NATIVE SPECIES
Threats at every curve
The Southern California environment has been engineered to serve human needs – reliable water supplies and flood control. The hard-scape impacts of pavement, bridges, dams, and other in-stream structures block and hinder steelhead access to headwater spawning and rearing tributaries and also restrict the emigration of juveniles to the ocean. Estuaries and lagoons, which are critical nursery habitats for juvenile steelhead and important transition zones, have been significantly reduced in size and function in Southern California due to human activities. What little is left of steelhead habitat has been urbanized and degraded through develoment and land use practices that did not take into account the need for steelhead passage and headwaters residence. These impacts coupled with climate change, competition from exotic species, and severe wildfires have pushed Southern steelhead to the brink of extinction.
These threats are identified in the National Marine Fisheries Service 2012 Southern Steelhead Recovery Plan. Led by CalTrout in partnership with over 50 organizations and agencies, coalitions are now in place to implement the federal recovery plan and set a viable path forward for de-listing the species.
Bringing them back from the brink
California Trout is working with Coalition partners to recover the Southern steelhead species by restoring estuaries and riverine habitat, and removing barriers along the entire stretch from headwaters to the ocean. We operate through Coalition Strategic Plans that help prioritize projects in a watershed-level approach; and match project leads with funding sources for efficient implementation. Here is a snapshot of some of our projects that show how we are helping pave the way for the rebound of this important species.