Steelhead trout, like Salmon, are anadromous fish - meaning they spend their adult life at sea and return to fresh water rivers to spawn. At one time Southern California was home to miles of steelhead spawning grounds, but, sadly this is no longer the case. Dams, diversions, development and poor water quality have drastically reduced the Southland's steelhead populations.

As a result, coastal Southern California has all but disappeared from many fly angler's radar screens. But it's not just anglers that are affected. Steelhead are an "indicator species". If a watershed, that was once rich with spawing salmonids, is now devoid of them, then that watershed is failing. Using this criterion, most of southern California's watersheds are in serious trouble.

Recognizing this sorry state of affairs, a number of diverse groups including CalTrout formed a coalition in 2000 to arrest and reverse the decline of the southern California's anandromous fish populations.

The Southern California Steelhead Recovery Coalition, comprised of environmental, surfing, commercial and sport fishing groups, has put together an ambitious agenda to do just that.

Among the coalition's top priorities is convincing the National Marine Fisheries Service to expand Endangered Species Act listing protections to steelhead, removing dams, increasing flows and lobbying for funds dedicated specifically for Southern California's anadramous fish.

CalTrout is also working to remove obstacles to Steelhead's ancient spawning grounds. See below for more examples.

South Coast Manager:
Nica Knite
1810 14th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404
310-450-0800
nknite@caltrout.org

Special Projects:

Matilija Dam

Rindge Dam