steelhead access to 10-14...
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Improve streamflows and expand spawning habitat for Eel River salmon and steelhead in the upper mainstem Eel River. Work with Regional Coalition partners (Sonoma Water, Mendocino County Inland Water...
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At over 3,600 sq. miles, the Eel River watershed is the third largest watershed entirely in California. While the majority of the watershed is privately owned and managed for timber production, and...
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Raise awareness of the current threats to the pristine North Fork of the Smith River from international mining corporations.
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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...
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Establish common and standardized procedures applicable throughout California’s coastal watersheds for identifying ‘instream flow objectives’ through 1) the development and application of...
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Develop on-farm water management practices that benefit native fish species and the aquatic ecosystems on which they depend for use in agriculture conservation incentive programs.
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Retrofit flood infrastructure in the Tisdale and Sutter bypasses to enhance fish passage; improve water use efficiency; create floodplain rearing habitat for endangered salmonids; and increase...
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Scientifically demonstrate that productivity created by shallow inundation of floodplains is foundational to supporting self-sustaining populations of fish and wildlife in the Central Valley.
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Working with partners to avoid fish kills, adequately monitor the steelhead population, and inform future marsh restoration.
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Ensure passage for juvenile and adult steelhead in San Francisquito Creek beyond Searsville Dam.
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By comparing and contrasting hydrologic conditions and aquatic food web dynamics across the spectrum of existing wetland habitat types (i.e., river channel, managed wetlands, farm fields and...
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Ensure adequate streamflows are returned to key South Bay streams.
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Increase outreach overall to youth, members, fly clubs, and others about our efforts in the Bay Area and statewide.
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Build a stakeholder outreach video to share with key stakeholders in the Napa watershed to expand voluntary floodplain restoration expansion.
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Adequately understand streamflows, water temperatures, and food web in Walker Creek to identify potential limiting factors for coho salmon.
Learn MoreJoin us in celebrating a half-century of taking action for California’s fish, water, and people.
This factor refers to hard rock mining, from which contaminated tailings, mine effluents, and toxic pollutants may have been dumped or leached into streams, mostly from abandoned mines. Mercury mining, used for processing gold in placer and dredge mining, left a lasting negative impact on wildlife.
Human use of streams, lakes, and surrounding watersheds for recreation has greatly increased with population expansion. Boating, swimming, angling, off-road vehicles, ski resorts, golf courses and other activities or land uses can negatively impact salmonid populations and their habitats. The impacts are generally minor; however, concentration of multiple activities in one region or time of year may have cumulative impacts.
Development of towns and cities often negatively affects nearby streams through alteration for flood prevention, channelization, and water diversion, and increased pollution. The timing and magnitude of flows are altered by the increase in impervious surfaces such as pavement. Pollution from surface runoff, sewage discharges, and storm drains can degrade water quality and aquatic habitats.
Improperly managed livestock grazing can damage streambanks, limit riparian vegetation and increase sedimentation. This can result in a loss of habitat complexity, increased stream temperatures, and decreased spawning habitat conditions. Severe grazing in meadow streams can cause down cutting resulting in meadows drying out and reductions in streamflow.
Widespread and often severe instream mining impacts occurred mid-19th to early 20th century due largely to hydraulic mining. Many rivers were excavated, dredged, and hydraulically mined for gold, causing dramatic stream degradation. Instream gravel mining also removed riparian vegetation and spawning gravels and degraded riparian habitats. Such mining is now largely banned, but lasting impacts remain in many areas.
Hatcheries and releases of hatchery reared salmonids into the wild can negatively impact wild populations through competition, predation, disease, and loss of fitness and genetic diversity. Hatchery influences are especially apparent to for anadromous species where dams blocked access to spawning habitat and hatcheries were established as mitigation. Inland trout can also be impacted with stocking of hatchery fish for recreation.
All anadromous salmonids depend on estuaries for rearing during a portion of their lives. Most estuaries in the state are highly altered from human activities, especially diking, draining, and sandbar removal between the estuary and ocean. Land-uses surrounding estuaries often involve extensive wetland reclamation, greatly reducing ecological function and habitat complexity.
Harvest relates to legally regulated commercial, tribal, and recreational fisheries, as well as illegal harvest (poaching). Over-harvest can have substantial impacts on fish populations, particularly for those with already limited abundance or distributions, those which are isolated or reside in discrete habitats making them easy to catch (e.g. summer steelhead), or those that attain large adult size (e.g., Chinook salmon).
Transportation corridors such as highways confine stream channels and increase sedimentation, pollution, and habitat degradation from storm runoff and altered streamflows. Culverts and other passage or drainage modifications associated with roads often block migration and restrict fish movements, which can fragment populations.
Many heavily logged watersheds once supported the highest species diversity and abundance of fishes, including anadromous salmon and steelhead. Improperly managed logging increases sediment in streams, increases solar input which increases stream temperatures, and degrades riparian cover. Stream habitat is also degraded by the extensive network of unpaved roads that supports timber extraction.
Non-native species (including fishes and other aquatic organisms) are ubiquitous across many of California’s watersheds; their impacts on native species through hybridization, predation, competition, increased disease transmission, and habitat alteration can be severe.
Wildfires are a natural component of California’s landscape. However, fire suppression, coupled with climate change, has made modern fires more frequent, severe and catastrophic. The transition from relatively frequent understory fires to less frequent, but catastrophic, crown fires can have a severe impact on fish habitat and wipe out populations with narrow habitat ranges.
Impacts from agriculture include streams polluted by agricultural return water or farm effluent; reduced flow due to diversions which can affect migratory patterns; and increased silt and pesticides in streams. Marijuana grow operations, legal and illegal, were considered in this metric.
Dams block access to historical spawning and rearing habitats. Downstream, dams alter the timing, frequency, duration, magnitude, and rate of change of flows decreasing habitat quality and survival.
As California’s population grows, rural development increasingly encroaches along or near streams. Resulting impacts include water diversions, groundwater pumping, streambed alteration (to protect houses from flooding, construct road crossings, etc.), and pollution (especially from septic tanks and illegal waste dumping).