I’m excited to introduce our updated mission statement for California Trout: Ensuring healthy waters and resilient wild fish for a better California. The modification from our previous statement may be minor, but the importance is in the details. At its core are three significant factors that we consider with all the work we do: Fish, Water, and People. And it’s times like these- when the West is experiencing yet another historical drought- that we must focus on these principles and work with intent.
The drought is affecting everyone and everything we do. Fishing is particularly in the spotlight right now, with CDFW asking folks to voluntarily change how, when, and where they fish in order to minimize stress and mortality among fish populations in these drought conditions. Make sure you check out these recommendations provided by CalTrout’s own Mike Wier on how to respectfully fish in a drought region.
Now more than ever—to secure native fish populations, to fulfill water needs across the state, and to provide a nourished home for millions of Americans—we must continue to advance our critical conservation and restoration work. CalTrout has more than 60 active projects across the state and boots in the halls of Sacramento, working to ensure healthy waters and resilient wild fish.
By employing nature-based solutions to solve complex resource issues, especially when it comes to water, we can ensure a bright future for California. For example, our California meadow restoration projects improve surface and groundwater storage, among other water benefits. And our work in the Central Valley is showing how to manage both fish and agriculture in a water-stressed state by growing fish food on voluntarily flooded rice farms during the farming off-season. These examples of our work show that we CAN have win-win-win solutions for Fish, Water, and People. Thank you for supporting us every step of the way.
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.
Sign up to hear from California Trout! CalTrout’s mission is to ensure healthy waters and resilient wild fish for a better California. Hear about our work and how to get involved through our monthly newsletter, The Streamkeeper’s Blog, “Trout Clout” action alerts, article from our e-magazine, The Current, event invites, and much more! We respect your privacy and will never sell or share your information with other organizations.
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.