Streamkeeper’s bLog – January 2022

March 11, 2022

A New Year

A word from CalTrout’s ED, Curtis Knight

It’s hard to believe that it’s only been 31 days since the start of the new year; it feels like a lot more. If I could think of words to compliment this month, I would choose ‘cautious optimism.’ We saw the California legislature return earlier in the month with another huge state budget surplus. Governor Newsom released his proposal soon after with an exciting $22 billion proposal to spend on climate, water, and wildfire initiatives. And our state received two much needed blasts of moisture with a substantial October atmospheric river and an impressive December dump that delivered more rain and snow than the state saw in all its last paltry precipitation season. But we all know this water season is not over and the past weeks of dry weather remind us how variable California’s weather is and how dependent we are on infrequent large storm events.

We also saw an anxious start to the new year with an alarming number of coronavirus cases spreading across the country. Now at the end of 2022’s first month, cases seem to be subsiding in areas with high vaccination rates, but observers are reluctant to make firm predictions. From all of us at CalTrout, we hope this message finds you and your loved ones in good health. We’ve been lucky that our organization is persevering through these trying times. Much owed to dedicated staff whom I’m proud to call my close colleagues and peers.

2022 will be an exciting one for CalTrout, that I can guarantee. At our Director’s 3-day retreat a couple weeks ago, where we all joined together (safely) in Southern California, we met to discuss a variety of high-level topics including organization-wide metrics to track progress on our key initiatives and strategic plan, reducing risk and liability associated with implementing on our increasingly large restoration projects, our plans to open a North Sacramento Valley office in Chico, and our continued work for diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. Getting together with the CalTrout leadership is always energizing and a great way to start out the year.

Thanks for sticking with us as we move onward and upwards. Cheers to a new year!

Best,
CURTIS SIG

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MEET THE AUTHORS

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.

Streamkeeper’s bLog – January 2022

U P C O M I N G E V E N T

Science on Tap: Staying Flexible in a Complex World – A Look into Lamprey

MEET THE AUTHORS

Streamkeeper’s bLog – January 2022

Streamkeeper’s bLog – January 2022

A New Year

A word from CalTrout’s ED, Curtis Knight

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