What a start to 2023! Rain and snowfall early this month broke 100 year-old records in some parts of the state. Despite some devastating regional flooding, it was a welcome relief from the past three years that were the driest ever recorded—and collectively, the previous 20 were the driest in the last 1,200 years. So yeah, good to get some rain, though these extremes remind us of the variable nature of California’s Mediterranean climate and how scientists’ predictions about climate change increasing this variability are coming to fruition. Climate change is here and in California, this translates into a water crisis.
With the start of the new year, CalTrout begins as focused as ever on building resiliency of California’s waters to better adapt to the extremes of climate change. This is a huge challenge; you’ve seen how we are ramping up to meet the moment. As part of this ramp up, we are pleased to introduce Charlie Schneider as CalTrout’s Lost Coast Project Manager which is a new position for our organization. His role primarily entails building our work capacity between the Russian and Eel river watersheds and continuing CalTrout’s efforts to free the Eel River and decommission the Potter Valley Project. We’re excited to have him on board, have a dedicated staff member working on the removal of the Eel River dams, and be expanding into new places.
Speaking of new places, CalTrout has officially opened our new Mt. Lassen region! The region has a physical office in Chico and joins CalTrout’s six other regional offices across California, a legislative/policy office in Sacramento, and CalTrout headquarters in San Francisco. By positioning CalTrout in key geographical areas where wild fish influence the community, the organization is suited to implement large-scale conservation projects for the benefit of California’s fish, water, and people.
The Mt. Lassen region is kicking off with its flagship project, the Iron Canyon-Big Chico Creek Fish Passage Project (read more about it in the stories below). The project was recently recommended for over $9 million in funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). One of the reasons—an important one—that allows us to achieve these substantial grant awards is the large support we receive from our donors. The generosity of CalTrout’s members allows us to leverage and grow grant funding and execute more programs that benefit wild fish and people. Thank you to all who contributed to our 2022 year-end campaign. It was the most successful one we’ve seen for our organization!
Thanks again for your continued support and we look forward to sharing with you more of our progress throughout the year.
Best,
Thank you for your interest in the Eel River Forum! We looking forward to sharing meeting updates and other info from the Eel River watershed with you as they develop.
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Thank you for your interest in Big Chico Creek and the Iron Canyon Fish Passage Project! We looking forward to sharing project updates, news, and stories with you from the Big Chico Creek watershed as they develop.
Thank you for your interest in Big Chico Creek and the Iron Canyon Fish Passage Project! One of our staff members will do their best to get back to you as soon as possible. However, please note that due to limited capacity we may not be able to respond to all questions or fulfill all requests.
Let us know if you are interested in volunteering and we will get in contact with you as soon as we can.
Thank you for your interest in the Elk River! One of our North Coast Region staff members will do their best to get back to you as soon as possible. However, please note that due to limited capacity we may not be able to respond to all questions or fulfill all requests.
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.