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STEELHEAD RECOVERY PROJECTS
Past Projects
With the 1998 listing of salmon and steelhead on north coast rivers, CalTrout was determined to find a way to permit fishing for Cutthroat Trout in the same rivers, since these fish were not threatened. After the development of appropriate data and several appearances before the California Fish and Game Commission, CalTrout was able to win changes to fishing regulations that allow catch-and-release, zero limit fishing in time for the 2000 season. While fighting for the protections of the Endangered Species Act, CalTrout also fights to ensure that anglers are not unnecessarily blocked from sport fishing where it does not endanger the resource.
Conceived, advocated and won approval by the California Department of Fish and Game for the mass marking of all hatchery steelhead. This program allows for improved monitoring to differentiate hatchery from wild steelhead and the continuation of sportfishing with the legitimate harvest of hatchery steelhead.
California Wild & Rivers Scenic Act -- 1972. CalTrout was instrumental in persuading Governor Ronald Reagan to sign this historic legislation, which headed off almost 20 dams that were slated for construction on the Eel, Klamath, Trinity and Smith River systems.
Smith River -- The Smith River Alliance and CalTrout convinced Congress to create the Smith River National Recreation Area, protecting the Smith's 3,100 miles of this crown jewel of steelhead rivers for generations to come.
Steelhead are reappearing in an urban area, partly because of CalTrout's efforts to force a fish passage issue on the San Francisco peninsula. San Francisquito and Los Trancos Creeks, near Stanford University, form part of the border between San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and have historically held steelhead. The project to build a fish ladder -- which took almost eight years -- was a collaborative effort that included 30 government agencies and took $350,000 to complete. Finished in 1996, the project is now a model for other Bay Area and urban streams projects.
Current Projects
North Coast Manager Tom Weseloh is a member of the Board of Friends of the Trinity River, and along with FOTR Chairman Byron Leydecker, obtained a favorable Record of Decision for increased flows on the Trinity River. This has been a 20- year battle and the return of up to 43% of the river flows is a major victory for the steelhead. The project will require continued oversight to ensure that the Record of Decision's provisions are implemented -- despite current lawsuits from Westlands and other water districts.
Major victories are often achieved through many small wins. A decision by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to accept CalTrout's opinion, rather than that of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions, in the re-licensing of PG&E's Potter Valley Project on the Eel River is an example. CalTrout espoused increased flows that mimic the natural hydrograph, additional summer flows, real-time monitoring and other improvements that were accepted by NMFS in place of FERC's re-licensing plans. The battles over the Potter Valley Project have involved CalTrout for the last three decades with no end in sight.
CalTrout was instrumental in the formation of the Southern California Steelhead Coalition whose mission is to restore Southern California rivers and streams. The coalition consists of more than 35 fishery, science, recreation, wildlife and environmental organizations, representing more than 220,000 Californians. The main accomplishments of the coalition have been:
Obtaining more than $3.9 million for Southern California Steelhead restoration projects
Securing an appointment for a Southern California steelhead representative to the California Advisory Committee on Salmon and Steelhead Trout
Adding Southern California to the California Resource Agency's efforts to create a coastal anadromous restoration program.
Initiating a Department of Fish and Game budget proposal to hire two biologists in Southern California, dedicated to the recovery of the region's steelhead
Raising public awareness of the importance and needs of Southern California steelhead.
Filing a lawsuit to force the National Marine Fisheries Service to reconsider its initial critical habitat decision that neglected historic spawning and rearing habitat above dams and barriers throughout Southern California; take immediate action to expand the boundaries of Southern California steelhead to include San Mateo Creek and other southerly coastal waters; and to take appropriate action to provide ESA protection for all native rainbow trout in anadromous waters.
As recently as the 1940's, the Santa Ynez River had the largest run of steelhead in Southern California -- estimated at 13,000 to 20,000 in wet years. With the completion of Bradbury Dam in 1952 by the Bureau of Reclamation, steelhead were cut off from the best upstream spawning and rearing habitat, leaving 10 to 15 mainstem miles and a few paltry tributaries below the dam. Under orders from the State Water Board, triggered by an administrative complaint by the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, a "Lower Santa Ynez Fish Management Plan" has been completed. CalTrout and its team of attorneys and expert witnesses participated in five days of State Water Board Hearings in the Fall of 2003, telling the story of the Santa Ynez Steelhead run, what has been lost, and what can be restored. We await an EIR in support of a Draft Water Rights Order modifying water rights on the Santa Ynez sometime in the Spring of 2006.
CalTrout Governor, Craig Fusaro has been monitoring, reviewing and commenting on agency actions on the Santa Ynez River since 1993.
The California Advisory Committee on Salmon and Steelhead Trout (CAC) was established by the Legislature in 1983 in response to public concern about declining populations of salmon and steelhead. The role of the public committee is to advise the Director of Fish and Game and the legislature on salmon and steelhead issues within California that are of concern to the public. CalTrout has been active on the CAC and its predecessor since its inception in 1970, and currently CalTrout's North Coast Manager, Tom Weseloh and South Coast Manager, Jim Edmondson, serve on the committee. The main benefits to our participation have been to influence the California legislature and state policy on the protection and restoration of salmon and steelhead throughout California.
SB 271 (California Coastal Salmon and Economic Recovery Act) creates the Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Fund and was passed in 1997. It provided $43 million dollars for fishery restoration funding over a six-year period. The legislation developed a citizen's advisory committee and stated: "the advisory committee shall provide oversight of, and make recommendations for, grant funding." A ten-person subcommittee was formed with five positions appointed by CAC to meet the requirements of the legislation. CalTrout's Tom Weseloh sits on that subcommittee, which has recently accomplished the review of 280 proposals and recommended the final proposals for review and approval by the Director of Fish and Game. These recommendations amounted to $20 million for salmonid improvements.
CalTrout's staff has taken a lead role in statewide efforts to develop, approve and oversee the implementation of fish passage projects through the For the Sake of Salmon (FSOS) Workshop. The workshop indicated how to make and apply for restoration grants in a prioritized and organized fashion. Key projects that have subsequently been approved include fish passage barriers on numerous rivers, including the Smith, Trinity, Mad, Mattole, San Lorenzo and Ventura rivers. CalTrout has identified fish passage solutions as one of its key project areas for the coming years and our active participation with FSOS reflects that strategic decision.
CalTrout has been key to the development of a petition to list Coho Salmon under the California Endangered Species Act. This move was seen as a key to increasing steelhead habitat protections on north coast rivers. The California Fish and Game Commission unanimously approved the petition and the Coho is now ESA-listed. CalTrout will continue to work with our partners to develop recovery plans.
CalTrout has been a prominent member of the Matilija Coalition in its drive to remove a 200-foot high, useless dam across Matilija Creek on the upper Ventura watershed. An Appraisal Study, completed by the Bureau of Reclamation, could lead to the first decommissioning of a major dam in the country and the restoration of miles of prime steelhead habitat.
After decades of foot dragging by the Casitas Water District, the threat of a lawsuit by CalTrout resulted in the planning and future construction of a fish ladder and fish screens on the Ventura River at the Robles Diversion. With the resolution of the fish passage issue and the eventual removal of Matilija Dam up river, the complete restoration of the Ventura River and Matilija Creek can become a reality.
Past Projects
North Coast Manager Tom Weseloh is a member of the Board of Friends of the Trinity River, and along with FOTR Chairman Byron Leydecker, obtained a favorable Record of Decision for increased flows on the Trinity River. This has been a 20- year battle and the return of up to 43% of the river flows is a major victory for the steelhead. The project will require continued oversight to ensure that the Record of Decision's provisions are implemented -- despite current lawsuits from Westlands and other water districts. 
As recently as the 1940's, the Santa Ynez River had the largest run of steelhead in Southern California -- estimated at 13,000 to 20,000 in wet years. With the completion of Bradbury Dam in 1952 by the Bureau of Reclamation, steelhead were cut off from the best upstream spawning and rearing habitat, leaving 10 to 15 mainstem miles and a few paltry tributaries below the dam. Under orders from the State Water Board, triggered by an administrative complaint by the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, a "Lower Santa Ynez Fish Management Plan" has been completed. CalTrout and its team of attorneys and expert witnesses participated in five days of State Water Board Hearings in the Fall of 2003, telling the story of the Santa Ynez Steelhead run, what has been lost, and what can be restored. We await an EIR in support of a Draft Water Rights Order modifying water rights on the Santa Ynez sometime in the Spring of 2006.